Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular day hikes in Banff National Park. It’s a fairly easy hike on man-made trails to reach the canyon’s two waterfalls, making it a great activity for families and people of every fitness level and age. Johnston Creek flows through Johnston Canyon, a deep blue creek that has cut through the limestone rock over centuries on its way to join the Bow River, creating steep canyon walls with waterfalls, pools, and tunnels. The Johnston Canyon hiking trail begins just behind Johnston Canyon Lodge and gets very busy during peak summer hiking hours, with hundreds of hikers following the catwalks and staircases to the canyon’s Lower and Upper Falls. (Try hiking the trail in the very early morning or right before sunset if you’d like to avoid the crowds.) Less than two miles (3km) past the waterfalls are the Ink Pots: several cold, blue-green mineral pools that bubble to the surface in an open meadow beside the creek. During the winter some tour companies offer ice walking tours, and ice-climbing on the falls is also a popular activity.

Practical Info

Johnston Canyon is located on the 1A, about a 30 minute drive from Banff. It is open all year. The campground is usually open from April or May to October, with sites for walk-up campers, vehicles, and RVs. The campground offers showers with hot and cold running water, food lockers, and picnic shelters.