5 Hike Alternatives to Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is a fantastic and beautiful hike in Banff National Park. However, it’s safe to say that it’s also the most popular hike in Banff, with many complaining that it’s overcrowded. Summer crowds are an issue here, especially between the hours of 9 and 5pm, with weekends being worse than weekdays. Often, parking is a struggle between June and September, and we even recommend taking public transportation from Banff to Johnston Canyon.

Because of this, we felt it was time to spread the love to some other notable, but similar, hikes in the area. Between Marble Canyon, Stewart Canyon, and Sundance Canyon, there are a few other fantastic alternatives to Johnston Canyon that will get you away from the crowds.

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Johnston Canyon Hike Alternatives

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Marble Canyon

When visitors are looking for an alternative that is similar to Johnston Canyon but without the crowds, we almost always try to point them in the direction of Marble Canyon! Marble Canyon is one of the best things to do in nearby Kootenay National Park, as it’s a lovely hike through a canyon (just like Johnston). It is often filled with wildflowers in the summer and beautifully snow-covered in the winter. The trail follows the canyon and has a series of bridges that cross over the rushing Kootenay River.

The trail is well-marked and well-maintained, making it easy to follow and ideal for families seeking just a bit of outdoor time. As the river is fed by glaciers high above the in the alpine, it often has a blue tinge color, which is breathtaking in the peak summer months. Compared to Johnston Canyon, this is an easier hike that requires less time. There’s plenty of parking available and the trail usually takes less than 1 hour to complete!

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Stoney Lookout

Stoney Lookout Trail is a short but sweet hike just outside of Downtown Banff that leads to a viewpoint overlooking the town of Banff. The 4km hike begins at the Mount Norquay parking lot and winds through the forest to reach lookouts over the Bow Valley and towards Cascade Mountain. The mellow, shady trail is a great option for hot days or those with little legs and can be much quieter than other trails so close to town.

This is also a great option if you don’t have a car while visiting Banff. The Mt. Norquay’s free summer shuttle makes it possible to access this Banff hike without a car. In 2025, the free shuttle operates from June to October 13.

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Sundance Canyon

The Sundance Canyon trail is a great trail that starts at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site near Downtown Banff. It’s a fairly popular trail as it’s readily accessible and follows along the Bow River for a couple of kilometers. There are some great views of the river and the surrounding mountains along the way.

It’s a bit of a journey at 9km round trip and some elevation gain (350 metres) to reach Sundance Canyon. However, if you want an easy version of the hike, we suggest turning around before you begin to gain elevation. If you’d like to extend, consider walking along the Healy Creek Trail, which continues along the Bow River.

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Grotto Canyon

The Grotto Canyon Trail near the hamlet of Exshaw is an incredibly popular one, but we love it as it’s nice and easy and great year-round! Grotto Canyon is ideal for those staying in Canmore, as it’s just a short 20-minute drive to the trailhead from town.

While it’s a popular trail year-round, many hikers flock here between November and April as it’s possible to walk along the frozen creek and enjoy frozen waterfalls. This makes it one of the best winter hikes, and it will be quieter than Johnston Canyon. You can even book an Icewalk tour here! Last time we hiked Grotto Canyon in April, we didn’t see a single other soul!

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Stewart Canyon

The Stewart Canyon hike is just a short 6km return hike with very little elevation gain. The trail leaves from the Lake Minnewanka parking lot and follows the lake for some pleasant lake views. Eventually, the trail reaches a wooden bridge over Stewart Canyon and the Cascade River for an epic view.

The trail is relatively flat for most of the hike, so most should be capable of completing this hike. It’s not quite as stunning as Johnston Canyon, but you won’t find many people hiking here, especially on a weekday!

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Hike Johnston Canyon Outside of Peak Hours!

The biggest complaint we hear about Johnston Canyon is that the crowds are terrible. It’s by far the most popular hike in Banff. And while the crowds do detract from it in the summer, we still find it a beautiful hike. We’ve hiked it over 10 times now, and it still takes our breath away.

We recommend you arrive early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid crowds on the Johnston Canyon Hike. We usually go around 7pm in the summer to have a more crowd-free experience.

The winter months are far less crowded than the summer months, especially on weekdays! If you hike the trail in mid-November, you might not see anyone else (but make sure to bring microspikes – this trail gets icy!). Timing is everything at Johnston Canyon.