Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is one of Banff National Park's most popular and visually captivating natural attractions, located along the Bow Valley Parkway about 25 kilometers from the town of Banff. Carved by Johnston Creek over thousands of years, the canyon features steep limestone walls, turquoise pools, and cascading waterfalls that draw visitors into a dramatic and immersive landscape. A well-maintained trail with catwalks and bridges hugs the narrow canyon walls, allowing visitors to walk directly above the rushing creek and through shaded forest groves. The trail leads first to the Lower Falls, which plunge into a swirling basin and can be viewed from a small bridge and a tunnel-like cave cut through the rock. Further along, the Upper Falls thunder down a cliff face over 30 meters high, surrounded by moss-covered stone and hanging mist. The round-trip hike to the Upper Falls is about 5.4 kilometers, and those continuing beyond can access the Ink Pots-vibrant, cold mineral springs bubbling in an open alpine meadow. Johnston Canyon offers a mix of adventure, natural beauty, and accessibility, making it a year-round favorite for families, photographers, and hikers. In winter, frozen waterfalls and ice formations turn the canyon into a striking icy landscape, popular with ice walkers and climbers. Its ease of access, dramatic scenery, and variety of experiences make Johnston Canyon a true gem of the Canadian Rockies.Johnston Canyon is a spectacular natural gorge that offers one of the most dynamic and immersive walking experiences in Banff National Park. Nestled between towering limestone cliffs, the canyon was carved over millennia by the erosive force of Johnston Creek, which continues to shape the narrow rock walls, potholes, and overhangs found throughout the trail. Located along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), the canyon is about a 25-minute drive from Banff and is accessible year-round, drawing thousands of visitors each season.
The trail through Johnston Canyon is a feat of engineering and natural harmony. A series of steel catwalks are anchored directly into the canyon wall, guiding visitors safely above the tumbling creek and deep, swirling pools. Wooden bridges cross the water at various points, allowing for dramatic, close-up views of the gorge and its constant movement. Interpretive signs along the way highlight the geology, history, and ecosystem of the area, offering insight into how water, ice, and time have shaped this dramatic environment.
The Lower Falls, located 1.1 kilometers from the trailhead, is the first major highlight. Here, water plunges through a tight gap into a deep emerald pool, and a small tunnel through the rock allows visitors to step inside a natural stone alcove to get closer to the roaring cascade. The sound of rushing water, the cool mist on your face, and the echo of the falls in the narrow canyon make this a full sensory experience.
Continuing another 1.4 kilometers beyond the Lower Falls, the trail climbs gently through a mix of dense spruce forest and canyon-edge viewpoints before reaching the Upper Falls. This larger waterfall drops over 30 meters (98 feet) into a deep plunge pool surrounded by layered cliffs and hanging moss. An upper viewing platform offers a look at the falls from above, while a lower platform at the base puts you face-to-face with its raw power. In winter, these falls freeze into dramatic columns of blue ice, attracting ice climbers and creating a magical wonderland of frozen spray and icicles.
Beyond the Upper Falls, a less-traveled extension trail leads to the Ink Pots, located 3 kilometers further into a quiet subalpine valley. These cold mineral springs bubble up from underground and maintain a constant temperature year-round, creating colorful, teal-green pools in a peaceful meadow surrounded by peaks. The entire round-trip distance to the Ink Pots from the trailhead is approximately 11.7 kilometers, making it a longer but incredibly rewarding half-day hike.
Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is also rich in wildlife and natural life zones. The canyon supports a cool, moist microclimate where mosses, lichens, and ferns thrive in shaded crevices. Birds such as American dippers, known for their ability to dive underwater, can often be seen in the creek. In surrounding forested areas, elk, deer, and even black bears may be encountered, especially in quieter times of day or year.In winter, the trail becomes a frozen adventure. The creek partially ices over, the falls transform into towering ice sculptures, and the forest is blanketed in snow. With proper gear-such as ice cleats-visitors can safely explore the canyon on foot. Guided ice walks with interpretive guides are also available, offering safe and informative winter tours through the icy landscape.
Johnston Canyon's unique blend of geology, accessibility, and ever-changing beauty makes it one of the most beloved hikes in the Canadian Rockies. Thundering waterfalls in summer, stillness of snow-covered cliffs in winter, and the bubbling Ink Pots at the trail's end make Johnston Canyon a place where natural forces are vividly on display and deeply felt.
Tours and Attractions in Alberta
Best Tours in Banff National Park »Best Tours in Jasper National Park »
Best Tours in Lake Louise »
Hikes in Banff National Park »
Hikes in Jasper National Park »
Best Hikes in Lake Louise »
Bow Falls »
Lake Louise »
Moraine Lake »
Peyto Lake »
Bridal Veil Falls »
Cascade Ponds & Bow Valley Parkway »
Lake Minnewanka »
Sulphur Mountain & Banff Gondola »
Tunnel Mountain »
Banff Park Museum »
Banff Upper Hot Springs »
Cave & Basin National Historic Site »
Johnston Canyon »
Hike Jasper | Tour Canadian Rockies | Jasper Columbia Icefield | Maligne Lake Boat Cruise | Jasper Wildlife | Book Banff National Park | Book Jasper National Park | Banff Gondola | Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise | Athabasca River Rafting | Jasper Wildlife Tours| Rocky Mountain Train Tickets | Maligne Ice Walk | Shopping Jasper | Columbia Icefields Glacier Skywalk | Jasper SkyTram | Jasper Maligne Lake Cruise | Johnston Canyon | Golden Skybridge | Banff Boat Cruise | Tour Moraine Lake