1. Canmore Nordic Centre. Not sure if cross-country skiing is for you? This is the place to rent some equipment, take a few lessons and try out a recreational trail, with or without a guide. Daily trail fee. Fully-equipped day lodge offers a warm fire and cafeteria lunch service too. Practice in the flat stadium area in front of the lodge or watch the athletes training for world competition. Trail Sports on site offers lessons and equipment rentals.

2. Cascade Fire Road. Popular with locals and visitors, this trail (13 km return) combines exercise with a "destination" lunch stop. Take the Lake Minnewanka Road turnoff at the first exit to Banff. Follow the winter closure detour to the Minnewanka parking lot via Johnson Lake. From the trailhead, a gentle descent curves west across the road closure, meadow and into the trees at the bottom of Cascade. The trail climbs steadily for a few km, then rollercoasters along to the final brief descent to the bridge across Stony Creek - about four miles - the perfect spot for a winter picnic!

3. Moraine Lake Road. This is a great early-season ski trail to learn and practice the sport amid stunning scenery. All skier levels will enjoy the outing. Trailhead begins at the parking lot on your left about halfway up the road to the Chateau from the town of Lake Louise. Find your groove as you glide along the first 2.5 km of fairly flat, double track-set terrain. After crossing Paradise Creek, the trail gently climbs, then levels out to the viewpoint overlooking Consolation Valley. Turn around anytime you like. 16 km to viewpoint and return.

1. Burstall Pass: 15 km return; 470 m. elev. gain. Trailhead is Burstall Pass parking lot about 45 minutes drive south of Canmore on the Smith-Dorrien Spray Lakes Road. From the parking lot, the first 5 km up to the lake is fairly easy. After crossing the lake, begin a steep climb through the trees. After about 100 feet of elevation, the trail levels off for about a kilometre and goes into a gully and climbs again for several more hundred feet, coming out at the timberline. Here the trail splits: straight ahead to the north pass telemarking field or left and a little longer to the south pass and great views.