Full Guide to Banff National Parks Most Popular Hike!

Johnston Canyon Banff

Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park is a beautiful location, renowned for its stunning limestone cliffs, suspended catwalks, waterfalls and turquoise waters. Over the last few years, I have visited the canyon on multiple occasions and across varying seasons. The landscape here is ever changing. Summer is a beautiful time to visit, with warm weather and rushing falls, but winter truly transforms the canyon into a magical, frozen landscape worthy of exploration.

Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular destinations in Banff National Park. This trail sees almost a million visitors each year and for a good reason. Accessible year round, and offering hiking adventures for people of all abilities, Johnston Canyon is a “must see” destination on many Banff itineraries. As you weave your way through towering limestone walls, you will find two main waterfalls which boast significantly different features.

Watch the below video or keep reading to find out more about this trail.

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Where is Johnston Canyon?

Johnston Canyon is 25 km from the town of Banff and 34 km from Lake Louise. It is located on highway 1A, otherwise known as the Bow Valley Parkway. This stretch of road is the old highway that connected Banff and Lake Louise. The 58 km route is a beautiful place for cycling, wildlife spotting or hiking. Why not do it all on your next visit to Johnston Canyon?

How to get to Johnston Canyon in summer?

Summer is the busiest time to visit Johnston Canyon and parking at the trailhead is limited. The best way to visit is using the Roam Transit Route 9. This bus leaves directly from the Town of Banff and runs everyday in the summer. The Roam Route 8S is another daily service operating from May to September. By catching the bus you will guarantee yourself a stress free visit to Johnston Canyon!

Another option to visit the canyon is to join a guided tour of the area. Many tour operators run guided hikes of the canyon and will include transport to and from Banff in the tour price. If you are looking to learn more about the area and tackle the hike with a group, this may be the best choice for you. You can explore current tour options here.

Alternatively, if you are feeling energetic why not rent an e-bike from the town of Banff and cycle into Johnston Canyon. Combine the beautiful hike with a stunning ride along the Bow Valley Parkway and you have the perfect summer day! There are picnic spots and lookouts along the way to stop at and the cycle involves very few hills. I have done it myself and it is one of my favourite summer memories!

Finally, there is always the option to drive your own vehicle, just be prepared to be patient for parking. Spots are limited and congestion can become overwhelming in the summer. Where possible, catch public transit.

How to get to Johnston Canyon in winter

Winter is my favourite time to visit the canyon and you still have a few great options to visit!

The Roam Transit Route 9 runs at a reduced rate during the winter and can only be accessed on weekends and stat days (public holidays) in the winter. This is still the best way to visit if the bus schedule aligns with your travel dates.

Alternatively, you can also join a guided tour or drive your own vehicle as explained above. Keep in mind, while winter is usually less busy, parking can still fill up quickly so be patient and go early if you can!

Johnston Canyon Hike

I first visited Johnston Canyon in 2021 and I remember being so excited to finally see the stunning waterfalls I had seen online. It was mid afternoon and we were just finishing a huge day on the Icefields Parkway, this was our final stop on our way into Banff. We parked at the trailhead and made our way over to the path, not realising that Johnston Canyon was a hike. Maybe that sounds silly, but after plenty of sightseeing stops that were simple, get out of the car and have a look spots, we didn't realise this one would take a bit of extra time and effort. It was our poor planning but even with our tired eyes, we reluctantly set off on the trail and loved every minute of it.

Let's make sure you have all the trail knowledge so you don't make the same mistake we did!

Firstly, Johnston Canyon is an easy-to-moderate (depending on how far you go) trail that winds throughout a canyon, leading to two main waterfalls, the Lower Falls and Upper Falls. You can choose to continue beyond the falls to the Ink Pots but I will discuss that in a separate section below.

The trail begins by crossing a small bridge and entering the canyon. From here, it is just 1.2 km to the Lower Falls. This section of the trail is graded as easy and is relatively flat. People of most ages and abilities are able to visit this section of the trail and it is possible to take a stroller if you need to.

Once you reach the Lower Falls, you will get your first peak at the waterfall where you can see it cascading down the canyon.
There is a bridge that crosses the river and takes you closer to the falls and into a small cave. From inside the cave, you get a stunning, up close view of the falls and it feels like a very private, surreal experience.
In winter the falls freeze into the most unique formations and you can still hear the rushing water underneath which is so cool!

In full transparency, this is the most popular spot on the whole trail and you will most likely have to line up to go inside the cave. With the trail being so busy, multiple visitors arrive at the Lower Falls at the same time and this usually causes significant congestion. I do think waiting to go inside is worth it, but it can be time consuming so be prepared to consider this in your hiking time. On my last visit it took us 25 minutes to get inside.

From the Lower Falls, you can either head back to the parking lot, or continue on to the Upper Falls. The Upper Falls is another 1.3 km from the Lower Falls, totalling 2.5 km one way. If you are able to continue on, do it. The trail increases in incline when hiking to the Upper Falls, but this part of the hike is where the trail truly shines in winter!

The Upper Falls are much taller than the Lower Falls, sitting at 30 metres high and can be seen from two viewpoints! In summer the falls are impressive, but in winter the frozen waterfall is stunning and the canyon is covered in cascading icicles! If you are experienced in ice climbing this is a common spot for climbers during the winter months.

Ink Pots

If you are looking to turn this into a full day hike, the trail continues on to the Ink Pots. The Ink Pots are a series of small mineral springs that vary in bright blue to green colours.

From the Upper Falls, the trail will continue another 3 km through the trees then down into the meadow. Once you reach the meadow you will arrive at the 5 beautiful, aquamarine pools. This is the perfect spot to wander among the pools, learn about the area and stop for a picnic.

If you are visiting in winter, the pools will be frozen and there will be very little to see. The best time to visit the ink pots is in summer!

Ink Pots in November

Winter-Specific Tips

Planning a winter trek? No problem! Winter is my absolute favourite time to visit this canyon. It is essential to be prepared when hiking in winter conditions so you can navigate the trail safely during the snowy season.

Johnston Canyon is a very well trafficked, and well maintained trail so excess snowfall is not usually an issue here. With all the snow getting regularly compacted, this trail can get very slippery and icy. As a result, it is important to have appropriate traction devices. Crampons, ice cleats or micro spikes are not essential, but highly recommended when visiting the area. If you don't have your own pair, visit Backtrax in Banff and hire some for the day.

It is also important to make sure you have appropriate layers when embarking on any winter hike. Adequate snacks and water on the trail is also important. I found hiking poles are not necessary but if you feel more comfortable hiking with them, there is no harm in packing them! The daylight hours in winter are very short so make sure you allow enough time on the trail and are back before dark.

Johnston Canyon is such a beautiful place to visit when in Banff National Park. Just make sure to be prepared for your hike and leave no trace when on the trail.

Happy hiking!