It's the excellent access to outdoor activities that makes Canmore and the Kananaskis such a prime destination. For the outdoors-minded, from its offices in Kananaskis Village and in Canmore (at 999 Bow Valley Trail), Inside Out Experience Tours (tel. 877/999-7238; www.insideoutexperience.com) represents most local outfitters. You'll find bike trips, trail rides, rafting, hiking, and sightseeing tours on offer. Canadian Rockies Adventure Centre (701 Bow Valley Trail; tel. 877/226-7625 or 403/678-6535; www.canadianrockies.ca) also will help you book anything and everything.
Golf
The Kananaskis area features four championship golf courses and one of Canada's premier golf resorts. Kananaskis Country Golf Course boasts two 18-hole, par-72 courses set among alpine forests and streams, and featuring water hazards on 20 holes, 140 sand traps, and four tee positions. It's rated among the top courses in Canada. For information, contact Golf Kananaskis (Kananaskis Country Golf Course, P.O. Box 1710, Kananaskis Village, AB T0L 2H0; tel. 877/591-2525 or 403/591-7272; www.kananaskisgolf.com). Greens fees are C$90.
Near Canmore, the low-key 18-hole Canmore Golf Course is right along the Bow River, at 2000 Eighth Ave. (tel. 403/678-4785; www.canmoregolf.net). Greens fees are C$80. Their clubhouse has a great patio.
The Les Furber-designed Silver Tip Golf Course (tel. 403/678-1600; www.silvertipresort.com) is an 18-hole, par-72 course high above Canmore that calls itself "extreme mountain golf." You'll be eye-to-eye with the Canadian Rockies here and perhaps look wildlife in the eye, too -- grizzly bears have been known to roam on the course. Boasting a length of 7,300 yards, the course has sand bunkers on all holes and water on eight. Greens fees range from C$105 to C$175. Also at Canmore is the Stewart Creek Golf Club (tel. 877/993-4653; www.stewartcreekgolf.com), with 18 holes, 32 bunkers, and a beautiful location below the Three Sisters peaks. The course measures 7,150 yards and incorporates natural lakes, streams, and even historic mine entrances. Greens fees range from C$150 to C$195, including use of a golf cart.
Horseback Trips
The Kananaskis is noted for its dude ranches, which offer a variety of horseback adventures from short trail rides to multiday pack trips. A 2-hour guided ride will generally cost about C$60 per person. In addition, Boundary Ranch, just south of Kananaskis Village on Highway 40 (tel. 877/591-7177 or 403/591-7171; www.boundaryranch.com), offers a variety of trail rides, including a horseback lunch excursion.
Rafting
Then there's always an old classic, white-water rafting. The Kananaskis and Bow rivers are the main draw here. In addition to a range of half-day (C$75) and full-day (C$125) white-water trips, there are excursions that combine a half-day of horseback riding with an afternoon of rafting (C$144). Inside Out Experience can provide more information. All prices are per person.
The Canadian Rockies Rafting Company (tel. 877/226-7625; www.rafting.ca) is among the most established rafting tour companies in the area, with a range of different trips -- the more gentle ride along the Kananaskis River, to the white-water rush of British Columbia's Kicking Horse River (with rapids as high as Class IV). These are mountain rivers, so bear in mind, it's cold.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
