The Best Family Bike Trails in Canmore

Canmore is only an hour away from Calgary and depending on where you live, it takes less time to drive to Canmore than it does to cross the city.  For that reason, we spend a lot of time biking the river pathways in this beautiful mountain town, and as soon as we can afford a house there, I'm moving.

Biking the Canmore Pathways Through Town

We like to drive out to Canmore mid-week when it's quiet and then we have the pathways and bike park to ourselves.  The town definitely gets busier once school is out, but it's still a treat to spend a day out of the city and to dream about which house you're going to buy near the big playground on the river.

My future backyard in Canmore from the West Canmore Playground

Without ever leaving the town limits, you can bike over 20 kilometres of beautiful maintained pathways and trails.  Most of them are gravel but there are a few paved sections.  You don't have to worry about the trails being bumpy though, and they are very Chariot or stroller friendly. 

The trails are very family-friendly and serve as a great introduction to mountain biking for children used to paved streets and sidewalks.

Biking along the Bow River in Canmore

Below are our favourite loops and trails that we usually bike in Canmore:

 

The Bow River Loop Trail - 2 km distance

Park near the river at the Mineside Trailhead by the river.  (From main street downtown, turn left onto 8th avenue and drive toward the Canmore Nordic Centre.  Cross the river and pull into your first parking lot on your left.)  - where Bridge Road turns into Rundle Drive.

From the parking lot, cross the bridge and bike towards Engine Bridge on the gravel pathway.  (See it all on this map of the Bow Valley West Side.) 


NOTE: the Mineside parking lot is small and finding a spot can be challenge. If you're up for a longer ride, we often start our ride at the Canmore Recreation Centre and bike towards Engine Bridge from here. - See this route on Google maps here. 

Engine Bridge

Cross Engine Bridge (which kids will LOVE) and bike around the hydro plant.  Bike down the other side of the river to get back to your car in a total distance of 3.1km.  The trail is flat with no height gain. Park benches can be found along the way for rest stops. 

Easy Biking along the Bow River

Bow River Loop to Larch Island (and beyond)  - 5+ km distance round trip

Consider extending your trip by riding past Engine Bridge towards Larch Island, around the Canmore Golf and Curling Club (where you'll find the Canmore Recreation Centre and Skatepark,) and back to the river via one of two different options of trails (See it all on this map of the Bow Valley West Side.)

- You can also do this ride in reverse, starting at the Canmore Recreation Centre where this is lots of parking. Enjoy the skatepark (kids can use bikes on it) and then bike towards Engine Bridge on the riverside pathway. - see the route on Google Maps 

Biking Towards Larch  Island along the river in Canmore

Expect a few more roots on the trails past Engine Bridge, dirt with pine needles in spots, and some occasional loose gravel.  Otherwise, it's pretty easy and most children would have no problems on it.  Just take the training wheels off first.

Bridge to Larch Island (hiking only on the island)

You can also stop at a cute little playground along the way.  It is called the Larch Park Playground and it even has swings. 

Larch Park Playground

Crossing Policeman's Creek on one of the many bridges

Millenium Park to the West Canmore Playground - 1.5 km one way

This short bike ride connects the two greatest playgrounds in Canmore.  One of a more traditional nature, and one for bikes! 

Playing at the Millennium Park Pump Track

For more information on the Millennium Park Pump Track, visit my other blog post:  Pump Tracks and Mountain Bike Parks.  We love playing at the bike parks in Canmore and this one is super easy for young kids on balance bikes even.  Millennium Park is located at 5th Ave and 1st Street and there's a big parking lot here.  It's also a good back-up parking plan should the Mineside Trailhead be full (very possible in summer!!)

Playing at the Millenium Park Bike Park 

After playing at the pump track it's approximately 1 km to the bridge by the Mineside parking lot and then it's another 0.5 km to the big West Canmore Playground on the other side of the river directly opposite Millennium Park. The kids love it here and always spend a long time at the playground. There are even bathrooms and picnic tables!  Score!

See the route on google maps.  - and stick to the river pathway to access Millennium Park (not the city streets.)

West Canmore Park Playground

Three Sisters Pathway add on  - 4+ km return

Start from the West Canmore Playground and bike as far as the big wide open meadow where you'll find an old coal mine car, a gated mine entrance and an abundance of space to run around in.  I am guessing that it's about 2 km one way to the meadow but you can turn around whenever you want or extend your ride all the way to the Three Sisters Mountain Village.

Riding across the Meadow on the Three Sisters Pathway 

The best part about this trail (other than that it has the best views) is that parts of it are paved.  This helps with some of the bigger hills you'll find on this route.  Of all the paths and loops described here, this is the most difficult due to the hilly nature of it and the modest climb required to reach the meadow.

Playing in an old coal car

Biking across the beautiful meadow on the Three Sisters Pathway

See it all on this map of the Bow Valley West Side.

All of the trails above can be combined in one big 13-15 km ride, and with plenty of playground stops it would take half a day to ride around Canmore and visit the pump track.

Crossing the River by the West Canmore Playground on the Three Sisters Pathway 

Our Favourite Loop - Tour de Canmore,  from the Skatepark to West Canmore Park (and beyond) - 12+ km 

We like to park at the Canmore Recreation Centre and play on the skatepark to begin. Then we hop on the pathway system by the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. We bike towards Larch Island until we reach Engine Bridge. We cross the bridge and continue on the far side of the river, heading for West Canmore Park.

See the route on google maps here. 

Canmore skatepark

We stop at the playground and then bike up to the meadow on the Three Sisters Pathway. Sometimes we continue but most days we turn around here and head for the pump track in Millenium Park on the other side of the river.

From Millenium Park we head downtown into Canmore and ride towards Spring Creek where the kids like to play at the bridge crossing. We then head for ice-cream downtown. - see the route on google maps here with the bridge crossing shown.

To finish, follow one of the trails back towards the river, heading back to the skatepark where we started. - See this part on google maps here. 

And again, it's all on this map of the Bow Valley West Side Trails. 

Playing in Spring Creek, Canmore 

Still have energy for more biking??

The Benchlands Skill Park is another pump track like the one in Millennium Park and can be visited before heading back to Calgary.  It's located on the other side of the TransCanada Hwy and features more jumps than the tamer skills park downtown.

Playing at the Benchlands Skills Park

For more information on biking in the Canadian Rockies with kids, read my most recent stories:  The Best Family Bike Trails in Banff National Park and Biking the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail with Kids. 

Biking across Engine Bridge