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Winter Cycling in Canmore: Fat Bikes, Frozen Trails, and Pure Mountain Magic

  • Adam Storms - Bow Valley Bike Guy
  • 4 days ago
  • 2 min read

If someone told me ten years ago that I’d be grinning with a frozen snot-sicle off my face while pedaling through a snow-covered forest at –10 °C, I would have laughed. Yet here I am, absolutely hooked on winter cycling in Canmore, Alberta. This little mountain town, nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, turns into a fat-bike paradise the moment the snow sticks.


Why Canmore is a Winter Cycling Dream

  1. The Trails Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is the epic for winter fat biking. Many km of trails are groomed specifically for fat biking all winter long.

  2. The Scenery: Ha Ling, the Three Sisters, Mount Rundle, Grotto Mountain… you’re literally riding in a postcard. On bluebird days, the mountains glow pink at sunrise and the hoar-frosted trees look like Narnia exploded in glitter.

  3. The Community Locals are ridiculously friendly. You’ll stop to help if you flat, and you’ll probably end up grabbing a post-ride pint with them at The Drake or Grizzly Paw afterward.

Essential Gear for Canmore Winter Riding

  • Fat bike (minimum 4.0˝ tires, 4.6–4.8˝ ideal). Rentals are easy: GearUp, Rebound Cycle, and Trail Sports at the Nordic Centre all have great fleets.

  • If you're on a non-fat bike, get the widest tires you can.

  • Studded tires if you want to ride icy singletrack or if you're commuting in town.

  • Pogies (bar mittens) – your hands will thank you.

  • 45NRTH or Lake MXZ boots, or at the very least flat pedals with winter boots and gaiters.

  • Layers: merino base, light puffy, wind shell. You’ll overheat climbing but freeze on descents.

  • –20 °C rated gloves for stops (taking photos is mandatory).

  • Clear or yellow lenses for flat light days.


Must Ride Trails

  • Canmore Nordic Centre - kilometers of groomed and rider packed trails.

  • Horseshoe trails on the north side of the valley.

  • Highline and Cloudline - get your lungs ready for some tough climbs followed by speedy decents.


Where to Warm Up After

  • Coffee: Eclipse Coffee Roasters, Beamers or Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.

  • Beer + poutine: The Drake Pub, Tavern 1883, or The Grizzly Paw

  • Sauna + cold plunge: Elevation Place (public pools) or the Nordic Centre’s new sauna

Pro Tips from a Local

  • Check the Canmore Nordic Centre trail report every morning (grooming schedule is posted by 7 am).

  • Ride early on weekends – parking fills up by 9:30 am on powder days.

  • Bring a thermos of something hot. Nothing beats sipping spiked hot chocolate while watching alpenglow hit the peaks.


Winter cycling in Canmore isn’t just exercise – it’s meditation on wheels. The crunch of snow under knobby tires, your breath freezing in the air, the silence of the forest broken only by your freehub… it’s addictive.


So stud up those tires, gear-up, and come ride with us. The mountains look even better with a little snow on them.


See you on the trails, — Bow Valley Bike Guy

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