CANMORE’S TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS WITH TRAIL DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE

red_marker Red Trail - 12.2 KM

The trail marked with Red Signs (Canmore’s Main Commuter Trail) takes you from the Cougar Creek Trail Head (parking lot) to Three Sisters Mountain Village. Destination points along the route include Old Coal Mine Cars (Entrance Way Features), Policeman’s Creek, Engine Bridge, Pedestrian Bridge, Canmore Creek and Mine Rapids. Views include Lady MacDonald, Rundle Ridge, Lawrence Grassi Ridge and the Bow River. This trail is mostly asphalt with some gravel sections and is suitable for hiking or biking. The Cougar Creek Trail Head is a good place to start. You can also access the Provincial’s Benchland Trail System from this parking lot.

blue_marker Blue Trail - 9.8 KM

The trail marked with Blue Signs takes you from Cougar Creek Trail Head (parking lot) to Elk Island View (by the Bow River ~50 meters from Millennium Park). Destination points include the Cougar Creek Pedestrian Bridge, Old Coal Mine Cars (Entrance Way Features), Policeman’s Creek, Recreation Centre, Canmore Golf Course, Larch Island Loop, Engine Bridge, Pedestrian Bridge and then finishes along the Bow River at Elk Island View. Views include Lady Macdonald, Rundle Ridge, Lawrence Grassi Ridge and the Bow River. This trail is almost all gravel and is suitable for hiking or biking. 

green_marker Green Trail - 5.9 KM

The trail marked with Green Signs starts/finishes from the Provincial parking lot located near the end of Palliser Road (just before Harvie Heights) or you can start/finish from Silvertip Rd and Stonecreek Rd (no parking lot). It is also accessible by connecting into it from the Red Trail junction at Bow Valley Trail. Starting from the Provincial parking lot the trail runs parallel to Palliser Road for 4 km which is paved, slightly rolling terrain and excellent for biking or rollerblading. At Bow Valley Trail it turns into gravel, drops down the hill and goes in behind the Canmore Cemetery, below the Hoodoos and then switches back to a winding paved trail that climbs for 1.5 km ending at Silvertip Rd and Stonecreek Rd. 

yellow_marker  Yellow Trails

Please Note: All the Yellow Trails are not suitable for biking due to narrow winding sections along the trails, stairs and boardwalks.

Canmore Creek to Quarry Lake- ~1.2 KM

This trail marked with yellow signs branches off from the Red Trail at Canmore Creek (or you can start at the Quarry Lake parking lot). Destination points include Canmore Creek Beaver Dam, Three Falls and Quarry Lake. The trail is mostly up hill from Canmore Creek to Quarry Lake.

Quarry Lake to the Red Commuter Trail ~3.1 KM

This trail marked with Yellow signs starts at Quarry Lake by taking you around this upper perimeter of Quarry Lake (keeping you in the dogs on lease zone), goes past the South Beach, then on past the Peaks of Grassi, McNeill and then winds up and down a narrow pathway with stairs ending at the Red Commuter Trail (at the Bow River). This trail takes lots of turns so pay attention when walking and look for the yellow markers. A good loop to take is the Yellow Trail - Canmore Creek to Quarry Lake, then the Yellow trail- Quarry Lake to the Red Commuter Trail and then turn left on the Red Trail for 1.4 km back to Canmore Creek. Combining the trails it’s a 5.7 km loop.

Policeman’s Creek to Boardwalk- ~700 meters

This is a very short hiking trail that branches off the Red/Blue Trail and takes you along Policeman’s Creek and then to the Boardwalk Trail. From this trail you can access Main Street and the North West Mounted Police Barracks. You are not permitted to bike the Boardwalk section of this trail.

Activity Loops

Start/Finish is from the ENGINE BRIDGE
The two loops can be combined to make a 7.5 km suitable for running and biking.

 

commuter_green Green/White Symbol Loop 4.4 km commuter_blue Blue/White Symbol Loop 3.1 km

 

 

Wheelchair Accessible

 

wheelchairThis symbol is used to guide you along ~ 3.0 km section of the Red and Blue Trails taking you along the Bow River past the Engine Bridge, views from Riverside Park and the Pedestrian Bridge. This section of the trail is flat with hard packed gravel and some asphalt.