Experience The Canmore Nordic Centre
Biking at the Nordic Centre, Courtesy of Canmore Kananaskis Tourism
Built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, the Canmore Nordic Centre boasts over 65 km of cross-country ski trails, fat biking trails, an ice rink, snowshoe trail, 8-hole disc golf course, and tobogganing hill. It’s our multisport playground where you can play all day and all evening, with 6.5 km of ski trails illuminated for night skiing daily.
We meet at Cornerstone Café, in the Day Lodge for lunch. With rosy cheeks, the girls tell me about the snowman they built and how fast they skied back. They want to play in the snow “more!” so we swap skis for sleds and hit the toboggan hill. When the kids can’t run up the hill anymore, we relax with hot cocoa by the fire. The perfect ending to a perfect day!
Cross-Country Skiing
More Fun Things to Do
Snow sparkles in the sunlight as I glide along pristine crosscountry ski tracks. Conditions are fantastic between Mother Nature, manmade snow, and world-class grooming. I ascend Beckie’s Hill, a tough climb where Olympian Beckie Scott earned Gold in the 2005 World Cup 15 km race and am thankful I got my wax right. It’s quiet, save for the occasional fat biker whooping for joy on a sweet single-track in the trees. The descent is steep and winding; my favourite kind of trail. I catch my breath in front of the Day Lodge, then do it again.
Disc Golf: Eight holes (1-4 & 15-18) are open in the winter. Get a map and scorecard from the Day Lodge.
Meanwhile, my family are skiing Banff Trail to the Chandra Crawford Hut, picturesquely situated in a meadow. Only 2 km from the Day Lodge, it’s a comfortable distance for young skiers - and a cozy spot for a snack. With spectacular views of Mount Rundle to the south and the Bow Valley to the north, the warming hut is worth a visit whether or not you are cold.
Early Season Skiing: Start your ski season in October thanks to Canmore Nordic Centre’s snow storage system! The 2 km “Frozen Thunder” track is open to the public on weekdays after 12 noon and all day on weekends. Fat biking: Canmore Nordic Centre has six single-track trails and one double-track trail for snow biking. EKG is one of the more popular trails: an intermediate-level trail with a berm, bridge, and lots of ups and downs. Start on the EKG East and travel in a clockwise direction. Ice Skating: The ice rink is located near the west end of the Day Lodge and boasts beautiful views of the Bow Valley.
52 | Enter our Photo Contest
