Canada has the Rocky Mountains, yet almost nobody lives high up. The country's population clusters along the southern border, mostly on plains and coasts, and its highest communities are small mountain towns in Alberta and British Columbia. These are the highest cities and towns in Canada, measured at each community centre.
What is my elevation? Check live →Canada's highest communities, ranked
| # | Community | Province / Territory | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Louise | Alberta | 5,056 ft | 1,541 m |
| 2 | Banff | Alberta | 4,557 ft | 1,389 m |
| 3 | Canmore | Alberta | 4,298 ft | 1,310 m |
| 4 | Kimberley | British Columbia | 3,517 ft | 1,072 m |
| 5 | Calgary | Alberta | 3,448 ft | 1,051 m |
| 6 | Fernie | British Columbia | 3,307 ft | 1,008 m |
| 7 | Cranbrook | British Columbia | 3,015 ft | 919 m |
| 8 | Lethbridge | Alberta | 2,986 ft | 910 m |
| 9 | Red Deer | Alberta | 2,825 ft | 861 m |
| 10 | Edmonton | Alberta | 2,195 ft | 669 m |
| 11 | Medicine Hat | Alberta | 2,195 ft | 669 m |
| 12 | Whitehorse | Yukon | 2,096 ft | 639 m |
| 13 | Prince George | British Columbia | 1,906 ft | 581 m |
| 14 | Regina | Saskatchewan | 1,903 ft | 580 m |
| 15 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 1,594 ft | 486 m |
| 16 | Kamloops | British Columbia | 1,201 ft | 366 m |
| 17 | Kelowna | British Columbia | 1,132 ft | 345 m |
| 18 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 761 ft | 232 m |
Lake Louise and Banff: the highest permanent communities
The hamlet of Lake Louise at roughly 1541 m and the town of Banff at about 1389 m are the highest permanently inhabited communities in Canada. Both sit inside Banff National Park, which explains why they stayed small: development is tightly restricted by federal park legislation, and Banff maintains a residency requirement — you generally need to work in the park to live there.
Calgary: the highest major city
At about 1051 m, Calgary is by far the highest large city in Canada and one of the highest in North America outside the US Mountain West. The elevation is not obvious to visitors because the city sits on open prairie rather than in a valley — the Rockies are a visible wall to the west, some 80 km away. The altitude is high enough to affect endurance athletes and to make Calgary's speed-skating oval one of the fastest in the world.
Why Canada sits low
Canada's mean elevation is roughly 487 m, but that average is misleading. The Canadian Shield, the vast ancient rock plateau covering much of the country, was scoured flat by ice-age glaciation. The Prairies are the flattened floor of an ancient inland sea. And the mountainous west, where the height actually is, holds only a small share of the population — the terrain that makes it beautiful also makes it hard to build on.
- Highest point in Canada: Mount Logan, Yukon, at 5,959 m — the second-highest peak in North America.
- Highest incorporated city: Calgary, Alberta, at roughly 1051 m.
- Highest community of any size: Lake Louise, Alberta, at roughly 1541 m.
- Highest territorial capital: Whitehorse, Yukon, at about 639 m.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest city in Canada?
Calgary, Alberta at roughly 1051 m is the highest major city. Among smaller communities, the hamlet of Lake Louise at about 1541 m and the town of Banff at about 1389 m sit higher.
Is Calgary high enough to affect visitors?
At roughly 1051 m, Calgary is well below the altitude where sickness occurs, but endurance athletes notice the thinner air, and visitors from sea level sometimes report mild breathlessness during exertion in the first days.
What is the highest point in Canada?
Mount Logan in Yukon at 5,959 m, the second-highest peak in North America after Denali. It is a remote icefield summit with no settlement anywhere near it.
Why are Canada's mountain towns so small?
Most sit inside national parks, where federal legislation strictly limits development. Banff even requires an eligible residency qualification, generally tied to working within the park.