Cycling Around Canmore 

Comfortable Cycling Routes

Canmore Townsite

For more people of all ages and all abilities to choose to cycle around Canmore, it is critical that they feel comfortable while cycling. Surveys have shown that a large majority of people prefer to cycle on separate trails or lanes dedicated to cycling and physically separate from traffic. Steep grades are also a barrier for most people, although the increasing popularity of e-bikes effectively overcomes the barrier of steep grades for many.

To help make cycling more comfortable and accessible for those hesitant to cycle, a map was created that focuses on flat, off-road trails in Canmore's central townsite (see map below and link). The network of Comfortable Cycling Routes highlights the main trails that connect to popular places in town. The routes on the map should appeal to cyclists of all ages and abilities, since nearly all cycling routes are on trails that are separate from vehicle traffic.

The map identifies many of Canmore's major destinations, including schools, shopping areas, community parks, Elevation Place, Main Street, Bow Valley Trail, Spring Creek Mountain Village, and the Legacy Trail. All popular destinations have bike racks on site.

Nearby Roam bus stops are also shown on the Comfortable Cycling Routes' map, to identify opportunities to combine cycling trips with bus trips, especially if a longer distance trip is planned. All Roam buses within Canmore are free to ride and all have exterior bike racks with room for three bikes, on the front of the bus.

Cycle and Wheel with Care

Cycling and wheeling on multi-use trails should be a safe and pleasant experience.

Here are a few reminders:

• Keep right on trails except to pass
• The pink sidewalk are for pedalling.
• Announce "on your left" or ring your bell when passing
• ALWAYS YIELD to slower people, especially walkers, joggers, children & elderly
• Travel at a reasonable speed on narrow or busy trails, or when you can't see ahead
• If stopping, move off the trail so that others can pass in both directions
• Always stop & allow horses to pass safely

Cycling and Wheel Types

Canmore and the Rocky Mountains are home to many types of cycling, from mountain biking and road biking to everyday cycling around town on a cruiser bike. Bike skills parks with jumps and technical trail features are located at the Canmore Nordic Centre, at Millennium Park, and near Benchlands Trail.

Increasingly e-bikes, cargo-bikes, scooters, and other types of wheeled vehicles are adding to the variety of ways people move around Canmore and the Bow Valley.

Mountain Biking is naturally an important offering in our mountain town. The Canmore Nordic Centre, created for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, features over 100 km of challenging mountain biking terrain.

On the east side of our Bow Valley, you will find the Montane Traverse through and along the edge of a Wildlife Corridor with trail connections down to the Palliser Pathway near the Trans-Canada Highway.

The west side of our Bow Valley features the Highline Trail, a mid-mountain trail with a series of connecting trails down to the Powerline Trail and residential communities.

Road Biking is increasingly popular. Seasonal closure of some highways to vehicles in Kananaskis Country (Highway 40)
and Banff National Park (Highway 1A)

Parks Canada has attracted thousands of cyclists of all types and abilities with the majority being road bike cyclists. Highway closures are typically in late spring, ending in late May or mid-June.

For a ride to remember, get the details about the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail HERE.

Pedestrians and Cyclists Only Main Street

From mid-May to mid-October, two blocks of Canmore's 8 (Main) Street, between 6 Ave and 8 Ave, are converted to a Shared Space for Pedestrians and Cyclists Only,. Outdoor patios, shops, restaurants, and galleries fill the space and create a great people watching venue! Refer to Map 1 for the 'Shared Space Area'.