Bow River Scenic Float Tour Canmore

Canmore, mountain town of the Bow Valley

Canmore sits in the Bow Valley just outside the eastern gate of Banff National Park, about 20 minutes from Banff and an hour from Calgary. It was founded in the 1880s as a coal-mining town when the Canadian Pacific Railway pushed through the Rockies, and mining continued here until 1979. When Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Nordic skiing events were held at the Canmore Nordic Centre, and the town began its new life as an outdoor capital.

Today Canmore is loved for its relaxed mountain atmosphere, its main street of cafés and galleries and its easy access to hiking, biking and paddling. Many travellers stay here as a quieter base for exploring Banff. A Canmore float tour is one of the best things to do in Canmore for families, because it shows the town's spectacular setting from a completely different angle.

The Bow River from glacier to valley

The Bow River begins at Bow Glacier and Bow Lake high on the Icefields Parkway and flows more than 500 km east through Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore and Calgary before joining the Oldman River to form the South Saskatchewan. Fed by glaciers and snowmelt, it carries fine rock flour that gives its water the famous blue-green colour you see as you float through Canmore.

On this Bow River float, the current does most of the work. You sit back in a stable raft while your guide steers around gravel islands and gentle bends, with forested banks and open meadows on either side. The water is calm on this stretch, which makes it a peaceful trip rather than a whitewater ride, and the hour on the river passes quickly with so much to look at.

The Three Sisters, Mount Rundle and Ha Ling Peak

From the river you enjoy some of the most famous mountain views in Alberta. To the southeast rise the Three Sisters, a trio of pointed peaks that has become the symbol of Canmore. Across the valley stretches the long, tilted ridge of Mount Rundle, and above the town stands Ha Ling Peak with its steep north face. Seen from the water, framed by trees and reflections, they look even more dramatic than from the streets.

Your guide explains how these mountains were formed when layers of ancient seabed limestone were pushed up and tilted, and how glaciers later carved the wide U-shaped valley of the Bow. The light changes through the day, so morning departures give soft, clear views, while afternoon and early evening floats bathe the peaks in warm colour. Keep your camera ready for the bends that open up new views.

Wildlife on the river and practical tips

The Bow Valley is an important wildlife corridor, and the river is a great place to watch animals without disturbing them. Elk and deer often graze near the banks, bald eagles and ospreys perch in tall trees or fish over the water, and ducks and geese paddle in the quieter channels. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the calm pace of the float makes it easy to spot movement on the shore.

How to get to the Canmore float tour: the meeting point is the Canmore Public Boat Launch at Bridge Road and Rundle Drive, not the Banff boat launch. Park in the lot or on the street nearby and arrive 15 minutes before your departure, after signing the online waiver. The best time to float the Bow River is summer, from June to early September, when the days are long and warm.