Johnston Canyon

Hiking area · I.D. No. 9 (Banff)

Johnston Canyon

Hiking area · I.D. No. 9 (Banff)

2

Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2, Canada

Photos

Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by Photo by age fotostock
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null
Johnston Canyon by null

Highlights

Explore the stunning national park with its picturesque hiking trails, captivating waterfalls, and inviting blue spring pools, perfect for a memorable adventure.  

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Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2, Canada Get directions

pc.gc.ca

Information

Static Map

Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2, Canada Get directions

+1 403 762 1550
pc.gc.ca

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@afar

"Johnston Canyon You can see thousands of years of erosion in this narrow canyon, where Johnston Creek's clear waters cut through the soft limestone that make up the Canadian Rockies. The journey upstream follows a series of turbulent white waters cascading into emerald-green pools, all enclosed by colorful rock walls. The paved trail that takes you gently up leads to two sets of waterfalls: the aptly named Lower Falls at the 1.2-kilometer (0.7-mile) mark and the Upper Falls at 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles). Suitable even for those with a stroller in tow, the journey runs about 30 minutes to the Lower Falls and 45 minutes to the view of the Upper Falls. The easy access does translate to crowds at this beautiful spot, but you can still find solitude by hiking beyond the paved portion of the path to the meadow above the canyon, where the bubbling Ink Pots—some eight mineral springs—await at the 5.4-kilometer (3.6-mile) mark."

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Top Attractions in Banff and Jasper National Parks
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@bonappetit

"The trail at Johnston Canyon is open year-round and is especially jaw-dropping once its waterfalls have frozen into sculptural walls of ice. It can become overwhelmingly crowded in the summer; during the rest of the seasons it’s calmer." - ByLindsay Anderson

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Edel Lala

Google
Johnston Canyon is a must-see, especially in the winter! The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow, even with snow. The frozen waterfalls at both the lower and upper falls are absolutely stunning. The icicles and the turquoise pools beneath the falls create a truly unique and breathtaking landscape. The ice climbers we saw added an extra element of excitement. Our round trip hike took about 3 hours and was well worth it. Dress warmly and wear good hiking boots with traction! I saw about 80% hikers wore cleats on their shoes.

Zhaohan Xu

Google
In winter is definitely less crowded here and ample parking spot available. The scenery is not bad either you can see frozen creeks and still the magnificent canyon. We only walk to lower falls, it’s not completely frozen with water still flowing through. Very relax and calm you can enjoy your time here as much as you wish. No need line up for photos. The distance to upper falls is about 2.5km so plan accordingly. To the lower falls and back to parking cost about an hour. Trail is very easy.

Mario Russo

Google
Went in February when was -10F. Absolutely gorgeous. Fun, safe boardwalk was absolutely no issue with boots. Was mostly packed snow, but I defer to locals if it gets icy at times. Great views, and was cool to see the ice climbers at the second falls!

Breanne Johnson

Google
This is definitely one of my favourite places that I’ve ever been. The informative signs are very interesting and the nature is so incredibly beautiful. Wear good shoes because it’s a long, steady incline. I didn’t have time to go to the higher level of falls but even just going to the lower level was worth the trip.

Renner

Google
At first, we were hesitant to go because it was winter, and it was snowing, which made the roads potentially dangerous and slippery. It was actually my brother who suggested we visit Johnston Canyon since he went there during the summer and said it was beautiful. However, I did some research online and found that the best season to visit is winter. Many described it as a “winter wonderland” because of the stunning ice formations on the falls. And also on the way there you also get a chance to see wildlife animal. It is just so lucky that our visit was perfect. The trail was challenging, and it took us around 2.5 hours to complete because we had a toddler with us. Toddlers get tired quickly, and it can be exhausting, especially when you’re carrying them. I highly recommend coming prepared—bring a lightweight stroller or a toddler carrier, especially during the winter season. Despite the effort, the experience was absolutely worth it, and the views were incredibly magical!

Shrey Agarwal

Google
We went around Christmas'24. There was snow on the trail, it's more comfortable to do the hike with cleats or crampons, but a good hiking shoe also did the job fairly well. I went with my 58 years old dad and we still completed the hike (with all the extensions) in less than 4 hours comfortably. I would highly recommend this hike to everyone!

RJ. P.

Google
A Great small hike finished in 1.5 hour up and down (went in june, prob not recommended for mid winter). Haha we did walk very fast though it is 2.6km hike to get to upperfalls. Quite straitforward has stairs a lot of ways too. It has a nice and scenic path of river along the way as the walkway is right by the river side.

Shannon Kingsley

Google
Beautiful walk. I love Canyons and they sure take care of this one! Completely paved with bridges and boardwalks throughout. Crystal clear water and fresh mountain air! Gorgeous waterfalls and even a small cave you can walk through to see a larger waterfall on the other side, but a long wait to do that! It is alot of up and down and narrow areas be aware of that!