Documenting Lovely Moments
Fantastic Hiking Trail at Johnston Canyon – Banff, Canada
Johnston Canyon is a fantastic hiking trail in Banff National Park, with beautiful waterfalls, overhanging canyon walls, and green forest settings. The hike was relatively easy and very relaxing. Our favorite part was walking through a little cave to get a close-up of the Lower Falls.
Grizzly Bear Sighting
Driving from our hotel in Canmore to Johnston Canyon in the morning was nice and easy. Just before we reached our destination, we spotted a grizzly bear walking on the side of the road.
A Peaceful Morning Hike
Johnston Canyon is a popular hiking trail and can get busy during the summer. We started the day early so that we could beat the crowd and enjoy a more peaceful time. When we arrived between 7 and 8 am, there was not a lot of people there yet. It was such a lovely walk through the green forest, beautiful creeks, and many waterfalls. The elevated walkways with overhanging canyon walls were especially stunning.
Johnston Canyon Lower Falls
Before long, we arrived at the Lower Falls. It was surprisingly easy to reach and we did not expect to get to this point that fast. We passed the viewing bridge and found a dark cave passage to get to a narrow lookout deck.
The kids found the little passage very cool and they loved walking back and forth through the dark cave. The lookout deck let us get so close to the rapid Lower Falls that our clothes actually got wet from the spray.
Hiking to the Upper Falls
After another 1.3 km hike from the Lower Falls, we were excited to spot the Upper Falls. The Lower and Upper Falls have such different personalities. The Lower Falls waterfall has a vibrant energy, and the Upper Falls is much taller and more delicate.
From the base of the Upper Falls, we continued to climb up the trail to get to the viewing deck at top of the waterfall. The upper viewing deck allowed us to view the Upper Falls from a different perspective. We looked down from the fenced deck to see the water falling into a clear pool below.
Skipping the Ink Pots and Hiking Back Down
Originally, we had planned to hike all the way up to the Ink Pots, which would be another 3 km hike from the Upper Falls. The kids were getting tired and hungry at that point. Hence, we decided to skip the Ink Pots and hiked back down instead.
The hike back down was so much easier and equally enjoyable. There were also other waterfalls besides the Lower and Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon although we did not know their names.
Different Scenes Back at Lower Falls
On the hike down, we were able to see the Lower Falls from a different angle. However, by this time (almost 10 am), this area was much more crowded than before. As seen in the above photos, the small lookout deck was full of people shoulder-to-shoulder, and the viewing bridge was busier.
Tips
Arrive Early In The Morning
Johnston Canyon is a popular tourist destination. We arrived in the early morning, and enjoyed a more peaceful hike.
Trail Information
For more information about the trails, visit the Parks Canada website.
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I'm a happily-married mom of two. Our family enjoys an active lifestyle and spending quality time together. We love creating memories through travel, learning about different cultures around the world.
