Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / This winter canyon hike is a must-visit for your Banff adventures

The frozen Upper Falls of Johnston Creek, in Banff National Park, are an ice climber’s paradise!

This winter canyon hike is a must-visit for your Banff adventures

December 29, 2020 //  by Carleen Nugent

Share this:

A mid-January day that isn’t blistering cold in Banff is uncommon, so when milder weather arrived, it was time to head outdoors!

After having avoided hiking Johnston Canyon all summer as it’s one of the most popular – and busiest – hikes in Banff – I figured a colder day would offer lighter crowds.

Before starting the half-hour drive from Banff to Johnston Canyon, I made a pit stop at Snowtips-Bactrax to make sure I was properly equipped for the journey. Here, the knowledgeable staff recommended renting a pair of ice-cleats, which they fitted and showed me how to wear. Although we weren’t expecting to see a lot of ice on the trail, the snow tends to get packed down by hikers, making things quite slippery.

We also checked the chalkboard at the front of the store for the day’s hiking conditions at the canyon, because although we’d been tracking the weather and knew it was calling for clear skies, a second opinion is always a good idea.

With everything in order, the drive went quickly. Taking a minute to adjust our cleats – even with our recent tutorial, there was still some trial and error in our application – it was time to hit the trail.

Banff National Park’s Johnston Canyon is hugely popular all summer but colder weather offers lighter crowds and equally spectacular sights.

Passing behind Johnston Canyon Lodge, we followed the gradually rising path which, while not challenging did have us shedding a few layers. As we climbed through the forest we admired all the moss-covered trees before descending alongside Johnston Creek to the Lower Falls.

Iron catwalks led the way as the river rushed by below us until we arrived at a bridge. Leading to what looked like the entrance to a cave – I ducked and walked through the dark to the light at the end, which broke open to reveal a stunning waterfall. Frozen ice covered the top layer of the fall, as water rushed beneath it, leaving the nook filled with the roar of rushing water. Multiple ice formations covered the canyon walls, and fallen trees froze over.

Being this close to the falls was truly breathtaking!

Returning to the trail, we followed it up the canyon, taking advantage of several smaller lookout points along the way – admiring insane icicles with dazzling colours, appreciating the nature surrounding us, and watching the water barrel down the river, hopping over rocks and low hanging branches.

Iron catwalks lead the way in Johnston Canyon, in Banff National Park.

Reaching the upper falls, we checked out its two viewpoints. The first, at the bottom of the falls, we reached using the side-trail and catwalk leading to the viewing platform offering a unique vantage point of the falls. With the canyon walls completely lined with ice, this is an ice climber’s paradise! A short, steep climb from the main trail led to the second lookout, hanging over the gorge above the waterfall, leaving a stunning view.

We opted out of the 3-kilometre hike to the Ink Pots, leaving that adventure for another day.

On our way back we saw a woodpecker and knowing the best way to admire nature is from afar, we stood back and watched him work. While I’d seen plenty of woodpeckers before, I’d never seen one so close! His wood chippings fell below and showered the trail, as he continued to peck away.

This winter journey offered an intimate experience of Johnston Canyon. Although we saw fellow hikers along the way, it was only a fraction of what we might see in the summer. And while changing seasons drastically transform the landscape of the canyon, I’m grateful we chose to visit during a chilly winter day. It was an incredibly peaceful hike, courtesy of the ice and snow that blanketed everything, offering a serene quietness.

If you do visit in the warmer weather, try to arrive very early in the morning or in the evening to avoid tour groups and hordes of day visitors.

Please note that current Provincial Health Protocols advise against travelling outside your region to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Plan your future adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: Adrenaline, Banff, Canada, Hiking, Places to Visit in Alberta, Things to do, Travel, WCT Intro

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

Things will get wild on the streets of Victoria this month with life-sized driftwood animal…

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown VictoriaRead More

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

Spring’s arrival brings more than longer, sunnier days coaxing leaves from the trees. It’s the…

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delightsRead More

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

California has one campground among the nation’s 10 most difficult to book, according to a…

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous parkRead More

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

By Jared Gendron, The News Tribune Beginning May 26, Mount Rainier National Park will only…

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and campingRead More

What to bring on a hike: WCT Travel Guide

Knowing what to bring on a hike can make all the difference between a wonderful…

What to bring on a hike: WCT Travel GuideRead More

You could spend a lifetime paddling here! Endless kayaking adventures await on southern Vancouver Island

Southern Vancouver Island is a world-class kayaking destination, with options along its endless, meandering coastline…

You could spend a lifetime paddling here! Endless kayaking adventures await on southern Vancouver IslandRead More

Travel on the Fly: A slushy good time spring skiing; Mountain-top beer festivities+ more!

From a Kootenay Beer Festival to a slushy end to a long, snowy spring ski…

Travel on the Fly: A slushy good time spring skiing; Mountain-top beer festivities+ more!Read More

Golden’s boy Boo boogies out of bed

The first day of spring isn’t officially until March 20, but for residents of Golden,…

Golden’s boy Boo boogies out of bedRead More

Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’

The HBO TV series The Last of Us has not only made many Albertans proud…

Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’Read More

Previous Post: « Victoria’s Empress named best historic hotel in Americas
Next Post: A mountain biking novice tackles the trails of Whistler (mostly) »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

March 22, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

March 21, 2023

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

March 21, 2023

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

March 21, 2023

Recent Posts

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

March 22, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

March 21, 2023

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

March 21, 2023

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

March 21, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved