Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is one of Banff National Park's most iconic and accessible natural attractions. Located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) west of Banff townsite along the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), it is a must-visit destination for those looking to experience stunning waterfalls, dramatic canyon landscapes, and an invigorating hike.

The Johnston Canyon Hike is one of Banff National Park's most popular and rewarding hiking experiences. It offers dramatic canyon views, waterfalls, and an optional extension to the serene Ink Pots.

The water flow at Johnston Canyon is primarily driven by Johnston Creek, a tributary of the Bow River. The flow of water in the creek varies throughout the year, influenced by snowmelt, rainfall, and seasonal changes. More on Johnston Canyon Tour Canada's Rockies

The Johnston Canyon Hike

The Johnston Canyon Hiking trailhead is easily accessible via the Bow Valley Parkway, with a large parking area near the Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows.
Best Time to Hike Johnston Canyon: Summer for lush greenery and vibrant waters; winter for a magical frozen landscape.
Crowds: Johnston Canyon is popular, so it's best to arrive early in the day or during the off-season for a quieter experience.

Johnston Canyon Hiking Trail to Waterfalls

Hiking Trail Length: Lower Falls: A 1.2 km (0.75 mile) hike from the trailhead (2.4 km round trip).
Upper Falls: A 2.7 km (1.7 mile) hike from the trailhead (5.4 km round trip).
Hiking to the Inkpots: A more extended hike of 5.8 km (3.6 miles) one way (11.6 km round trip) takes you to mineral-rich pools in a serene meadow.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. The trail is well-maintained with catwalks and bridges providing incredible views.

Johnston Canyon Hike Highlights

Lower Falls: A picturesque waterfall that you can view from a bridge or a small cave tunnel for a close-up experience.
Upper Falls: A more dramatic, taller waterfall with two viewpoints: one at the base and one from a higher vantage point.
Johnston Canyon Inkpots: Vibrant green and blue pools of mineral-rich water in a quiet alpine meadow, perfect for a peaceful break.

Johnston Canyon's Unique Features

Metal catwalks are built into the canyon walls, allowing visitors to safely walk over rushing waters and appreciate the steep, rocky walls and cascading creek. More on Hiking Johnston Canyon Book Banff

History of Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is not only a natural wonder but also steeped in history, tracing its significance back to the early days of exploration and tourism in Banff National Park.

Early History of Johnston Canyon

Indigenous Significance: Long before European settlers arrived, the area around Johnston Canyon was part of the traditional territory of the Indigenous peoples of the Bow Valley. They respected the land for its natural beauty and resources.

Discovery and Naming of Johnston Canyon

The canyon is named after William "Billy" Johnston, an early prospector and trapper in the area during the late 19th century. While Johnston likely explored the canyon, its rugged terrain and striking features made it a natural draw for adventurers and explorers.

Johnston Canyon and Banff's Tourism Development

Early 20th Century: Tourism in Banff National Park began flourishing with the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in the late 1800s. Johnston Canyon quickly became a popular destination for visitors due to its accessible location and stunning scenery.
Johnston Canyon's Hiking Trail Construction: In the 1910s and 1920s, the first trails and catwalks were built to make the canyon safer and more accessible for tourists. These metal catwalks, suspended over the canyon walls, remain a key feature of the trail today.
Parks Canada continued to improve and maintain the trails over the decades. More on Johnston Canyon History Book Jasper

Johnston Canyon Waterfalls

The Johnston Canyon Hike is one of Banff National Park's most popular and rewarding hiking experiences. It offers dramatic canyon views, waterfalls, and an optional extension to the serene Ink Pots.

Johnston Canyon Lower Falls

Hiking to Johnston Canyon's lower falls follows a winding trail through the canyon on catwalks suspended over the creek. The Lower Falls is a stunning cascade, and you can get up close by walking through a small cave for a closer view.

Johnston Canyon Upper Falls

Hiking to Johnston Canyon's upper falls offers larger and more dramatic falls, with two viewing platforms. One is at the base of the falls, and the other offers a higher vantage point. More on Johnston Canyon Waterfalls

Johnston Canyon Inkpots

The hike to Johnston Canyon's inkpots is 5.8 km (3.6 miles) one way beyond the Upper Falls. This is considered a moderate to strenuous hike. Johnston Canyon's Inkpots are seven colorful mineral springs located in a peaceful alpine meadow. The hike to the Inkpots is less crowded and offers a tranquil escape.

Johnston Canyon Inkpot Trail Details

From the Johnston Canyon parking lot off the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), you will find well-maintained hiking paths, including paved sections and metal catwalks. The hike to Johnston Canyon's Inkpots is suitable for all fitness levels, but proper footwear is recommended for icy or wet conditions. More on Johnston Canyon's Inkpots

Johnston Canyon in Winter

Winter hiking at Johnston Canyon is an incredible experience, offering a magical landscape of frozen waterfalls, icy canyons, and peaceful surroundings. The trails are less crowded than in summer, and the winter wonderland vibe is unforgettable.

Johnston Canyon in Winter

Frozen Waterfalls: The Lower and Upper Falls freeze into stunning ice formations, creating a surreal atmosphere.
Ice Climbers: You might spot climbers scaling the frozen waterfalls.
Tranquility: Fewer crowds mean a more serene experience.
Accessibility: The trail is open year-round and is well-maintained, even in snowy conditions.

Johnston Canyon Ice Walks

An Ice Walk at Johnston Canyon in winter is a spectacular way to explore the frozen beauty of Banff National Park. Guided or self-led, this activity allows you to experience the unique magic of the canyon's icy waterfalls, frozen walls, and serene winter atmosphere.

What is an Ice Walk?

An Ice Walk involves hiking along the Johnston Canyon trail, equipped with ice cleats or crampons to safely navigate icy paths. In winter, the waterfalls are frozen, creating incredible natural ice sculptures. It's a breathtaking experience perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. More on Winter Hiking in Johnston Canyon

Wildlife You might Encounter near Johnston Canyon

Wildlife Near Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon lies within a heavily forested section of Banff National Park along the Bow Valley Parkway. The combination of Johnston Creek, moist canyon walls, waterfalls, coniferous forest, rocky slopes and the surrounding Bow Valley creates habitat for a surprisingly diverse collection of wildlife. Large mammals are generally more likely in the surrounding forests and along the Bow Valley Parkway than on the busy canyon trail itself.

Black Swifts
Black swifts are one of the most important wildlife species associated specifically with Johnston Canyon. The canyon provides critical nesting habitat and is one of only two known black swift nesting areas in Banff National Park. The birds build nests on moist canyon walls near waterfalls, where the unusual environment provides suitable nesting conditions. Adults can sometimes be seen leaving the canyon in the early morning or returning near dusk.

American Dippers
American dippers are another characteristic bird of Johnston Canyon. These small grey birds are strongly associated with rushing mountain streams and waterfalls and actually walk and dive underwater while searching for aquatic insects. They nest within the canyon and can sometimes be spotted around Johnston Creek and the waterfall areas.

Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears inhabit the broader Bow Valley landscape surrounding Johnston Canyon. The forests, mountain slopes and wildlife corridors around the Bow Valley Parkway provide important bear habitat. Bears may occasionally travel near roads, trails and forest openings, particularly when seasonal foods draw them into lower elevations.

Black Bears
Black bears also inhabit the forests surrounding Johnston Canyon. The Johnston Canyon campground and day-use area sit within habitat considered important for wildlife, and both black and grizzly bears can occur in the surrounding area. Bears are generally more likely to be encountered in the surrounding forest and along the Bow Valley Parkway than within the crowded canyon itself.

Elk
Elk inhabit the broader Bow Valley and may occasionally be encountered in open areas and forest edges around the Johnston Canyon region. They generally prefer productive valley-bottom habitats rather than the narrow canyon itself. Early morning and evening can provide better opportunities to see them in quieter surrounding areas.

Mule Deer
Mule deer are well adapted to the mixture of forests, open slopes and mountain terrain surrounding Johnston Canyon. They may occasionally appear along the Bow Valley Parkway or around quieter forest edges.

White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer also occur in Banff's lower-elevation forests and valleys. The productive vegetation and forest cover of the Bow Valley provide suitable habitat, although sightings immediately along the busy Johnston Canyon trail are less predictable.

Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep inhabit rocky terrain throughout Banff National Park. They prefer steep grassy slopes and rocky escape terrain and may occasionally be encountered elsewhere along the Bow Valley corridor. They are not as strongly associated with Johnston Canyon as they are with areas such as Lake Minnewanka and Mount Norquay.

Mountain Goats
Mountain goats inhabit steep, rocky mountain environments throughout Banff National Park. The mountainous landscape surrounding Johnston Canyon provides suitable terrain in the broader region, although visitors should not expect to regularly encounter goats along the canyon trail.

Wolves
Wolves use the Bow Valley as an important travel corridor. The eastern Bow Valley Parkway passes through critical habitat for large carnivores, including wolves, and seasonal travel restrictions are used to provide wildlife with periods of reduced human disturbance. Seeing a wolf near Johnston Canyon remains uncommon.

Cougars
Cougars also inhabit the Bow Valley Parkway landscape. Dense forests, mountain slopes and populations of deer and other prey provide suitable habitat. Cougars are extremely secretive, however, and sightings around Johnston Canyon are rare.

Coyotes
Coyotes can travel through the forests, meadows and open areas surrounding Johnston Canyon. They are considerably more adaptable than wolves and may occasionally be seen along roadsides or in open valley habitat, particularly during quieter periods.

Red Squirrels
Red squirrels are among the smaller mammals visitors are more likely to notice in the forests surrounding Johnston Canyon. They are strongly associated with coniferous forests and can often be heard chattering from trees or moving across the forest floor in search of cones and seeds.

Snowshoe Hares
Snowshoe hares inhabit dense forest understory throughout the Bow Valley. Their colouring changes seasonally, helping them blend into brown summer vegetation and snowy winter surroundings. They are an important prey species for coyotes, lynx and other predators.

Porcupines
North American porcupines can occur in Banff's forests but are considerably less conspicuous. They are often most active during quieter periods and feed primarily on vegetation, including bark, leaves and other plant material.

Songbirds
The moist forest surrounding Johnston Canyon provides particularly interesting bird habitat. In addition to black swifts and American dippers, visitors may encounter winter wrens, Cordilleran flycatchers, Townsend's warblers and yellow-rumped warblers during the warmer months.

Wildlife Along Johnston Creek
Johnston Creek creates a cool, moist environment that differs considerably from the drier forests and slopes nearby. Aquatic insects provide food for birds such as American dippers, while moss-covered canyon walls and waterfall spray create specialized habitat for black swifts and other small species.

Wildlife Around the Lower and Upper Falls
The Lower and Upper Falls are usually among the busiest sections of Johnston Canyon, so large mammals are not commonly expected around the viewing platforms during busy periods. Birds and smaller wildlife are more realistic possibilities. The cliffs and waterfall environment are particularly significant because of their importance to nesting black swifts.

Wildlife Near the Ink Pots
The landscape changes considerably as hikers continue beyond the Upper Falls toward the Ink Pots. The trail enters quieter forest before reaching a more open mountain valley. This broader mixture of forest, meadow and creek habitat can provide opportunities to notice birds, squirrels and signs of larger wildlife, although encounters remain unpredictable.

Wildlife Along the Bow Valley Parkway
The Bow Valley Parkway surrounding Johnston Canyon can provide better opportunities for large wildlife than the canyon trail itself. The surrounding montane habitat is particularly important for large carnivores, including bears, wolves and cougars. Wildlife protection is one reason Parks Canada imposes seasonal travel restrictions on portions of the parkway.

Best Time to See Wildlife Near Johnston Canyon
Early morning and evening generally provide quieter conditions for wildlife viewing in the surrounding Bow Valley. However, visitors should always observe current seasonal access restrictions. Wildlife activity changes with season, weather, food availability and human activity, so no particular species can be guaranteed.

Protecting Black Swifts at Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is especially important from a conservation perspective because of its small population of endangered black swifts. From May 15 through November 15, off-trail use along the Johnston Canyon Trail is prohibited to protect nesting birds and sensitive habitat. Visitors must remain on the official trail rather than approaching canyon walls or nesting locations.

Wildlife Safety
Johnston Canyon remains genuine wildlife habitat despite its popularity. Parks Canada recommends maintaining at least 30 metres from deer, elk, sheep and moose and at least 100 metres from bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes. Wildlife should never be fed, approached, surrounded or followed for photographs.

Why Johnston Canyon Is Interesting for Wildlife
Johnston Canyon combines several habitats within a relatively small area: rushing mountain water, waterfalls, damp canyon walls, dense coniferous forest, rocky cliffs and the larger Bow Valley wildlife corridor. Its most distinctive wildlife feature is the presence of nesting black swifts, while the surrounding forests and Bow Valley Parkway provide habitat for bears, wolves, cougars, elk, deer and numerous smaller species. This makes Johnston Canyon interesting not only as a waterfall destination, but also as an important ecological area within Banff National Park.

Johnston Canyon Restaurant and Shop

The Johnston Canyon Restaurant and Shop is a welcoming spot for visitors exploring the scenic Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park.

Johnston Canyon Restaurant

The Johnston Canyon Restaurant offers a cozy and casual dining experience, ideal for refueling after hiking the canyon’s trails.
Menu: A mix of comfort food and lighter options, such as soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and baked goods.
Breakfast and Lunch: Visitors can enjoy hearty breakfasts or relaxed lunches, depending on the time of day.
Outdoor Patio: A scenic patio lets you dine amidst the natural beauty of the forested surroundings.
Local and Sustainable Ingredients: The menu often emphasizes fresh and locally sourced products.

Johnston Canyon Gift Shop

The gift shop complements the hiking Johnston Canyon.
Outdoor Gear: Essentials like water bottles, trail snacks, and hiking accessories.
Souvenirs: A variety of keepsakes, including postcards, clothing, and locally made crafts.
Educational Materials: Guidebooks and maps to enhance your understanding of the area.
Artisan Goods: Occasionally, they feature products crafted by local artists or businesses.
The restaurant and shop are conveniently located near the parking lot, making it an easy stop before or after your adventure. The ambiance reflects the rustic charm of the Canadian Rockies.

The Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows offers a variety of dining and shopping options to enhance your visit to this scenic area in Banff National Park.

BlackSwift Bistro Dining

Named after the rare Black Swift bird that nests in Johnston canyon, this bistro provides a cozy atmosphere with a river stone fireplace and an outdoor patio overlooking the creek. The menu features locally inspired dishes, including a signature sizzling trout, and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and après-hike drink specials. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available.

Market Cafe

This cafe combines the charm of a French café with a vintage diner, offering freshly baked goods, in-house made healthy sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and specialty coffees like cappuccinos and lattes. There's an outdoor patio where you can enjoy your meal before or after exploring the canyon.

The Shack

A traditional stop for visitors, The Shack serves hard ice cream cones in various flavors, along with quick snacks, baked goods, water, and coffee—perfect for a treat after your hike.

Johnston Canyon Gift Shop

Adjacent to the Market Cafe, the gift shop offers a range of Canadiana mementos, souvenirs, t-shirts, and weather-appropriate clothing. It's an excellent place to find unique items to commemorate your visit.

For reservations at Johnston Canyon's BlackSwift Bistro, it's recommended to call ahead, especially for larger groups. The lodge also offers e-bike rentals, allowing guests to explore the beautiful Bow Valley Parkway and even venture to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. More on the Johnston Canyon Restaurant and Gift Shop