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Beautiful Canmore

Local Canmore insiders sharing hiking tips, hidden gems & stunning mountain photography.

We’re a Canmore-based couple (plus one opinionated Pomsky) sharing insider tips, local favourites, and stunning photography of our favourite mountain town. Whether you're planning your first visit or your fifteenth, we’ll help you hike smarter, eat better, and explore like a local.

11/09/2026

🍂 Larch season is almost here!

In another couple of weeks, the alpine larches around Canmore, Kananaskis and Banff will be turning brilliant gold — and if you want to catch them, that spectacular window doesn't last long.

I've just updated my guide to the best larch hikes near Canmore for the 2026 season, from short, accessible hikes to bigger days in the mountains.

There's an important change this year: Pocaterra Ridge is closed for the entire 2026 larch season. I've added another beautiful option to the list, plus current planning information and links to live trail conditions.

Peak colour is usually around the third week of September, so now's a good time to start deciding where you want to go. 🍁🥾

👉 https://beautifulcanmore.com/larch-hikes-canmore/

Do you have a favourite larch hike — or one you're hoping to do this year?

08/09/2026

🎟️ Heading to Banff? Don't forget your park pass!

As of September 8, the Canada Strong Pass is no longer in effect, which means free admission to Canada's national parks has ended.

If you're visiting Banff, Yoho, Kootenay or other national parks in the Canadian Rockies, you'll once again need a valid Parks Canada pass.

And a reminder: the passes you need around Canmore can be a little confusing. A Parks Canada pass and a Kananaskis Conservation Pass are two different things, and which one you need depends on where you're going.

I've updated my guide with the current information, including:

🎟️ When you need a Parks Canada pass
🏔️ When you need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass
🚗 What happens if you're simply driving through
💰 The different pass options and how to buy them

👉 Not sure which pass you need? Here's the full guide:
https://beautifulcanmore.com/park-passes-for-canmore/

Save this one if you have a Canadian Rockies trip coming up!

05/09/2026

🦋 **The beauty here isn't always about the grand vistas.**

Sometimes it's easy to be so captivated by the mountains that we forget to look at what's right beside our feet.

While walking Nellie, I spotted this beautiful little Field Crescent butterfly resting on a flower.

No towering peaks. No turquoise lake. No dramatic sunrise.

Just a tiny moment of beauty that would have been very easy to walk right past.

One of the things I love about living here is that the Canadian Rockies reward you for looking at both the big picture **and the smallest details.** 💙

03/09/2026

💙 **Yes, the water really is that colour.**

If you've ever stood beside Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake—or one of the many other brilliant blue-green lakes in the Canadian Rockies—you've probably wondered the same thing:

**What makes mountain lakes so incredibly turquoise?**

No, it's not Photoshop. 😉 And it's not simply a reflection of the sky.

The answer begins high in the mountains, with glaciers grinding away at rock—and involves tiny particles so fine they can remain suspended in the water.

I've just published a new article exploring the science behind those extraordinary colours, why some lakes are bluer or greener than others, why their colour changes through the season, and why you won't find quite the same effect in every mountain lake.

Once you understand what's happening, I think these lakes become even more remarkable.

💙 **Why Are Lakes in the Canadian Rockies So Turquoise?**
🔗 https://beautifulcanmore.com/why-canadian-rockies-lakes-turquoise/

02/09/2026

🏔️ The mountains are beautiful. But they are not benign.

This isn't the kind of post I particularly enjoy writing.

Since June, five people have died in hiking or scrambling incidents in Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country. We've also had several fatal water incidents in and around the Bow Valley.

After the latest tragedy, I found myself thinking about something we don't talk about enough when we share beautiful photographs of the Canadian Rockies:

This is a wild landscape.

I don't say that to frighten anyone away from it. The Rockies have given me some of the most joyful, awe-inspiring experiences of my life.

But mountains don't become safe because a trail is popular. A turquoise lake isn't necessarily safe to swim in. A beautiful morning doesn't guarantee good weather by afternoon. And preparation can reduce risk—but it can never eliminate it entirely.

I've written a new article about understanding risk in the Canadian Rockies: what visitors sometimes underestimate, how we can make better decisions, and why turning around should never be considered a failure.

Most importantly, it's about respecting these incredible places without being afraid of them.

🔗 https://beautifulcanmore.com/canadian-rockies-hiking-safety/

Enjoy the mountains. Explore them. Fall in love with them. But never underestimate them. 💙

31/08/2026

❄️ **Well... good morning, winter!**

We woke up this morning to 5°C and rain here in the Canmore valley.

And when the clouds lifted enough to see the mountains... snow! ❄️🏔️

The peaks all around us had received a fresh dusting overnight.

On **August 29**. 😂

It's a beautiful reminder of just how quickly conditions can change in the Canadian Rockies. It can be warm and summery in the valley one day and snowing at higher elevations the next.

If you're heading into the mountains at this time of year, don't let the calendar decide what you pack. Check the forecast, bring layers, and be prepared for conditions that may be very different from what you left behind in the valley.

For us today, though, we just enjoyed the view from the window. 💙

29/08/2026

One of the things I've noticed since moving to Canmore is that the mountains seem to change people.

Friends arrive tired from work and distracted by everyday life. A few days later, they're lingering over breakfast, spotting wildlife they'd normally walk past, and wondering if they can stay just one more day.

I've always wondered why.

As it turns out, researchers have spent decades studying how time in nature affects our minds and bodies. While the science is still evolving, it's fascinating to learn how mountains can help reduce stress, restore our attention, inspire awe, and even change the way we think.

That got me wondering...

What if we planned our mountain vacations differently?

Instead of trying to see everything, what if we slowed down enough to really experience the Rockies?

I've put together a new article that combines the science with practical ideas for structuring a week in the Canadian Rockies—not as a strict itinerary, but as a guide to getting the most restorative experience from your trip.

It's also the first article in a brand new Discover the Rockies section on Beautiful Canmore, where I'll be exploring the stories, science, geology, wildlife, and little details that make these mountains such an extraordinary place.

I'd love to hear from you.

When have you felt most at peace in the mountains? Was it on a summit, beside a quiet lake, watching wildlife... or somewhere completely unexpected?

https://beautifulcanmore.com/restorative-week-canadian-rockies/

21/08/2026

🥩 One for the meat lovers...

While I can't personally vouch for the prime rib (I'm vegan 😉), Ron certainly can!

His favourite Sunday dinner in Canmore is the Prime Rib Buffet at The Stirling Dining Room in the Malcolm Hotel.

For $45, you get prime rib with all the trimmings, and kids are just $20 (under 6 eat free).

If you're looking for a special Sunday dinner with beautiful mountain views, this one's worth checking out.

Has anyone else tried it?

19/08/2026

🥾 **One trail. Two completely different experiences.**

Arethusa Cirque is one of those rare hikes that's worth visiting in more than one season.

❄️ In winter, it's a magical snowshoe through a quiet alpine bowl.

🌼 In summer, the same trail transforms into a beautiful hike with wildflowers, mountain views, and a spectacular cirque surrounded by towering peaks.

I've recently updated my guide to include both experiences, so whether you're planning a summer adventure or looking ahead to winter, you'll know what to expect.

Read the guide here:
🔗 https://beautifulcanmore.com/arethusa-cirque-route/

Have you visited Arethusa Cirque in summer, winter... or both?

15/08/2026

🦌🐺 **One of the best things about living in Canmore? You never know what you'll see next.**

Over the past few weeks alone, we've been lucky enough to see a galloping bull moose, my very first wild wolf, elk wandering through town, and plenty of bighorn sheep along the roadside.

Those encounters inspired me to update my guide to **wildlife in Canmore**.

Whether you're hoping to spot bears, moose, elk, wolves, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, deer, or even a curious marmot, the guide covers:
📍 What wildlife you might see
👀 Where you're most likely to spot them
📸 Tips for watching them safely and respectfully
🐻 What to do if you encounter them

Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is one of the most magical parts of visiting the Canadian Rockies. The key is to enjoy the experience while giving these incredible animals the space they deserve.

🔗 https://beautifulcanmore.com/canmore-wildlife/

What's the most memorable wildlife encounter you've ever had in the Rockies?

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