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Johnston Canyon & Ink Pots

4.6 (88 reviews)

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upper falls overlook
Julie Ying X.

I took the first Roam Transit 9 bus from town to get here. It's not reservable so get to the bus stop early. I definitely recommend coming here early since it gets crowded after 12:00 PM. The hike was pretty easy with rails and paved trails in some parts. I was wondering why there was a long line for the lower falls and to my surprise, you do get a close up view of the lower falls so it's worth the wait. The line for the upper falls is not worth the wait though, just go to the upper falls overlook (on the left) and it's a better view.

Jason Z.

There is a free and ample sized lot and restroom at the trailhead. Very family friendly and paved trail with decent views of the waterfall and stream below. Complaint is the lack of enforcement (parks and wildlife?) of good behavior; plenty of people feeding wild animals, tossing trash, and being turds. Another suggestion would've been to make the walking paths wider for an out and back trail. Too many people and poor behavior equals out to a subpar experience.

apple? no ty ITS GOOOD
Shwe N.

a quick and easy lil stroll it's like a cute hike to the lower canyon (and you can continue to go to the upper side as well) the water is super pretty and blue and the green trees are perfecto it's all unreal !! parking is accessible all around too

Ala L.

Best time if you want to take a long stroll on a paved walking area. Don't bring any scrollers or heave bags with you. You should bring a lightweight backpack to stored some snacks and pre-cut fruits in a separate bags. No garbage cans and no where to dump your garbage. It can be 2-3 hours walk depending on how far you want to walk. Remember that you need to walk back to your car. Bring some sturdy and comfortable walking or lightweight hiking shoes No boots, sandals, or heeled shoes. Bring a light wind breaker and/or 1/4 zip fleece. You can take off the windbreaker and/or fleece based on the weather. If you need more info, you can send me a direct message. It's worth your time and I would visit the place again.

Great paths with solid handrails.
Chris G.

This park has absolutely beautiful waterfalls! The trails are very well-maintained. But it is VERY crowded because it is so beautiful. Great restroom facilities, coffee shop, gift shop, and cafe. Free parking is available, but limited. $20/day parking was readily available. We took the shuttle bus, which cost $40 plus about $60 to park in Banff (we regret that we did not use free parking a little further away).

Upper Waterfall (from upper viewing deck)
Courtney P.

One of the first hiking adventures that we did on our trip to Banff was Johnston canyon. First and foremost, we arrived a little bit later on a Saturday afternoon and parking was a nightmare. It was Labor Day weekend, and we circled the parking lot for quite some time before we eventually found a spot. The "hike" is a solitary mostly paved path that leads you out and back to the lower waterfall with the option to continue onward and upward to the upper waterfall. Both of the viewing points for the lower waterfall and the upper waterfall had quite long lines, so we opted to go past them, and just keep hiking. The farther you go on the hike, the less crowded it is going to get because the elevation changes drastically and most people were there just to snap photos of the waterfall and not actually hike. I was so glad that we kept going all the way to the upper most waterfall look out because there were almost no people up there and we got to really enjoy the beauty without the crowds.

Win C.

Easy Hike with paved roads. Some areas were a lot more crowded especially around the lower falls. We decided to skip it because we didn't wanna spend an hour long just to take pictures behind the falls.i recommend not bringing strollers and maybe using a carrier for the little ones. We didn't go to the upper falls because we had older parents with us and 2 littles. There's parking if you come early.

Daw M.

Lots of people in the trail so it's safe for solo walkers Ice cream on the way back was amazing The last part of the falls did not wow me as much. Once you pass the lower falls the trail becomes less populated by others :)

Sammy L.

Magical winter wonderland, from a fairytale. No video or picture can show the beauty and just the sheer size of this beautiful canyon. You have to do this hike, just grab some ice cleats or crampons before coming in the winter. We bought some on Amazon, so needed and it'll make the experience more enjoyable. They maintain the catwalk and trails nicely, it's open year round it seems. The parking lot is fairly decent in size but I'd go before 11am to avoid the crowds, no fees for entrance or the lot! Honestly, I was expecting some amazing views but in person it blew me away. My jaw dropped at every turn. The icy canyon all around you is pure bliss, we came here when the temperature was around 40 degrees fahrenheit (sorry I'm American and didn't use celcius or the metric system growing up which is a shame) on 01.26.23 which is pretty crazy because it should be way colder during this time. I'm grateful it was warmer because it made it pleasant for my 5 yr old son. Go to the lower and upper falls. Round trip I believe it took us with a kid about two hours, including us just staring at the waterfalls for a long time lol. It's very doable for most people, just get the ice cleats and crampons. Trust me. I know there are tour groups from downtown Banff if you want to go that route, especially if you don't have a vehicle and crampons. I believe the prices will vary but it might run you around $75 - $80 bucks per person. Bathrooms are available and the whole place is maintained constantly. Enjoy and please be respectful of the environment and critters, it's worth it!

Katie R.

Will keep this review short(ish) instead of writing a long love letter to Johnston Canyon, my absolute favorite spot that we visited in Banff! The hike was beautiful as it took you through the canyon, next to the water, and even over it in some spots. I was truly in awe throughout the entire hike! The water was the most beautiful color and I loved being surrounded by the mossy rocks and trees. We visited as part of the hop on hop off experience and were on a time crunch so we didn't get to spend any time exploring the lower falls, but headed straight to the upper falls. The hike to the upper falls was fairly moderate, a good mixture of flat, steep, and gradual incline, it got the heart pumping in a few spots, but it was short enough that it wasn't too tiring to take all your energy for the day. We arrived pretty early and I'm happy we did, as we didn't pass many people returning from their hike on our way out. When we headed back from the upper falls there were a lot people headed our way, but only in a few places on the bridges did it feel too cramped.

Lower falls  @Journeys_with_janice
Janice T.

This hike was on my must do & see list. It didn't disappoint. While I wasn't able to hike to the upper falls due to time constraints, the lower falls were pleasant & enjoyable. If you have time, I do recommend hiking further to see the upper falls and if you're able, possibly the ink pots. I've seen pics and it looks quite picturesque. Johnston Canyon is an out and back trail along catwalks throughout the canyon, so the trail width is tight with people coming and going down the same trail. Keep this in mind if you want to avoid high traffic and loads of people, just go earlier in the am. It was raining when I went, so in case of undesirable weather, make sure you wear weather proof hiking shoes/boots with good grip. There were some areas in between that were muddy and puddle filled with a slight gradual incline. You can view the lower falls closer up if you crouch down through a short tunnel, just be mindful of your head. Once you go through it's only small enough for 5-6 people to step up some rocks to see the lower falls close up. If you have only 45 minutes to an hour to check out Johnston Canyon, it's most likely you'll only be able to hike to the lower falls. But it's worth it. It's seems like the general consensus on recommended time spent here is 2-3 hours. Ideally, it's probably better to go independently without a tour. It's only a 30 minute drive from downtown Banff and there is a parking lot at Johnston Canyon. If you don't rent a car, you can still access Johnston Canyon by public transit from downtown Banff. Roam Public Transit Route 9: Departs daily from May to October and on weekends from October to May from the Banff High School Transit Hub, this service travels directly to Johnston Canyon. Visit the ROAM website for specific times. However, if you are only staying in Calgary, but want to do Johnston Canyon and don't rent a car- it is possible. Westar Travel is a tour company that goes to Johnston Canyon. There are probably three tour companies that I saw that do group tours here from Calgary with the max time of 45minutes to an hour or 1hr 45 minutes at Johnston Canyon as one of the stops contingent upon the tour company you choose. Just be sure to read the respective itinerary, as some tour companies only travel to Johnston Canyon seasonally. Our group tour only had a max of 9-12 people and only four of us were willing to hike in the rain, while the rest of the group either hung out in the van or visited the coffee shop on premises. Ps you don't need a tour guide nor pay for a tour to do this trail, we just did a day tour so we could do Johnston Canyon while staying in Calgary. There's no entrance fee for the trail itself, just the price of a Banff's park pass. There are bathrooms available near the parking lot. However, I recommend using the bathrooms closest to the Johnston canyon sign arch, as it has stalls that have flush toilets and running water. I made the mistake of using the single occupant toilet that was a vault toilet in a separate building to the right side of it.

Renee N.

Banff National Park just keeps giving and giving with more gorgeous hikes and places to discover! We visited this place late in the day in September. There were quite a few people but you could still hike up to the falls with no waiting. Parking was easy as lots of people were leaving. It is an absolutely gorgeous canyon, with dramatic lime stoned carved walls, and a rushing creek with little falls all the way to the top. Unfortunately for us, the Upper Falls was closed for repair. Definitely a bummer as I really wanted to see the magnificence of the Upper Falls and the Ink Pots. The Ink Pots feature seven pools of green colored mineral springs. Anyway, the hike to the lower falls is pretty flat and easy. It is less than a mile to the lower falls so I think most people can make it. Once you cross over the bridge, there is like a mini cave/tunnel that you can walk through to reach a nice viewing platform. Great picture spot. This trail is just gorgeous with a the creek running by you, the intense forest surrounding you. I found it to be so peaceful and relaxing. In the winter the Upper Falls freezes offering some nice ice climbing. Love to try it someday! This canyon and falls is definitely not to be missed when visiting here. You will love it!

The trail to the falls.
Seth A.

Hmm...everyone gives Johnston Canyon 5 stars. Eh, it was just okay for me. This place was crowded when I visited in mid-June a couple of weeks ago. And along the trails...sometimes the passageways are thin so you may have to wait for people to finish their selfie photos while on bridges and then some. Overall, the purpose for coming to Johnston Canyon is to hike along an easy and relatively flat pathway to the Lower and Upper Falls. - The Lower Falls is 1.2 kilometers each way. - The Upper Falls is 2.5 kilometers each way, but it's past the Lower Falls on the same route so ultimately you're getting 2 falls for the price of 1 in a full 5 kilometers roundtrip trek. One other thing...you can go further past the Upper Falls if you're adventurous or are having fun and visit the Ink Pots section. I returned back towards the trailhead after viewing the Upper Falls, but in total the Ink Pots are 11.4 kilometers roundtrip from the trailhead or 3.2 kilometers past the Upper Falls area. Btw...parking was quite difficult as well for my late morning stop here. I barely found a spot. Along the way to the Lower Falls it's a nice and refreshing setting winding your way through the canyon walls. But I guess for me, I wasn't so impressed with the sceneries and I barely took any photographs until I finally arrived at the Lower Falls. The Lower Falls were not so impressive either! Upon stepping foot on the bridge overlooking them, I felt a little letdown by what I was seeing. Now...strangely, there was this long line of visitors standing on top of the bridge and every few moments, families or groups were entering this cave-like passageway. I figured this was a more advantageous accessway to sort of efficiently capture these Lower Falls. Alright, well, I guess I had no choice but to wait because from the bridge the Lower Falls pretty much failed me. Grrr...after waiting for at least 20 minutes and not making much headway towards this cave entrance...I gave up and said in my head "I refuse to wait any longer"! So...I started making my way towards the Upper Falls. Finally arriving at the Upper Falls, all you really get is an observation platform to watch these impressive appearing falls from high above. But...as is always my ordeal with waterfall vista moments...I'd rather be at the base of the falls to capture the backdrop and with myself in the pictures. But when you're standing above the falls, and with fenced guardrails protecting you from dropping...you're sort of relegated to doing selfie pics...and for me I hate selfie pictures. I will say these Upper Falls were much better than the Lower Falls. For the morning time I was here, the sun was at my back and reflected well onto the falls. Plus as an added bonus, there was a rainbow shining right through the middle of the falls. That was cool. Also, this spot was very popular and it was congested with all sorts of tourists trying to take family photos. I asked a stranger to take my picture and it came out terribly. But...I did appreciate looking at these Upper Falls. So yes, I decided I wasn't interested in venturing further towards the Ink Pots so I was ready to return to the trailhead. I spent about 2 - 2.5 hours hanging out here at Johnston Canyon. When I reflect back on my time spent...I was disappointed with the Lower Falls but impressed (for the most part) with the Upper Falls. And lastly, back at the trailhead there are bathrooms and a map guide sign explaining the details about the experience here. From this Johnston Canyon I actually started my explorations of Kootenay National Park, located just 18 kilometers away.

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Gorgeous hike! A must do when in Banff. Easy trail to follow and options for an extended harder route if you want to go further.

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Johnston Canyon & Ink Pots Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Johnston Canyon & Ink Pots

The best part of the hike happens after you pass the Lower and Upper Falls so make sure to keep going to the Ink Pots!

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Banff Gondola - sulphur mountain

Banff Gondola

4.5(257 reviews)
22.6 km

I visited Banff for the second time recently, and I finally made it to the gondola for their…read moreChristmas event. My entire family had a blast-this was the highlight of our trip to Canada this year. Everything was so well organized and thoughtfully arranged. My kids got to complete so many creative activities: cookie decorating, meeting Santa, crafting a gondola themed ornament, roasting marshmallows, etc. as a plus, everyone was very friendly and cheerful. The views are stunning, and while I didn't get to walk through boardwalk (not stroller friendly and I have a child in a stroller), I hope to next time!

I recently visited Banff with my running group and they planned a whole week of activities for us…read more We had a free day to pick our own activity on our last day here. Out of the options that they presented to us, I chose the Banff Gondola. We spent the whole week running and hiking and I wanted something relaxing to do. The Banff Gondola takes you 2,292 feet up a steep mountainside to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. The ride itself is eight minutes long. After buying my ticket, I chilled at the Starbucks that is at ground level and watched the gondola take people up the mountain. There is also a gift shop next to it. Each gondola cabin is designed to hold up to four people and offers a 360-degree view as you ascend up the mountain. Once you arrive at the Banff Gondola Upper Terminal on Sulphur Mountain, you have four levels to explore. The fourth level is the rooftop observation deck where you get amazing panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. You can see the entire town of Banff from up here. There is also an outdoor boardwalk that leads to Sanson Peak. I spent a few hours up here exploring the different levels. There is a coffee shop and a couple of restaurants at the top. I did the walk from the observation deck to Sanson Peak and back. The views are just stunning. The observation deck can get crowded and it can get a little windy at times. I spent my time taking photographs and relaxing on the benches. I then grabbed a coffee before heading back down. The Banff Gondola is a little pricey, but I am glad I picked this activity. It was a nice way to close out my trip to Banff.

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Banff Gondola - Here we are having reached the top of the ride!! The view was absolutely incredible!!

Here we are having reached the top of the ride!! The view was absolutely incredible!!

Banff Gondola - Nothing but views.

Nothing but views.

Banff Gondola - We ate at the buffet, very average food, pricey. Fantastic view!

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We ate at the buffet, very average food, pricey. Fantastic view!

Kootenay National Park - Stanley Glacier Hike

Kootenay National Park

4.7(15 reviews)
34.6 km

We had an amazing time visiting sites in Kootenay National Park while staying in Radium Hot Springs…read morefor a week. The is such a picturesque part of British Colombia, Canada. Our first stop was Olive Lake. A gorgeous green-blue body of water. A short trail from the parking lot. Our next stop was Paint Pots. Such a cool experience. We've never seen anything like it before. The colorful, iron-rich pools were so cool to see up close. The boardwalk to the paint pots was picturesque too. There are many stops and viewpoints along highway 93. Be sure to stop at the ranger station to get your park pass ($14/day) and map of all stops along the route. Most stops have restrooms available as well. Overall a must while visiting British Colombia, Canada. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this area and would highly recommend.

Rumor had it that Kootenay National Park was, perhaps, the most underrated of the National Parks in…read morethe area. I'm all for supporting the underdogs (& avoiding the crowds). Compared to Banff, Kootenay was empty & there are plenty of bodies of Gatorade-like waters. We enjoyed the wide open spaces and the non-touristy vibe of the park. On our Stanley Glacier Hike, we only saw 3 other sets of people... no shoulder bumping or shuttles needed here. We opted for the annual family/group pass, a great value if you're spending a week or so in any combination of the parks &/or may come back. (& we will come back... already planning it)

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Kootenay National Park - Stanley Glacier Hike

Stanley Glacier Hike

Kootenay National Park - Stanley Glacier Hike

Stanley Glacier Hike

Kootenay National Park - This is the Continental Divide sign starting out Kootenay NP near the Banff area.

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This is the Continental Divide sign starting out Kootenay NP near the Banff area.

Johnston Canyon & Ink Pots - hiking - Updated May 2026

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