Multi Use Trails
No average trip times provided for cross country skiing as ability significantly affects trip duration.
Canmore Nordic Centre
Location: 5 – 7 minutes from downtown Canmore. From Main Street, turn left on 8th Avenue, then stay right to Spray Lakes Road. The Nordic Centre will be on your right hand side.
The Nordic Centre is a world class recreation facility offering over 70 km of trails for cross country skiing in the winter, and leisurely double track mountain biking with an additional 30 km of single track in the summer. Trails are lit in the winter until 9 pm for night skiing. Pick up a trail map at the Day Lodge before heading on the trails as there are many junctions. Bikers and skiers of all levels will enjoy the Nordic Centre.
Summer – Mountain Bike
Winter – Cross Country Ski
Goat Creek
Trail type: 4 wide
All levels of mountain bikers and intermediate cross country skiers will enjoy the trail.
Location: Goat Creek parking lot, located 5.5 km past the Nordic Centre along the gravel Spray Lakes Road/Smith Dorrien Highway
Distance: 19.8 km one way
The Goat Creek trail offers an easy trip whether on skis or bicycle to the townsite of Banff, ending at either the Banff Springs Hotel or the
golf course road. The trail is mainly downhill (elevation loss of 325 m) with a few up hill spurts. It is also possible to start the trail in Banff, and end at the Goat Creek parking lot.
Summer – Mountain Bike
Average time: 1.5 – 2 hours one way
The road leading to the trailhead is
gravel and fairly steep. A shuttle or taxi
can be arranged for those who do not
want to bike up to the trailhead.
Winter – Cross Country Ski or Snowshoe
Average time for snowshoeing: 4 – 6 hours one way
In the winter, it is best to drive to the trailhead and arrange transport back from Banff. Alternately, you can do part of the trail and follow the same one back to the parking lot.
Mount Shark Area Trails
Intermediate
Location: Follow Spray Lakes Road past the Nordic Centre for approximately 40 minutes. Turn right on to Mount Shark Road and follow approximately 5.5 km to the parking lot.
Summer - Hike to Karst Springs
Average time: 3 hours return
The trail to Watridge Lake is an easy walk along a logging road which winds through the heart of the Mount Shark Ski Trails. From Watridge Lake, the trail wanders through a forest then steepens for the final climb to a viewpoint overlooking Karst Springs. Total trip is approximately 9 km with 310 m of elevation gain.
Winter – Cross Country Ski
Mount Shark area ski trails range from 2 km, 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km
Chester Lake
Intermediate
Total round trip: 10.2 km
Elevation gain: 310 m
Location: Follow Spray Lakes Road past the Nordic Centre for approximately 50 minutes. Parking lot for Chester Lake is on the left hand side, just past Mount Engadine Lodge.
Summer – Hike
Average time: 3 hours
Winter – Snowshoe
Average time: 3 hours
This is a moderately strenuous walk, first up logging roads, then through the forest and meadows to a mountain lake in the larches. The final meadow offers spectacular views of Fortress Mountain, Mt. Chester and Mt. Galatea. Chester Lake is a popular alpine fishing lake - don’t forget your license.
Summer – Mountain Bike
Winter – Cross Country Ski
There is a network of trails starting from the Chester Lake parking lot which are popular with mountain bikers in the summer and cross country skiers in the winter. Routes vary in duration.
Ribbon Creek
Beginner/Intermediate
Total round trip: 16.4 km
Elevation gain: 311 m
Location: Follow Highway 1 east towards Calgary, and drive south on Highway 40 to Nakiska Ski Area approximately 40 minutes from Canmore. Take your first left onto Centennial Drive, then right onto Ribbon Creek Road. Park at the far end parking lot.
An easy, and fairly lengthy, trail begins following a logging road along the valley floor to an impressive waterfall. Views of Ribbon Peak and Mt. Kidd are predominant for the latter half of the trail.
Summer – Hike
Average time: 5.5 – 6 hours
You can bike the first 4 km of the
logging road. You will have to leave
your bike at the rack to continue on the
hiking trail.
Winter – Cross Country Ski
Lillian Lake
(With the option to extend to Galatea Lakes)
Intermediate
Total round trip: 13 km
Elevation gain: 500 m
Location: Follow Highway 1 east towards Calgary, and drive south on Highway 40 to the Galatea Day Use Area approximately 45 minutes from
Canmore
Follow Galatea Creek up a scenic trail to Lillian Lake. Lillian Lake is popular with fishermen – make sure you bring your fishing license! From Lillian Lake, you can hike an additional 1.5 km to the Galatea Lakes. Some route finding may be needed, but the view surrounding the lakes is well worth it.
Summer – Hike
Average Time: 4 – 5 hours return
(additional to Galatea Lakes)
Winter – Snowshoe
Average Time: variable
Location: 907A 7th Ave
Phone: 403-678-1295
Hours of Operation
9:00am - 5:00pm daily