Johnston Canyon: Is Banff's Popular Hike Worth It?

The crowds were the problem

Johnston Canyon was overrun with people when we visited. Parking was difficult, the trail was packed, and there were lines at the waterfall viewpoints.

We moved fairly quickly and reached the upper area in about 35 minutes. Then we spent roughly another 35 minutes standing in a line for a waterfall photo.

Skip the waterfall lines

At the first waterfall, we saw a long line and skipped it because there were already good views along the trail.

At the second major waterfall, we made the mistake of waiting. It was difficult to see what we were even waiting for until we reached the front. The platform was small, the photo angle was not especially good, and the setup effectively let one person or group take a picture at a time.

If instead you continue to the left and go above the waterfall viewpoint, you get a very similar view without wasting half an hour in line.

When I would recommend it

Johnston Canyon can be a good choice if you have limited mobility or want a less strenuous outing, although the full route is not universally accessible.

It was also a surprisingly good smoky-day option for us. The wildfire smoke was hurting big mountain views elsewhere, while being down in the canyon made the smoke much less noticeable.

Upper Falls is where the experience changes

The maintained canyon route continues beyond Lower Falls to the 30-metre Upper Falls. Parks Canada lists about 1.1 km each way to Lower Falls and 2.4 km each way to Upper Falls. The narrow catwalks are part of the appeal, but they are also why crowds have such an outsized effect: there simply is not much room to pass.

If you want more of a hike, continuing toward the Ink Pots changes the day. The crowds typically thin after Upper Falls, the pavement gives way to a more conventional trail, and the route climbs through forest before opening into a broad mountain meadow with the spring-fed Ink Pots. It is a substantially longer outing, but it solves some of what we disliked about stopping only at the busiest waterfall viewpoints.

How we would do Johnston Canyon differently

Go very early or later in the day, skip any photo line that is moving slowly, and decide before you start whether you are doing a short waterfall walk or continuing to the Ink Pots. We would not spend prime clear-weather hiking hours waiting shoulder-to-shoulder at the platforms again.

Parking fills quickly, and summer transit can be an alternative. Because the route is narrow and heavily used, this is also one of those places where timing can change the experience more than another mile of hiking.

Our Verdict

If you have clear weather, limited time and are comfortable with more substantial hiking, I would spend my time elsewhere. If you need an easier option or smoke is ruining the big vistas, Johnston Canyon becomes much more appealing.