While the town centre of Canmore is on the east bank of the Bow River, many of
the communites tourist and recreational atractions are on the west bank.
On the west bank of the Bow River is the residential community of Rundle, and further southwest is
the new development of Three Sisters. The new Three Sisters Parkway connects
(shortly) the hotels and residences in Three Sisters with the Stewart Creek
Golf Course and Bow River Campground, which already have their own exit off the
Trans-Canada Highway. Above Rundle, continuing up on Spray Lakes Rd, you pass the
Canmore Nordic Centre which lies beside the town's reservoir.
Continuing further up the road (now called Smith Dorrien Highway a few kilometres, you reach Spray
Lake, which is dammed above Canmore, and provides stunning views of the town
(shown above) and the Bow River Valley. Smith Dorrien Highway continues to meet
Higway 40 at Lower Kananaskis Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (you can make a day trip with this circular
route!).
Canmore Nordic Centre Located on the Spray Lake Road to the west of town, this was the host of the nordic and cross-country ski events during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. During the winter, many world-class competitions are
held. In the summertime, its many miles of trails are popular with area
mountain bikers. You can even bicycle from here to Banff on pleasant
back-country trails.
Spray Lakes Reservoir This 55-mile, 88 km long lake is used both for recreation and to generate power for Canmore and the rest of the Bow River Valley. It is easily accessible from Spray Lakes
Road/Smith-Dorrien Highway in Canmore, and from the Smith-Dorien Creek road (unpaved) from Kananaskis Lake in the south of Kananaskis Country. This area used to be inside Banff National Park's boundaries, but was released to enable hydro-electric
development. The natural exit for the lake is the Spray River, which meets the
Bow River below the Banff Springs Hotel.
Three Sisters Resort & Stewart Creek Golf Course
This resort and recreation area is built around the abandoned coal mines of
Canmore. The fairways of 18 hole Stewart Creek Golf Course wind their way past
several mine shaft openings (they're gated), and have beautiful views up the Bow
River valley.
On the west bank of the Bow River is the residential community of Rundle, and further southwest is
the new development of Three Sisters. The new Three Sisters Parkway connects
(shortly) the hotels and residences in Three Sisters with the Stewart Creek
Golf Course and Bow River Campground, which already have their own exit off the
Trans-Canada Highway. Above Rundle, continuing up on Spray Lakes Rd, you pass the
Canmore Nordic Centre which lies beside the town's reservoir.
Continuing further up the road (now called Smith Dorrien Highway a few kilometres, you reach Spray
Lake, which is dammed above Canmore, and provides stunning views of the town
(shown above) and the Bow River Valley. Smith Dorrien Highway continues to meet
Higway 40 at Lower Kananaskis Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (you can make a day trip with this circular
route!).
Canmore Nordic Centre
Spray Lakes Reservoir
Three Sisters Resort & Stewart Creek Golf Course