Founded in 1883, Canmore once hummed as a thriving little mining town perfectly perched on the outskirts of Banff National Park. Nestled between the CPR tracks, the Bow River and the TransCanada highway, the town was ideally positioned—right up until it wasn’t when those same mines shuttered. Over time, the pint-sized community slipped into hibernation, only rousing as a pit stop for the occasional traveller passing through to the Rockies. That is, until Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. When that city opted to plunk its Nordic events here—only an hour from its airport—it ignited the town’s much-needed reboot. Since then, Canmore has transformed into both an outdoorsy and an urban paradise with its endless trails and wildlife, restaurants and craft breweries, and now just this November, a swanky new hotel—a one-stop-shop for all your winter getaway needs.
