Travel Planning
The devil is in the details, as they say. Nothing can make a trip run smoother (or turn it into a complete shemozel) faster than the quality of our pre-trip planning work together with you prior to arrival. From arrivals for those joining us from abroad at Calgary International airport, to obtaining car rentals, groceries, accommodation, fishing licenses, to meeting points and timings with your Guide in either Canmore or Calgary; having a clearly planned itinerary, and logistical details sorted well in advance of your trip will make for a much smoother experience, so you can focus on what you've come here to do - relax, recharge, and focus on enjoy your time on the water.
Float & Wade Trips
Canmore, Alberta.
The Upper Bow River
For our float and wade trips, freestone mountain waters of the Upper Bow River, you will have 2 townsites to base yourself from during your stay. Canmore is a well-appointed mountain tourism destination, seated minutes from the east gate of Banff National Park, with a population of roughly 14,000. Generally, we'd suggest basing yourself here in town with us for float and wade trips on the Upper Bow River.
With exceptional variety in accommodation options, numerous appetizing restaurants, grocery stores, and a local fly shop, basing yourself here in Canmore will put you within arms reach of both the water and anything you'll likely require for a comfortable stay here in the valley during your trip.
From the Calgary International Airport, the drive to Canmore takes approximately 1.5hr. While the water we float is rarely crowded, weekend trips are preferred by many guests. Booking midweek with us helps to avoid the crowds both on and off the water, and will likely offer you and your crew a more enjoyable experience during your time here.
Calgary to Canmore
For those joining us from flights into Calgary International, find your travel route from Calgary to our home waters here on the Upper Bow River in Canmore:
Canmore Accommodation
A variety of accommodation options are available for your time here in Canmore. Below are a range of offerings we'd suggest:
$ - The Alpine Club of Canada
- The Alpine Club of Canada is located on a quiet property away from the hustle of the downtown and Main Street core. Shared accommodation here is available as are private room options, but is generally considered one of the more cost effective options in Canmore. Clean, comfortable, with a large library and shared communal kitchen space, expect to have other climbers, hikers and mountain adventurers staying alongside you here. ACC Member Rates are generally available.
Reservations & Information at:
www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
$$ - The Paintbox Lodge (Our Guide's Choice)
- Locally owned by Olympic medalist, Sarah Renner, and World Cup Champion Thomas Grandi, this intimate boutique hotel sits in the heart of downtown Canmore. The lodge is a reflection of it's owners, relaxed, welcoming and professional. Five unique and comfortable rooms are available, and the cuisine excellent. Best to book early.
Reservations & Information at:
www.paintboxlodge.com
$$$ - The Malcolm Hotel
- The Malcolm provides 4-Star service and hospitality, with 124 well appointed rooms and suites with luxury amenities. Situated between 2 natural flowing spring creeks, the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the second floor are almost worth a stay on their own.
Reservations & Information at:
www.malcolmhotel.ca
In addition, the usual array of hotel and accommodation offerings can be found on your preferred booking sites. Booking close to the downtown center will situate you within walking distance of most amenities you may require from local grocery stores to, fly shops to restaurants:
If you prefer to be located near to our most common put in's and take out's for our float and wade trips near the Canmore townsite, you can find those access and take out points here:
Fly Shops
Owned and operated by Nick Schlachter, Wapiti Sports has been serving the Anglers and Hunters here in the Bow Valley for more than 30 years. You can find everything here at the shop from rod's to flies to waders and boots, and even pick up your alberta fishing license while you're in.
If we're unable to accommodate a booking for you this season, we'd strongly suggest looking into their Guiding services, as few others know the waters here as well as Nick and his team. In a resort town that can feel a little stuffy at times, stopping in to talk shop with a crew that has a genuine and down to earth love for the Bow Valley and the people here is worth the visit on it's own.
The shop carries many of the brands that support our trips, Guides and Clients, and where we'd point you if you'd like to pick up a product you've tried on the river with us, from:
Check out the shop at:
www.wapitisports.com
Groceries
Canmore has 3 main grocery stores, all within walking distance of each other, and downtown.
- Save-On-Foods
Large scale grocery store. Generally maintain more consistent stock, often offer better produce options, and have a healthy bulk and natural foods section. Easy walking distance from downtown.
Click Here for Location
- Safeway
Large scale grocery store. Easy walking distance from downtown.
Click Here for Location
- Nutters
Natural and health food grocery store. A small but generally good selection of organic and specialty foods including keto, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc.
Click Here for Location
Rental Cars & Suv's
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Options for rental car pick up in Canmore are limited. A few additional options do exist 20 minutes to the west in Banff, but best if arriving in Calgary, to source your rental vehicle there. If booking with Enterprise directly for pickup in Canmore, we'd suggest calling ahead to the Canmore location to confirm the vehicle you've booked will in fact be available for pick up. In particular, if you're reservation is for either a truck and SUV, we'd encourage you to call the Canmore location directly (avoiding the call center) for confirmation your vehicle of choice will be available for you.
Reservations & Booking: www.enterprise.ca
Click Here for Canmore Pickup Location
Alberta Sportfishing License Purchase
Prior to your day(s) on the water with us, you will be required to purchase an Alberta Sportfishing License valid during the period of your trip(s) with us. These can most easily be obtained online here:
A license purchase can also be done in person after arrival in Canmore. Our Program Managers are happy to assist if you require a license purchase after your arrival.
Float Trips
Calgary, Alberta.
The Lower Bow River
Calgary, Alberta is one of Canada's major urban centers. With a population of 1.3M, one can expect to have access to all the amenities of a city of more than a million, needed to accommodate comfortable trips with us on the lower Bow River and its Blue Ribbon fly waters. Generally speaking, float sections are based in the southeast of the city, with the best sections below and outside the city limits, again situated to the southeast of the city, extending downstream to the (very) small rural community of Carseland.
Calgary's International Airport hosts direct flights from a variety of major cities abroad making the arrival seamless, offering the opportunity for quick trips in and out for those on tighter timelines. Accommodation options, restaurants, fly shops, grocery stores, rental car agencies, and off-the-water activities are all abundant and easily sourced.
Options provided below for your travel planning purposes are based in the downtown core, as well as in the southeast of the city more centrally positioned around our launches and takeouts. Reach out with any questions - the team here is happy to help.
Getting to Calgary
By air, flights booked into Calgary International Airport will have you arrive leaving a 20 minute commute to the downtown core, or 30-40 minute commute to the southeast of the city, the latter more closely located to the start and end of our float sections.
For those on the road in from the US, the most common point of entry for our Guests is at Coutts. Your end point is shown as one of the more common put-in's on our float trips, Policemans's Flats.
Calgary ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation options in a city of more than a million are on the cusp of endless. Below are a few options we'd suggest that have been reviewed well by our Guests. These downtown offerings are well suited to those arriving for both business and pleasure, while offerings in the southeast of the city prioritize closer proximity to our river access points:
Downtown (preferred):
$$ - $$$ Fairmont Palliser
- The Fairmont Palliser is centrally located in downtown Calgary in the heart of the city's business and financial district, making this a good choice for those arriving to join us for both business and pleasure. Near to retail, arts & culture and entertainment venue's as well as Calgary's eclectic 17th Avenue will put you in the center of vibrant urban center.
Reservations & Information at:
www.fairmont.com/palliser-calgary
$$ - $$$ Hotel Arts Kensington
- The Hotel Arts Kensington is located alongside the Bow River, minutes from the downtown core, and alongside the vibrant Kensington Village. Only a short walk from a variety of excellent restaurants and evening entertainment offerings, this is again an sound choice for those joining us for a trip with combined with business and pleasure.
Reservations & Information at:
www.hotelartskensington.com
Southeast Calgary (closer to river access):
If your preference is to be located closer to our river access points in the southeast of the city, we would suggest booking hotel and accommodation offerings using any of your preferred booking sites:
The most common put in and take out points for our float trips:
- Glenmore - Graves Bridge
- Fish Creek Park
- Policeman's Flats
- McKinnon Flats
- Carseland Weir
fly shops
While there's a host of fly shops to be found serving the Calgary area, our favorite far and above is Fish Tales Fly Shop. Owned and operated by Nancy Storwick & David Blair, Fish Tales has been serving Bow River anglers since 1997. Consistently well stocked, and with exceptional variety in product from quality brands. Dave and Nancy's shop has an incredibly open and welcoming vibe, with the experience that comes from decades on a river to go with it. Most definitely worth a stop.
Fish Tales also runs a busy Guide Service on the Lower Bow River, and if we're unable to accommodate you're booking this would be our recommendation for another great host of Guides and an Outfitter as an alternative.
The shop carries many of the brands that support our trips, Guides and Clients, and where we'd point you if you'd like to pick up a product you've tried on the river with us, from:
Check out the shop at:
www.fishtalesflyshop.com