Quick answer
Canmore is a mountain town in the Bow Valley, about 22 km east of Banff and roughly 100 km from Calgary. It sits outside Banff National Park, so you don’t need a national park pass in town. You do need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass ($15 a day per vehicle) to park in nearby Kananaskis Country and Bow Valley provincial parks. The road to Grassi Lakes has been closed since June 2026 because of a rockslide, so check its status first.
Where Canmore is
According to Explore Canmore, the town is 22 km east of Banff, about five minutes from the Banff National Park gates and 20 minutes from the Town of Banff by car. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Calgary (Explore Canmore: getting here).
Which pass do you need?
| Where | Pass |
|---|---|
| Canmore townsite | None. Explore Canmore says a national park pass isn’t required for Canmore or Kananaskis (FAQ). |
| Parking in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley corridor (provincial parks) | Kananaskis Conservation Pass: $15 a day for one vehicle or $90 a year for up to three vehicles. Not needed if you drive through without stopping. |
| Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper | Parks Canada pass. See our Parks Canada pass guide. |
Prices checked November 2026; they can change.
Things to do
Ha Ling Peak
A steep hike of 3.9 km to the summit with 810 m of elevation gain. Alberta Parks listed the trail as open in its August 2026 trail report (Alberta Parks), but the trailhead is reached on the Spray Lakes Road (see the closure below), so check access before you go.
Grassi Lakes
The upper Grassi Lakes trail is 1.9 km with 125 m of gain, rated easy (Alberta Parks).
Rockslide closure
Alberta Parks closed the Spray Lakes Road (Highway 742) between the Grassi Lakes turnoff and the top of the hill, plus the Reclaimer Trail, from June 5, 2026 “until further notice” after a rockslide. The closure applies to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians (Alberta Parks notice). We couldn’t confirm whether it has reopened, so check Alberta Parks trail reports before visiting Grassi Lakes or Ha Ling.
Quarry Lake
A former open-pit coal mine, now a park about 3.5 km from town toward the Nordic Centre. It has a 1 km lakeside trail, swimming, an off-leash dog area and paid parking (Explore Canmore).
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park
Built in 1986 for the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, it has more than 100 km of trails for cross-country skiing, mountain biking and hiking (Alberta Parks). Some trails were affected by fireguard work in fall 2026.
Downtown and the Spur Line Trail
Walk Main Street’s cafés and galleries, then follow the Spur Line Trail to the historic Engine Bridge over the Bow River.
Getting around
Roam Transit connects Canmore with Banff (Route 3), and Explore Canmore says local routes inside Canmore are free, while regional routes to Banff and Lake Louise need a fare. Check Roam Transit for current fares and timetables. See also Banff without a car.
Why stay in Canmore?
- It’s close to Banff (about 20 minutes by car) but outside the national park.
- It’s a gateway to Kananaskis Country.
- It’s a real town with year-round residents, shops and restaurants.
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