All About the Three Sisters Mountains in Canmore, Alberta

If you have visited the town of Canmore or nearby Banff, you have likely seen or at least heard about the Three Sisters in Canmore. They are easily the town’s most recognizable peaks and some of the most unique in the Canadian Rockies. The Three Sisters are my three favorite ladies in Alberta, and even though I see them every day, they never get old.

However, when we first moved to Canmore, I had never heard of them and knew nothing about the Three Sisters Mountain. Even after a few months of living literally directly under the Little Sister, I knew there was much to discover about them. Here’s all you need to know about the Three Sisters!


An Intro to the Three Sisters Canmore

three sisters canmore sunrise

In 1883, when Canmore was known as a mining town, Albert Rogers named these three peaks the “Three Nuns” following a winter storm that left the peaks snow-capped and resembled nuns in white veils.

In 1886, they were renamed by George Dawson, a Canadian geologist, and surveyor, to the Three Sisters. The names of the Three Sisters are individually known as Big Sister, Middle Sister, and Little Sister – or Faith, Hope, and Charity, respectively.

three sisters in canmore in winter

 ÃŽyârhe Nakoda, the traditional language of the First Nations Stoney Nakoda, also refers to the peaks as the Three Sisters. Although the name refers to Ĩ-ktomnÄ©, the old man who would promise ‘three sisters’ in marriage whenever he was in trouble.

The Big Sister is the biggest at 2,936 meters, the Middle Sister is 2,769 meters, and the Little Sister is 2,694 meters.


Can You Hike the Three Sisters in Canmore?

three sisters canmore

The Big Sister and the Middle Sister can both be summited in a day. The Big Sister is a moderate out-and-back scramble. The scramble should be saved for experienced scramblers only as a few tricky steps might make your butt clench if not prepared.

It’s also very easy to get turned around and find yourself off route on this scramble. To summit the Big Sister will require scramblers to climb 1,244 m in 2.6 km, or in other words, it’s incredibly steep up loose scree.

three sisters in canmore in winter

The Middle Sister is an easy scramble but a much longer day that will require following a laborious creek bed for almost 7 km of the trail, followed by the climb to the summit. Only to turn around and take the same boring creekbed trail out. The Middle Sister Trail will have hikers gaining 1,521 m in 17km.

The Little Sister requires technical climbing skills and is likely only summited a few times a season. You cannot hike all Three Sisters in one day. The Three Sisters Traverse is a dangerous climbing route rarely attempted by the most experienced.


Where Can I Photograph Three Sisters Canmore?

three sisters canmore

You can see the Three Sisters from almost anywhere in Canmore. However, there are a few locations that are real standouts.

The first and easiest place to see them is right from the Canmore Bridge over the Bow River, near the public boat launch. If you are lucky, some elk might cross the river as you photograph them. You can see this photo from above. Yes, I know, I’m a poor substitute for some awesome Canadian elk.

three sisters canmore

Another great spot to see them is along a bike path connecting downtown Canmore to the Three Sisters Mountain Village (residential area). If you walk or bike away from town past the West Canmore Park you’ll eventually hit a wide-open field with the Bow River on your left, housing on your right, and the beautiful Three Sisters straight ahead.

three sisters canmore

The next best spot to see them and a photographer’s favorite is from Policemen’s Creek. See the photo above. This spot can be found across the street from the town’s off-leash dog park.

Cross the Bow Valley Trail road and go under the train tracks, and you’ll find a faint path leading you to the photo point in about five minutes. Get there early morning or in the evening for awesome creek reflections.

Three-Sisters-Canmore in winter
The Three Sisters in December

While the Three Sisters are amazing at any time of day, the light shines best on them in the morning. Get up early to catch sunrise there! In the summer, you can catch the first light hitting the Little Sister around 6am (depending on the time of year).

Winter in Canmore however, is slightly harder to get a picture-perfect sunrise photo as the sun doesn’t rise in just the right spot to hit the sisters.


Other Ways to See the Three Sisters Canmore

three sisters canmore helicopter

One of the best things to do in Canmore, however the most expensive way to see the Three Sisters is to enjoy a helicopter ride. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will give you a unique view of the sisters. If you go in the summer, you may even see a few scramblers on top of Big Sister.

There’s an awesome hike in Canmore called Grassi Knob. It’s a quick one (for Canadian Rockies standards), however, it’s quite steep. At the “summit” of the knob, you’ll get in your face views of the sisters.


Other Favorite Photos We Took of the Sisters

three sisters canmore walk
The Three Sisters from Near Our House
Little Sister Canmore
The Little and Middle Sister from the Canmore Reservoir
Quarry Lake
The Little Sister from Quarry Lake
three sisters in canmore
The-Malcolm-Hotel-Canmore
The pool at The Malcolm has amazing views of the Three Sisters
wind Ridge Canmore
A different perspective – tha backside of the Three Sisters from the Wind Ridge Hike

Hopefully, this gave you some insight into the beautiful Three Sisters in Canmore.

If you have any other questions leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spots, lakes, hikes, and everything else.


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About Natasha

Natasha calls Canmore, Alberta home. After traveling across seven continents and 90 countries with Cameron, she settled down in the stunning Canadian Rockies. She loves to help others travel and make their planning easier. She is a winter enthusiast and loves to snowboard, ice skate, and snowshoe and enjoy all the fantastic summer opportunities in Banff like hiking, scrambling, and biking. You can find her in the mountains or enjoying a coffee by the river. Learn more on the about us page!

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3 thoughts on “All About the Three Sisters Mountains in Canmore, Alberta”

  1. Thank you for all the valuable information. We had a wonderful visit to Camore and Banff/Jasper/Yoho National Parks. Thanks especially for the tip on best photography location for the Three Sisters!

    Reply

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