Nordic Centre Trails

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 12.1 km
Elevation Gain: 389 m
Parking: Canmore Nordic Centre
Trail Report: Canmore Nordic Centre
Combine With: Grassi Lakes, Rundle Riverside
Download GPX File

Extend your Run

There are endless combinations of routes at the Nordic Centre, particularly during the summer when the cross country ski trails are free of snow. This is also the eastern access point for the Rundle Riverside trail, which can be reached any number of ways through the Nordic Centre.

Local Tips

  • Bear and other wildlife warnings and closures are a fixture of the Nordic Centre from early spring until late fall. It’s important to carry bear spray and be aware of your surroundings on all trails in the Canadian Rockies, and this is especially true here.

  • This is one of the go-to spots for sporting events of all types in Canmore, including cross country, mountain biking, adventure racing, and of course trail running. It’s a good idea to check the Alberta Parks website or speak with staff at the day lodge to see if any trails are affected by these events, particularly on weekends, and to have a backup plan.

  • The upper trails at at the Nordic Centre (including Ziggy’s, Backdoor, Albertan) are closed seasonally from December 1 to June 15. They will remain closed for summer 2026 due to ongoing Bow Valley Fireguard work.

  • A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park at the Nordic Centre. There is limited free parking available across the road beside the Rundle Forebay, where Ken Ritchie Way intersects the Smith Dorrien Spray Trail. This parking is popular among paddle boarders during the summer months and it also a great spot to cool off after your run.