CANMORE, Alta. — It’s not just another pretty place.

The town of Canmore, nestled on the eastern edge of Banff National Park, offers all of the spectacular views but none of the restrictions or droves of tourists of its bigger brother Banff to the west.

The community of 12,000 was named in 1884 for a town on the northwest shores of Scotland named in honour of King Malcolm III of Canmore. Two years later the Alberta town was granted a coal mining charter. Coal mining was the major industry for decades until most of the mines began to shut down.

Now the big draw is tourism and more particularly skiing in the winter and golf, mountain biking and hiking in the summer.

"What we offer that is different from Banff is a low-key atmosphere. It’s not quite so touristy and busy. You can escape the crowds here in Canmore and this is a real community. People live here and work here and call it home," said Michael Roycroft, the area manager for Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park.

The Canmore Nordic Centre was developed for the 1988 Olympic Games and remains a world-class facility. During the winter months it is a beacon for cross-country skiers, both experienced and novice. It also hosts many international sporting events since it is home to Canada’s national cross-country and biathlon teams.

Roycroft says visitors shouldn’t let themselves be intimidated.

"The Canmore Nordic Centre has become sort of a great place to get your feet wet into the sport," said Roycroft.

"To try out cross-country skiing we’ve got really easy trails, but at the same time this is the home of our national cross-country and national biathlon ski teams so you can be out there skiing and have Olympians and world cup medallists ski by you here.

"It’s a pretty regular occurrence," he added with a chuckle. "But you have to move quickly if you want an autograph."

About 80,000 visitors take to the 70 kilometres of groomed trails to ski during the winter months, but overall visitors are in the 400,000 range.

Many of the same trails that attract skiers in the winter bring in mountain bikers and those interested in orienteering in the summer.

"We’ve become a destination of choice for mountain biking. We’ve got over 35 kilometres of single-track trails," added Roycroft.

Orienteering is a sport that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to get from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points.

Canmore’s mayor, who moved to Canmore from Ontario decades ago, said the biggest draw about his community is the lifestyle.

"There’s not a beach or anything like that, but if you want to come and have a quiet time, if you want to come and hike and bike and if you want close proximity to skiing and lots of outdoor activity, good restaurants, unique shops, it’s just a very relaxed, quiet place to come," said Mayor Ron Casey.

If you do prefer the hustle and bustle of Banff, it’s only a 10- to 15-minute drive to the townsite. Canmore is also near a number of downhill ski hills including Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village.

IF YOU GO:

•Canmore is about 100 kilometres west of Calgary on the TransCanada Highway and has plenty of hotels and motels.

•Visit Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. A day pass for cross-country is $10 for adults and $7.50 for seniors. Tobogganing, disc golf and mountain biking in summer are free.

•There are plenty of unique shops and restaurants in the downtown.

•If you want to broaden your experience Banff National Park is minutes away to the west.

•For detailed information, visit www.tourismcanmore.com.

The Canadian Press