Calgary Rockies: How to Enjoy Every Season Living in the Rocky Mountain Foothills

As the sunniest city in Canada, Calgary is a great place to experience nature. No matter what season it is, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the Rocky Mountains near Calgary. In the winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding at one of the nearby resorts. In the summer, you can go hiking or biking on mountain trails. There are also plenty of options for fishing, camping, and sightseeing in every season. So if you're moving to Calgary, visiting, or already here, get ready to stay busy in the great outdoors!

Winter

It should come as little surprise that Calgary has much to offer those who enjoy cold-weather activities—Calgary was the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics. It truly is the ultimate destination for wintertime fun.

Many people visit for skiing and other winter sports, one of Calgary's biggest draws. All the resorts offer skiing and snowboarding, but plenty of other winter activities are ready to be enjoyed. Other popular activities and sports include:

• Soaking in hot springs at Banff National Park
• Ice skating
• Tubing
• Biking
• Tobogganing
• Dog sledding through the Rockies

Nakiska

Named after the closest mountain to the city, Nakiska is a ski area located 83 kilometres away (a 45-minute drive) from downtown Calgary. Nakiska has a proud legacy rooted in winter sports, as it was the site of several alpine events during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Nakiska can be accessed by extending a drive from Calgary past the Jumping Pound Ridge area.

Outdoor activities include skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and tubing, and the Alpine Sport Rental Shop offers gear rentals and lessons. Nakiska also has several on-mountain shopping and dining options. Nearby accommodation options include:

• Blackstone Mountain Lodge
• Canmore Pocaterra Inn & Waterslide
• Grande Rockies Resort
• The Malcolm Hotel
• Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino

Banff Sunshine Village

Banff Sunshine Village is a ski resort on the Continental Divide inside Banff National Park. Residents can access the village via a 90-minute drive from Calgary along the Trans-Canada Highway, but visitors are in luck: there's a free daily shuttle from Banff and shuttle buses run from the Calgary airport and Canmore.

Straddling the Continental Divide, Banff Sunshine Village experiences more sunny days than other resorts. It features over 13.5 square kilometres of terrain with 134 ski runs across three mountains: Goat's Eye, Lookout, and Mount Standish. Sunshine Mountain Lodge offers ski-in and ski-out accommodations with breathtaking views for those who want to stay and play.

Note: Because Sunshine Village is inside the national park, visitors need a Parks Canada Discovery Pass (available as an annual or day pass).

Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ski Resort is also inside Banff National Park. It's 184 kilometres west of Calgary (about two hours) and 60 kilometres west of Banff (about 40 minutes).

Located near iconic Lake Louise Village, this ski resort has been a go-to destination for ski enthusiasts since the 1920s. Other winter activities include ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and the famed year-round sightseeing gondola. The resort also offers several lodging options ranging from budget hostels to the renowned, luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Spring

Calgary is an incredible spring destination. While there's still a distinct chill in the air, spring is a great time to enjoy the mountain views on the area's many hiking and biking trails and take in the sights of the best lakes near Calgary. Springtime also means that ice climbing is available, and Johnston Canyon near Banff and Grotto Canyon near Canmore are world-class destinations for this unique sport.

Banff Upper Hot Springs

Inside Banff National Park, Banff Upper Hot Springs is one of only nine hot springs in the country. It's also Canada's highest hot spring, sitting at 1,600 metres. The hot springs were discovered in 1883 and played a crucial role in establishing Canada's national parks system.

Banff Upper Hot Spring is a 1.5-hour drive from Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway. Visitors can also take the ROAM bus Route 1, which is recommended given the extremely limited parking. The hot springs are open daily and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, allowing guests to soak for up to an hour. Consider making a day of it and exploring Banff and its luxury homes and condos.

Banff Spring Hikes

Hiking is the perfect activity to scratch that post-winter itch as the weather warms and trails clear. Before heading out, check local weather conditions and pack appropriately. Melting snow and ice in high elevations can be dangerous, and spring weather is often unpredictable.

Banff National Park offers several fantastic trails for all hiking abilities, such as the two-kilometre Marsh Loop, dog-friendly Fenlands Loop, or slightly more challenging Sulphur Mountain.

Try the Tunnel Mountain Summit, Spray River Trails, or Sundance Canyon for something short to ease into a regular hiking regimen. For a more physically challenging hike, check out Stoney Lookout or Sunshine Meadows, which requires snowshoes in the spring.

Cycle the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail

Paralleling the Trans-Canada Highway between Canmore and Banff is the 26-kilometre Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail. Partially opened in 2010, today, the trail is a favourite for cyclists to take in incredible views of the Bow Valley.

The trail has a modest elevation difference of 250 metres over its entire length, so riding will feel leisurely and flat to most experienced cyclists. Winds coming from the west sometimes make riding from Canmore to Banff more challenging, while riding eastward to Canmore is primarily downhill and gentle.

Summer

Summertime in Calgary is mild and sunny, with temperatures averaging between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. It's an ideal time to enjoy a wide range of outdoor pursuits and explore the region's various trails and parks. During the warmer months, nature lovers may observe more wildlife and enjoy the warmth. For those who want a taste of Calgary's water recreation, several high alpine lakes offer opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and even scuba diving.

Horseback Riding

For over 100 years, Brewster Adventures has helped visitors explore the jaw-dropping sights near Lake Louise on horseback. Retrace the steps of the earliest Lake Louise visitors with one of five summer trail rides, including storied destinations such as the Giant Steps, Lake Agnes Tea House, Paradise Valley, and the Plain of Six Glaciers.

The stables are just five minutes from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and it takes a little over two hours to get there from Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway.

Lake Minnewanka

Located in the eastern section of Banff National Park, Lake Minnewanka is the largest glacial lake in the park. Its name translates to "waters of the spirits" in Stoney Nakoda First Nations language, named such because people once believed the lake was home to spirits. To this day, a ghost resort town sits at the bottom of the lake!

A free bus shuttles visitors between Lake Minnewanka and downtown Banff, just 10 minutes away. One of the best ways to experience the lake is on a guided cruise. Several options are available, most ranging from 1–1.5 hours. Fishing in Lake Minnewanka is also excellent, and advanced paddlers may wish to explore the lake in a canoe or kayak. Motorboats are permitted—the only lake in the national park where they're allowed—but jet skis are not.

Canmore Cave Tours

Since 1992, Canmore Cave Tours has offered adventurous folks a close look at Rat's Nest Cave under Grotto Mountain. This undeveloped cave provides an insight into the area's fascinating natural history.

Cave tours are available year-round, rain or shine, and visitors can book one of two tours depending on their specific interest levels. The 4.5-hour Explorer Tour includes two hours underground, while the 6-hour Adventure Tour features four hours underground and an 18-metre rappel. Explorers observe cave formations and ancient fossils on both tours.

Autumn

As colder weather approaches, lovers of Calgary's outdoor activities still have plenty to explore in the Rocky Mountains near Calgary. It's a great time for sightseeing, hiking, biking, and exploring, particularly with vibrant fall colours as a backdrop.

Popular destinations in the fall include the Kananaskis River and Johnston Canyon, with amazingly colourful scenery and relatively flat, easy-going trails. Look out for grizzly bears and other wildlife while exploring Lake Louise, with its picture-perfect views of the Canadian Rockies.

Hike Larch Valley

Located near Lake Louise, Larch Valley gives hikers a moderately challenging route to the Minnestimma Lakes. The 4.3-kilometre trail has a substantial elevation change of 535 metres, and most hikers complete the round-trip in 3.5–4 hours.

Larch Valley is also dog-friendly and popular with birdwatchers. As you hike, marvel at the views of Ten Peaks and the tapestry of fall colours in the unique foliage of the native larch forest around Moraine Lake. Like pines, larch trees are deciduous and shed all their needles by mid-October.

Explore Downtown Canmore

Canmore, Alberta, is on the southeast edge of Banff National Park, 81 kilometres west of Calgary. Pedestrian-friendly downtown Canmore invites visitors to explore its shops, restaurants, and galleries, all set against the gorgeous Canadian Rockies. It's easy to see why several writers and artists call Canmore home and why the town has been the shooting location for several films and television shows.

In addition to Canmore's homes for sale, the town has several lodging options for those who want to stay overnight.

• Canmore Hotel Hostel: Located on Main Street featuring a restaurant, shared kitchen, and shared lounge
• Lamphouse Hotel: A modern, boutique hotel in the heart of Downtown
• Paintbox Lodge: A rugged, Olympian-owned boutique hotel

Take a Canadian Rockies Helicopter Tour

Can you imagine a better way to see the Canadian Rockies than from high in the sky, in a helicopter? Mountain View Helicopters offers people the unique opportunity to get out of their homes and experience the area's awe-inspiring rugged terrain from a unique perspective.

The Heights of the Rockies tour takes visitors over the Continental Divide, providing birds'-eye views of the upper and lower Kananaskis Lakes, Nakiska Ski Area, Mount Joffre, and the Heights of the Rockies Provincial Park. The Banff/Canmore Tour offers a new perspective on the gorgeous mountain towns.

Both tours accommodate three or four passengers and start at Springbank Airport, approximately 25 kilometres or 15 minutes west of Calgary, via the Trans-Canada Highway.

Adventure Abounds Near Calgary

Calgary is so much more than a central metropolitan area in Canada. It's also an ideal jumping-off point for exploring some of the planet's most beautiful natural environments. With the Canadian Rockies as the stunning backdrop to your outdoor playground, fun and excitement are waiting to welcome visitors during every season. Calgary's parks and recreation are world-renowned and can be enjoyed no matter the month.

Enjoy Calgary's legacy as the host of the past Winter Olympic games with some quality unplugged time on a pair of skis or a snowboard, or explore wildlife and take in the scenery on two wheels. Whatever attracts you to Calgary, it's an ideal place to visit and call home.