Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Canmore lies in the Bow Valley, flanked by mountains rising up to 1,000 meters (3,280
feet) above the valley floor. To the south and west are the distinctive peaks of the Three
Sisters, Mount Lawrence Grassi, impressive Ha Ling Peak (known locally as Chinaman's
Peak), and the southeastern extent of Mount Rundle. Across the valley are the Fairholme
Range, Mount Lady Macdonald, and Grotto Mountain. Like the rest of the Canadian Rock-
ies, these mountains began as layers of sedimentary rock laid down on the bed of an an-
cient sea. The seabed was forced upward over millions of years to create today's lofty
peaks, whose sedimentary layers give them a distinct appearance. Through the valley
flows the braided Bow River, heading eastward and into the Saskatchewan River system.
At the north end of town, the river divides in two, leaving downtown Canmore on a low-
lying island that is protected from annual spring flooding by dikes of large boulders.
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