Viewpoints south of Canmore
🏘️ Local guide📅 Updated October 19, 2026⏱ 2 min read
Cover: Three Sisters. Photo: KaleighAlysse, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Half a day by car in the mountains south of Canmore: a pond that reflects like a mirror, a huge reservoir among the peaks and a viewpoint over the Three Sisters. First you drive up Spray Lakes Road, then head back to town for a short walk. For anyone who wants Canmore's classic views without long hikes.
The route
From Canmore, drive up Spray Lakes Road to Whiteman's Pond, in Spray Valley Provincial Park. It's a pond at the foot of a huge rock wall, so sheltered from the wind that the still water reflects like a mirror. Walk around it to see the profile of Ha Ling. The Goat Creek Day-use Area parking lot is just past it.
Continue south on the same road, called the Smith-Dorrien Trail there, to the Spray Lakes Reservoir. It's a reservoir more than 20 km long, surrounded by mountains. The Spray Lake Day Use Area gives access to the beach and has pit toilets.
Head back to town for the Three Sisters Viewpoint: a short walk to a small pond with a view of the Three Sisters, which reflect in the water on a calm day. It crosses a protected area: stay on the marked route and keep your dog on a leash.
Season
According to Alberta Parks, the Spray Lake Day Use Area is open from May 10 to September 2. Those services are seasonal, but you can visit the reservoir in winter: Alberta Parks lists activities there such as snowshoeing, fat biking and ice fishing. Before you drive up, check 511 Alberta for avalanche-control closures on Highway 742.
If you go between May and October, you can add the Canmore Hoodoos, earth pillars above the town cemetery. In summer, the Grassi Lakes are on the same Spray Lakes Road; their interpretive route is closed in winter because of ice.
Mark each stop with ✓ on its page to complete the challenge in your Hediny passport.
Official sources
- Alberta Parks: Spray Lake Day Use
- Alberta: Kananaskis Conservation Pass
- 511 Alberta: estado de las carreteras
- Kananaskis Public Safety: control de avalanchas en la Highway 742
- Alberta Parks: Grassi Lakes Interpretive
Community experiences
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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