Johnston Canyon is quite possibly my absolute favourite activity to do in Banff in winter, and one of my favourite Banff winter photo spots.
If you’re planning on visiting Banff in winter, this is one activity you absolutely won’t want to miss.
Located about an hour from the town of Banff, this incredible hiking trail will take you through wooded areas, through canyon walls, and by frozen waterfalls and deep pools.
Johnston Canyon is truly a sight to see, and it’s even more incredible in winter when everything is covered with snow and the waterfalls are partially (or fully) frozen.
There are however, definitely a few things you will want to know before hiking Johnston Canyon in winter.
I wanted to put together this guide to help you plan your visit and make sure you knew everything you need to know before doing the Johnston Canyon ice walk.
By the way, if you’re planning a trip to Banff soon you might also want to check out these posts:
- 28 Best Things to do in Banff in Winter
- 20 Best Spots for Winter Photos in Banff National Park
- 50 Best Things to do in Banff National Park
- 19 Best Hikes in Banff National Park
- Best Restaurants in Banff – 2022 Banff Dining Guide
- 23 Best Things to do in Jasper National Park
- The Best Hikes in Jasper National Park
Now let’s get to everything you need to know before visiting Johnston Canyon in winter!
What is the Johnston Canyon?
Johnston Canyon is an incredible canyon in Banff National Park that’s been carved into the limestone bedrock by thousands of years of water erosion.
It is such an incredibly breathtaking sight to see and has easily become one of the most popular attractions in the area.
Johnston Canyon is one of those kinds of places that will truly and completely take your breath away.
During your visit to Johnston Canyon in winter you will get to walk through canyon walls, admire incredible frozen waterfalls, see the deep pools of Johnston Creek, and hike through lush forests covered with a blanket of snow.
How to Experience the Johnston Canyon ice walk
There are two options for experiencing the Johnston Canyon ice walk, through a guided your with a professional guide or on a self-guided hike.
Booking a guided tour of the Johnston Canyon ice walk
A great option for those visiting the canyon for the first time is to book the Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour which will take you on an incredible guided tour with a professional guide.
It’s a 5 star rated tour that has so many great reviews. It truly gives you the best way to experience Johnston Canyon in winter.
On the Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour you’ll not only get to experience all the amazing sights of Johnston Canyon in winter up close, but you’ll have the opportunity to learn all about the history and geology of the area.
The Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour includes all of the equipment you’ll need (minus your regular winter gear of course), transportation to and from Banff, and even includes a snack and cup of hot cocoa overlooking the incredible frozen waterfalls!
This is perfect way to experience Johnston Canyon for those that have never been because not only will you learn so much along the way, you won’t have to stress about getting yourself there and back.
It really is the stress free way to enjoy Johnston Canyon in winter!
Doing a self-guided hike of Johnston Canyon
You can also choose to do the hike on your own without a guided tour.
This is what I opted for since we had already visited Johnston Canyon many times and already knew the area well.
If you want to do the Johnston Canyon hike in winter self-guided, you will definitely want to continue reading this guide as it’s chock full of all the information you’ll need to know before visiting!
When to visit Johnston Canyon to do the ice walk
If you want to do the Johnston Canyon ice walk you will have to visit Banff in winter.
The best times to visit so that you can really experience the area in all its snow covered glory is between December and April.
During these months the waterfalls will be mostly frozen over and it’s a really amazing sight to see!
Weather in Winter in Banff National Park
Winters in Banff National Park tend to be very cold and very snowy.
Expect temperatures to be well below 0 and be prepared for the cold.
This means you’ll want to not only have layers with you, but proper snow gear.
I used these HotHands Super Warmers and they were an absolute godsend during my recent trip to Banff.
They made being outside in -25 to -30 a lot more bearable and kept my toes and hands warm the entire time I did the Johnston Canyon ice walk.
And yes, you heard me right. Temperatures in Banff can hit -30 celsius or even colder.
But don’t let that scare you away from doing the Johnston Canyon ice walk, just be prepared!
How to get to Johnston Canyon from Banff
To get to Johnston Canyon you can either book a guided tour which will include your shuttle to and from the town of Banff, or you can self drive.
Johnston Canyon can get very busy on the weekend in winter and parking on your own may be difficult during peak hours so just keep this in mind.
Personally I would try to visit during the week to avoid the parking hassle, or book myself in for the Johnston Canyon Ice Walk tour to avoid having to deal with parking myself on a weekend.
If you are driving yourself, here are the directions to get to Johnston Canyon from Banff!
Directions for driving to Johnston Canyon from Banff
To get to Johnston Canyon from Banff you will get on the TransCanada Highway going west.
Look out for the Bow Valley Parkway-Highway 1A exit and merge onto the Bow Valley Parkway.
Continue west for just under 18km and eventually you will see the Johnston Canyon parking on your right.
The trip will take you about an hour by car each way, there and back. But don’t let that deter you!
If you don’t have your own car but want to do the Johnston Canyon ice walk on your own, I recommend renting one for your visit to Banff National Park.
Check out Economy Bookings for the cheapest car rentals from your departing city or the Banff area!
What to wear hiking Johnston Canyon in Winter
As I mentioned above, winters in Banff can be very cold so you need to be prepared.
Bringing layers is crucial because you never know how cold you will feel, or how warm you will get after hiking for a bit.
When you do the Johnston Canyon ice walk you will be shielded from the wind by the canyon walls for a good portion of it, and during those times you may even want to peel off a layer or two.
We hiked the Johnston Canyon ice walk in -25 celsius, which may sound insane but when you’re moving you barely notice the cold as long as you are prepared.
Here is what I recommend you wear to hike Johnston Canyon in winter:
- A warm coat
- A removable layer like a sweater or zip up hoodie
- thermals underneath your clothing
- Hat or something to cover your ears
- Mittens (I recommend these over gloves as your hands and fingers stay warmer)
- Thick warm socks
- Warm boots (proper winter boots are ideal)
Pro tip: I HIGHLY recommend getting yourself a pair of these HotHands Super Warmers. They stay significantly warmer than most hand warmers I’ve tried. They were an absolute godsend to do the Johnston Canyon Ice Walk in -25.
I also recommend getting these HotHands toe warmers for your feet. I used these which made a significant difference and kept my toes cozy for the entire hike.
What special equipment you need to do the Johnston Canyon ice walk
You’ll want to rent yourself some crampons or ice cleats to do Johnston Canyon in winter.
The trails and boardwalks are completely covered with snow and ice, and can be very slippery.
Crampons or ice cleats can be rented from the local sporting good shops in Banff and Canmore, and they aren’t pricey to rent at all!
We rented our crampons for around $10 each per day at Gear Up Sports in Canmore.
You can also buy crampons for under $20 here, so if you’re planning on doing more winter hikes it’s totally worth it to invest in a pair.
Beyond crampons or ice cleats you don’t really need any special equipment to do the Johnston Canyon ice walk, although some people like to use hiking poles for added stability.
Lastly, if you are planning on hiking the ink pots trail (which is further than most people go) you will also need snowshoes as that part of the trail has very deep snow.
Hiking trails at Johnston Canyon
The hikes at Johnston Canyon are incredible and kid friendly (you can’t bring strollers in winter though).
It’s even more magical during the winter when everything is covered with snow!
There is so much to see here at Johnston Canyon and there are three main trails with different sights so you can choose how far you want to go.
Most people do the lower falls trail and the upper falls trail, but stop before the ink pots.
If you want to go further and do the ink pots trail just remember you will need snowshoes.
Lower Falls Trail
Most of the trails for the lower and upper falls consist of catwalks built into the sides of the canyon which makes it a super unique hike.
During the winter these are covered with a thick layer of snow and there can be very icy and slippery areas.
Rent yourself some crampons as I noted above, or you’ll probably end up falling down at least once!
The trail to the lower falls is a fairly easy trail that’s good for all ages with good mobility.
The route is very clear with signs at every intersection, so you don’t need a hiking map like AllTrails to do the Johnston Canyon hike.
It will take about 30 mins and you’ll get to see a pretty incredible views of the frozen lower falls.
You’ll even get to walk through a rock tunnel before hitting the base of the falls which is super neat to see!
If you are traveling with very small children, seniors, or people with low mobility you will probably want to stick to this trail alone.
Upper Falls Trail
The Upper Falls Trail at Johnston Canyon is about 2.5km each way and will take you uphill through the snow covered forest and out of the lower canyon to the top of the falls.
There are a couple different viewpoints along the Upper Falls Trail, the first being a long catwalk at the middle of the creek just about at water level.
There’s another viewpoint at the top of the falls too looking down which is incredible.
This trail is fairly easy although it is a constant incline. It will take you about 1 hour to get to the top if traveling with children.
The Johnston Canyon Secret Cave
The Secret Cave at Johnston canyon is something you definitely don’t want to miss seeing if you’re in Banff in winter.
Although it used to be open to the public year round, it’s now closed off for the rest of the year since they discovered it’s a nesting area for rare black swift birds.
It’s actually the only black swift nesting ground in all of Alberta, and sadly in the last few years numbers have dropped down to only a couple birds left.
Do NOT attempt to visit here any other time of year. Parks Canada surveys the area to protect the birds, and they give out tickets of up to $1000.
If you’re visiting in winter though you’re lucky, you will have a chance to explore this awesome place!
How to get to the Johnston Canyon secret cave
You will reach the trail to get down to the secret cave about 130-150m before you reach the upper falls.
The pathway will be on the right hand side and it’s fairly easy to spot in winter as there should be track marks in the snow from previous visitors.
Please note, you do have to scramble down some rocks and I do not recommend you bring kids or anyone with low mobility down there.
Also be careful, it’s very easy to slip or miss your footing!
A couple steps down you’ll see where the cave is and be able to navigate and climb your way down.
Upper falls to ink pots trail
If you’d like to go even further than the Upper Falls you can continue on through the Ink Pots trail!
For this portion of Johnston Canyon you’ll definitely need snowshoes in winter as the snow can get very deep.
The Ink Pots trail continues on for another 3km after the Upper Falls and will take you to some pretty incredible natural sights.
Along the Ink Pots trail you’ll get to see seven frozen emerald green mineral spring pools in a meadow that are absolutely stunning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnston Canyon ice walk open?
Yes Johnston Canyon and the Johnston Canyon ice walk are open. Although the road to Johnston Canyon was blocked off for some of the last couple years, the road is now open and you can visit Johnston Canyon.
How do I get to Johnston Canyon in winter?
To get to Johnston Canyon you can either book a guided tour which will include your shuttle to and from the town of Banff, or you can self drive. Johnston Canyon can get very busy on the weekend in winter and parking on your own may be difficult during peak hours so just keep this in mind. To get to Johnston Canyon from Banff you will get on the TransCanada Highway going west. Look out for the Bow Valley Parkway-Highway 1A exit and merge onto the Bow Valley Parkway. Continue west for just under 18km and eventually you will see the Johnston Canyon parking on your right.
Do you need ice cleats for Johnston Canyon in winter?
Although you do not need ice cleats to visit Johnston Canyon in winter, it is highly recommended to have them as the trails can be extremely slippery and icy. If you do not own ice cleats or crampons, they can be rented and local sporting good stores in Banff or Canmore. Rentals aren’t pricey, you can expect to pay around $15 each per day.
Final Thoughts
Johnston Canyon is such an incredible sight to see, and even cooler (no pun intended) during winter when the entire forest and canyon is blanketed in snow and the waterfalls are frozen over.
If you’re looking for a unique winter activity to do in Banff, you definitely have to try the Johnston Canyon ice walk!
I hope this guide to hiking Johnston Canyon in winter answered all of your questions, but if not please feel free to ask me anything below!
By the way, if you’re headed to Banff soon you might also want to check out these posts:
- 28 Best Things to do in Banff in Winter
- 20 Best Spots for Winter Photos in Banff National Park
- 50 Best Things to do in Banff National Park
- 19 Best Hikes in Banff National Park
- Best Restaurants in Banff – 2022 Banff Dining Guide
- 23 Best Things to do in Jasper National Park
- The Best Hikes in Jasper National Park
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