Three Sisters Pathway Canmore

Canmore Alberta is home to a huge network of hiking and biking trails in and about town, more than enough to keep an active couple such as us happy and busy for a long, long time. We’ve only done a few, not all documented here, but see ourselves heading back for more. This fine day we wander the eastern edge of the community, home to many quaint chalet type dwellings separated by green spaces and natural woods. Most of the time the way is paved with many offshoot trails and alternate routings to keep it interesting. This is the Three Sisters Pathway, paralleling the Bow River much of the time, and always in the shadow of spectacular towering peaks. Urban type hikes rarely get better than this.

Lock up the silver folks, Chris & Connie are in town!

Park at “Mineside” just a little southeast of downtown and across the Bow. Space, it seems, can be at a premium here. We just manged to squeeze into the tight last spot…and the lot was completely full on our return too. Now head towards the Bow, a stunning emerald green and turn right on a wide gravel path. This is the former Canadian Pacific Railway spur line that once served local coal mines, evidence of which you’ll see this trip. And now this old train line doubles as a fine hiking trail.

For the next few clicks the trail goes this way and that, passing through forest and parks and meandering through quaint neighbourhoods. Revel in the sheer awesomeness of the mountains that surround you here. There are no bad views.

A large field announces one’s arrival at the former coal processing plant. In the years 1895-1979, huge quantities of the stuff were extracted from the surrounding area by “Canmore Mines”, with both tunnelling and pit mining undertaken. In this very spot is where the coal was cleaned, sorted and then loaded onto waiting railcars. Interestingly, to us anyway, some housing has been allowed to be built on the former plant grounds. Lots of coal fines in the soil here.

Imagine the huge network of mine tunnels below which extended off east and west for many kilometres. We’ve seen the mine maps! To the east, the iconic Three Sisters, from which the trail gets its name. Spectacular peaks these!

A pipe allows water to escape subterranean workings, stinking of sulphur as it empties into a drainage pool tinged a pastel blue. You’ve arrived in Stinky Town! We take a quick look at some remains here, coal cars and such but will do a more thorough inventory on our return leg. There’s a mine opening a bit to the west and a lamp house, among others, that deserves some attention.

Back on the trail it’s more pleasant strolling though spruce forest. You know civilization is close, but the trees do a good job of keeping it hidden. A nice diversion is made of side trail (gravel) that allows one to get up close and personal with the river. On the return leg we take the main route. Wander this way and that, listen to the birds chirp, and water gurgle, and soon on meet back up with pavement. There’s maps at many junctions from what we could see.

Cross the Three Sisters Parkway, access road for many of the neighbourhoods seen. Almost got taken down by an “out for blood” Mercedes on the way back. Ha! It’s Death Race 2000!

Climb up a bit and cross a bridge. Coming in from the west just before, it’s the roadbed of the narrow gauge mine railway that once ran between the various workings and that plant spoken of earlier. In spite of development in the mining areas, little hints of what was can still be found. I wonder how many residents here even know the back story?

Alternate between woods and city streets. The way is always clear. Handsome Andy is a rugged 4×4 van that’s used by a tour company “Specializing in unique mountain ADVENTURES”. So want to own one like it! In the south the rugged face of Mount Lawrence Grassi looms above.

A gazebo with great views is the turn around point and makes a fine lunch stop. It’s Gewürzt and cheeses of the world in the shadow of giants. Ahhh, now this is life. Up over there, it’s the Little Sister, also known as Hope Peak (other Sisters are, of course, Faith and Charity). A deer darts out of the woods briefly, and is soon gone. Feet up, special unbreakable spun steel wine glasses in hand…we could get used to this.

Back on the trail, it’s things much as before. More mountains, more mountain chalets, woods and green spaces. Canmore is one scenic place. Pass playgrounds, ball diamonds, schools, a disc golf course, those amazing mountains a constant backdrop. Drop down on dirt and gravel and intercept the paved path used on the outbound leg. Turn left keeping on the paved path until arriving at the big processing plant field seen earlier. Along the way a tunnel under the road is explored. Why? We say why not! Across the river Grotto Mountain is a long unbroken wall of rock extending off as far as the eye can see. A massive diagonal scar marks a huge limestone quarry – it’s ground up to make cements.

A short diversion to the left, past remains looked at earlier, comes Mine #2, all locked up tight with a steel door, with a mine car on display. Pulley was part of a winch system used to extract cars from the deep underground workings. This was one of many former “openings” to the Canmore Mine. The lamp house is in rough shape and is one of the last buildings left speaking of the operation. Coal slack is all about (waste material, fines and separated dirt) as are odd bits of metal. There’s the mine railway line heading off into the woods. Over that way it’s odd bits of concrete and steel, their former use unknown. There used to be a huge number of building here, a cleaning plant, loading tipple, maintenance buildings, and others and what you see is all that’s left.

New housing encroaches on the former plant grounds. One new dig has stirred up much waste coal – this bench by the river is mostly this material, many metres thick as least. Canmore was literally built on mining, as evidenced here, but it’s tourism and outdoor activities that bring in the money now. It’s a cheaper less touristy Banff.

More mountains, more wow. And the river’s gorgeous. In the distance a train whistle.

Love these chalet style homes. Damn, that photo should be on the cover of Real Estate Weekly. And in a few more steps it’s back to the car. Once again, ahhh. Now it’s getting out of town, the only down side. One either tries to sneak through busy congested downtown to the highway, or taking in the winding Three Sisters Parkway, which seems to have an artificially slow speed limit (and is often “watched” by photo radar). Oh well, we’ll get home some way. This hike was worth it.

Outside the beginning, and end of the trek, near the parking spot, the trail was actually rather quiet, more so the further east we found ourselves. It’s a multi-use trail, so be mindful of bikes.

Hikes in the general area…
Canmore Loop – on the west end of town.
Grotto Canyon – spectacular!
Wind Ridge – a fantastic spot to look over Canmore.

If you wish more information about this route, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: April, 2019.
Location: Beautiful Canmore, Alberta
Distance: 15km there and back with loop.
Height gain maximum: 50m-ish.
Height gain cumulative: 50m-ish.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.
Technical bits: One road crossing where it seems drivers are out for blood.
Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guides by Gillean Daffern.

On the scenic Three Sisters Pathway, Canmore Alberta.

A curious find.

Go this way, not that.

The trail sticks close to the Bow most of the time.

Lots of chalet style houses will be passed.

The namesake Three Sisters.

Canmore has a coal mining past.

Forgotten metal left behind.

Field in back was where the processing plant was located.

In trademark yellow jacket, poking about some remains.

Much of the way is paved.

And there’s lots of maps.

A most peaceful section.

Crossing the old narrow gauge mine railway roadbed.

More reminders.

Handsome Andy will take you places.

Channelling the Fab Four.

A fine Gewürzt below Little Sister, aka Hope Peak.

Looping back, a storm threatens.

Time for a little disc golf.

A playground with much scenery.

There’s a mix of wild and urban.

Chatting with a local.

Going underground.

Lock the silver away…we’re in town!

The giant rampart that is Grotto Mountain.

At the Number Two Mine entrance.

The Lamp House is in rough shape.

Coal slack here and there.

And bits and pieces left behind.

Some houses are built atop old coal lands.

In every direction it’s wow.

Fancy ourselves real estate photographers.

One last look at the Emerald Bow River.

Fifteen clicks of pure enjoyment.