Canmore - South Side
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Bow River Trails - 8 km and less
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Backyard Loop Trails - 11 km
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Canmore to Three Sisters - 9km
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Canmore Nordic Centre - "Get In to Green Orchid" Loop - 5 km
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Highline Trail - 6 km variation
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Highline Trail and Loki Trail - 15 km variation
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Guy Lafleur Trail - Three Sisters to Dead Man's Flat - 10 km
Canmore - North Side
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Horseshoe Loop- 7 km
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Horseshoe + G8 + G9 Loop - 12 km
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"Goats of Grotto" Loop - 8.5 km
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Montane Traverse - 8 km
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Grotto Mountain Traverse - 18 km
Dead Man's Flat, Exshaw and Lac Des Arcs
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Wind Ridge -13 km
- Trans-Canada Trail - Dead Man's Flat to Heart Creek - 14 km
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Quaite Valley - Prairievew - Jewell Pass Loop (21 to 27 km)
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Door Jamb Mountain and Loder Peak (5 to 8 km)
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Mount Yamnuska (11 km)
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Anklebiter Ridge
Kananaskis Country - Highway 40
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Wasootch Ridge and Porcupine Ridge (13 to 23 km)
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Nakiska to Dead Man's Flat via Mt Allan - 19 km
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The Big Traverse - Old Baldy to McDougall to Volcano Peak
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Ribbon Creek to Galatea Traverse (21 km)
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Upper Kananaskis Lake Loop (15 km)
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Northover Ridge (35 to 40 km)
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Turbine Canyon
Kananaskis - Smith Dorrien Trail
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North and South Buller Pass Loop (16 km)
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Tent Ridge (11 km)
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Smutwood Peak (18 km)
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High Rockies Trail (any distance)
Banff to Castle Junction
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Lake Minnewanka and Aylmer Lookout (Any distance)
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Healy Pass and Egypt Lake (18 to 30 km)
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Cory Pass to Edith Pass Loop (13 km)
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Bourgeau Lakes and Harvey Pass (13 to 20 km)
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Rockbound Lake and Castle Mountain (18 to 28 km)
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Vista Lake to Sunshine Village (40 km)
Lake Louise to Field
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Lake Louise Teahouse Circuit
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Paradise Valley to Moraine Highline - Mt Temple Circumnavigation (26 km)
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Skoki Loop (36 km)
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Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit (25 to 45 km)
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Iceline Trail (15 to 21 km)
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Emerald Lake Triangle (21 km)
Icefields Parkway - Highway 93 North
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Molarstone Peak Loop (33 km)
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Helen Shoulder to Cirque Peak (16 km)
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Bow Hut and The Onion (18 km roundtrip)
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Wilcox Pass
Highway 93 South
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Stanley Glacier (15 km out-and-back)
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Floe Lake (20 km out-and-back)
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The Rockwall (56 km)
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Vista Lake to Ball Pass Traverse (29 km)
Classic Long Runs in the Rockies
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Iceline Trail (15 to 21 km)
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Ribbon Creek to Galatea Traverse (21 km)
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Rockwall Trail (39 to 56 km)
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Skyline Trail (45 km)
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Northover Ridge (35 to 40 km)
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Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit (26 to 45 km)
You can download the GPX files and open them in a GPS app or directly on your running watch.
- Plan that it will take you a lot longer than the same distance on roads or somewhere where the trails are flat.
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Be Bear Smart: people do encounter bears on trails from time to time. Carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it is a habit you should have if you are going to run in the mountains. Being loud, avoiding using headphones and running in groups is also a great way of reduce wildlife encounters.
- Water/hydration: From bladders and soft flasks to pocket filters (like a Katadyn BeFree), you will want to bring water on runs longer than 60 to 75 minutes. Light running vests like allow you to carry you phone, water, some food and extra clothes. Keep in mind that you will need more water if you run in the sun on a very hot Summer day.
- Phone or Emergency Satellite Device: Most areas around Canmore get cell reception and telling someone where you’re running and some sort of ETA for return times can make sure someone is looking for you if something goes wrong. In the backcountry, carrying an emergency satellite messenger like an InReach is recommended.
- Respecting the trails: The trails pass through delicate ecological areas. It is crucial to stay on the designated trails and adhere to any trail closures. Familiarize yourself with and follow the principles of "Leave no trace" ethics, promoting responsible outdoor practices that minimize environmental impact.
See you on the trails!