KANANASKIS COUNTRY
Five provincial parks. Four wildland parks. An ecological reserve and six provincial recreation areas. 4,000 sq. km (1,544 sq. mi) of great adventures in the great outdoors. Oh, and a very cool town called Canmore. And the Canmore Nordic Centre. And Mount Nakiska. Remember the 1988 Winter Olympics? You get the picture.
Take a scenic route from Calgary through the front ranges of the Rockies to visit the vibrant town of Canmore. Situated in Kananaskis Country, framed by the famed Three Sisters peaks, it is the base camp for year round outdoor enthusiasts.
First stop is the Ammonite Factory for your chance to buy an exquisite piece of jewelry fashioned from this rare rainbow-hued gemstone of fossilized shells, found primarily along the eastern flanks of the Rockies. Tour the factory and see how the jewelry is made.
Follow the signs to downtown Canmore. Stroll the main streets, pick up some quality outdoor gear, and poke through shops and funky boutiques. Stop for lunch at any of the town’s eclectic restaurants for casual pub fare to award-winning Rocky Mountain cuisine. Try some elk sausage or a juicy bison burger.
Kananaskis Country is a massive patchwork of mountain parks and foothills on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Calgarians consider it their very own playground as it’s only 45 minutes west of the city. Follow the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1) toward Banff, take the Highway 40 exit and dive right in. Or start your adventure in Canmore, 15 minutes further west on Hwy 1. Grab lunch at any of the wide-ranging eateries in town and then pull on your hiking boots. K-Country, as it is known to the locals, has more trails than you can shake a walking stick at.
Sleep under the stars in a provincial park campsite, or get a permit and spend the night in the backcountry. Provision at Kananaskis Village where you can rent bicycles and canoes. Release your inner cowboy and take a guided trail ride.Hit the links at Mount Lorette and Mount Kidd Golf Courses.
For a spectacular alpine golf experience, try the stunning Silvertip or Stewart Creek courses. Or head east on Hwy 1 for about 23 miles and take the Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) south. In 20 minutes you’ll arrive at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course, made up of two adjoining 18-hole courses, named Mount Kidd and Mount Lorette for the mountains that overlook them. You may see a moose strolling the back nine.
Popular with cyclists of all skill levels is the newly developed Legacy Trail, it is a broad 22 km (13.6 mi) paved pathway connecting Canmore and Banff, paralleling the Bow River and Hwy 1.
There are so many great hiking experiences that spiral out from Canmore. Easy ones include Grassi Lakes,Grotto Canyon, Cougar Creek and Heart Creek.
In winter, hit the slopes in the tracks of Olympians at Nakiska. The Canmore Nordic Centre remains one of the top training facilities for cross country and biathalon. Ski or showshoe along more than 65 km (37 mi) of groomed and trackset trails (mountain bikers and cyclists love this place in summertime).
Alberta Parks www.albertaparks.ca
Kananaskis Country www.kananaskis.com
Tourism Canmore Kananaskis www.tourismcanmore.comAlberta