A Guide to Hiking Johnston Canyon in the Winter

One of the best times to experience Johnston Canyon is in the winter! It may be cold, but you’ll see the stunning falls, without all the crowds that summer in Banff brings.

Although Johnston Canyon is one of the park’s most famous and busiest trails, it remains one of our favorite easy hikes that nearly any visitor can enjoy. It’s even more magical in the winter as all the surroundings freeze in place and are locked away in ice until May.

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Hiking Johnston Canyon in the Winter

Thankfully, parking at Johnston Canyon is pretty straightforward in the winter, and rarely busy (except around the holidays). After leaving the parking lot, you’ll cross over Johnston Creek and pass by the Blackswift Bistro, which is only open in the summer. To your right, you’ll see the trailhead and a large sign marking the distance involved to the Lower and Upper Falls.

Get going on the trail, which is very straightforward to follow. As you work to the Lower Johnston Canyon Falls, you’ll have minimal elevation gain moving through the forest. Eventually, you enter Johnston Canyon, where several catwalks over Johnston Creek lead you to Lower Falls.

You reach the Lower Falls at around 1.1 km into the hike. A bridge over Johnston Creek serves as a great viewpoint of the rushing cataract, and further along, you’ll see a short tunnel where you can get a closer vantage point of the fall. There is usually a line to see the Lower Falls in the summer, but in the winter, it’s possible to have it all to yourself. The falls are usually frozen solid from November to May, which is a fantastic sight to see.

After leaving the Lower Falls, continue up the canyon with a bit more elevation gain. You’ll walk alongside the canyon and Johnston Creek, and there are several maintained viewpoints to look down in the canyon. This section of the trail continues for another 1.7 km until it reaches the Upper Johnston Canyon Falls. The falls are 30 meters high and can be seen from two amazing viewpoints.

The first viewpoint is accessed by a platform that leads to a viewing area that looks across to the bottom of the falls. In the winter, ice climbers use the area as a base to climb the waterfall. Depending on your timing, it’s entirely possible you’ll see them, which makes for an amazing photo.

The second viewing platform is reached via a steeper trail to the platform that hangs over the gorge. It’s an impressive view, as you can see over the top of the falls and down to the bottom 40 meters below.

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How to get there in the winter?

You can drive yourself along the Bow Valley Parkway to the Johnston Canyon parking lot, where, unlike in the summer months, plenty of parking is available. Alternatively, if you plan to hike Johnston Canyon on the weekend, you can hop on Roam Route 9, which runs on weekends in the winter. A single ride costs $5.

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The “secret” photo spot

You’ve probably seen this photo location on the internet or social media, making it not so “secret.” However, it is now closed to the public except in the winter months, and you will be fined up to $25,000 if you attempt to reach the cave between May 1 and November 15. The location is closed to the public due to trail degradation, and endangered black swifts use the canyon walls for breeding.

Parks Canada has banned all off-trail movement until you reach the Ink Pots above the Upper Canyon Falls from May 1 to November 15. Please respect this closure and do not venture off-trail. Also, always respect trail closure signs and red tape. In the winter, it is possible to get to this photo spot.

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Hike Difficulty

Johnston Canyon is considered an easy hike year round. With only 200 meters of elevation gain across 5.5 km, the trail is very gradual and not intimidating. It’s straightforward and incredibly easy to follow, with walkways and handrails. There’s absolutely no reason for a guide, even in the winter. However, winter in Alberta can pose its own challenges. You’ll need to dress warm and bring microspikes. Always ensure you have plenty of water.

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Bring Microspikes in the Winter

In the winter, microspikes are nearly essential at Johnston Canyon. The trail gets incredibly icy and remains that way from November to April. I’ve never hiked Johnston Canyon in the winter and seen the trail NOT icy. Usually there’s a few people slipping everywhere – wishing they had spikes.

You can rent microspikes at Wilson Sports in Lake Louise or Snowtips Bactrax in Banff. You can also purchase an inexpensive pair on Amazon or at Canadian Tire.

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How much time will a winter hike take?

Expect to spend 2.5-4 hours enjoying Johnston Canyon in the winter.

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Winter Icewalk Tours to Johnston Canyon

Discover Banff Tours, GetYourGuide, and Radventures run shuttle services and tours to Johnston Canyon in the winter and off-season. Though you don’t need to have a guide at Johnston Canyon, though if you are new to hiking, it’s understandable you may want one. Below are some of the best winter tours. If you’d like to try ice climbing, Johnston Canyon is one of the best places for beginners as well!

• Johnston Canyon Explorer Winter With Radventures
• Johnston Canyon Evening Icewalk Tour
• Morning or Afternoon Johnston Canyon Icewalk
• Beginner Ice Climbing

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Stay Nearby!

If you want to stay near Johnston Canyon in the winter, we recommend you stay along the Bow Valley Parkway. The best nearby options are Castle Mountain Chalets, Storm Mountain Cabins, and Baker Creek Mountain cabins (my favorite).

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