Canmore is a fantastic mountain vacation destination and offers excellent facilities for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Cycle, walk, or skate on the Legacy Trail, a 26.8km paved route that connects Canmore to the resort town of Banff. Not to be missed is the Athabasca Glacier, which is part of the Columbia Icefield. Sign up for a guided tour so that you can safely walk on the ice. In summer, watch the cascade of water at the Weeping Wall cliffs that sit off the east side of the highway. The same water freezes up to form a spectacular sheet of ice in winter, making it popular among ice climbers.
Head to Mt Edith Cavell, a beautiful snowy peak that stands guard over the town of Jasper. It is famous for its flowery meadows and the Angel Glacier which is shaped like an angel with outswept wings. The Columbia Icefield is nearly as large as the city of Vancouver and in some places across the plateau, the ice is up to 350m thick. This area is the only accessible place in the icefield for climbers. Peyto Lake is also a must-see for its stunning views. The best time to visit the lake is in the early morning.