Johnston Canyon: A quick hike to the lower falls
Where Is Johnston Canyon?
Johnston Canyon is located in Banff National Park in Alberta, along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) between Banff and Lake Louise.
The trailhead is approximately 25 km northwest of Banff and 33 km southeast of Lake Louise, making it an easy addition to a Banff or Lake Louise itinerary.
What makes Johnston Canyon particularly convenient for road-trippers is its location. It sits close enough to several major Canadian Rockies attractions that you can combine it with other stops rather than dedicating an entire day to the hike.
And one of our favorite ways to do that is to combine Johnston Canyon with a day exploring Yoho National Park.
Johnston Canyon + Yoho National Park: A Perfect Day Trip
If you’re staying in Banff or Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon and Yoho National Park make a fantastic combination for a full day of exploring.
Yoho National Park sits just across the provincial border in British Columbia, with the Trans-Canada Highway running directly through the park. The town of Field, British Columbia, is located in the heart of Yoho, while Lake Louise is only about 30 km away.
That makes it easy to build a day around waterfalls, turquoise lakes, mountain scenery, and short hikes.
You could start your morning in Yoho National Park, exploring some of its iconic sights before making your way back toward Banff and stopping at Johnston Canyon later in the afternoon, which is what we did.
After a full day of exploring Yoho National Park, our legs were starting to remind us just how many miles we had already covered.
The daylight was fading, our energy was running low, and there was still one more place we wanted to see: Johnston Canyon.
Originally, we had hoped to hike all the way to the Upper Falls. But with the sun sinking lower and the realization that we didn’t have much daylight left, we decided to keep things simple. Rather than rushing through the entire trail, we opted for the shorter hike to the Lower Falls—a quick, relatively easy adventure that would still let us experience one of Banff’s most beautiful canyon walks.
Sometimes, the shorter trail turns out to be exactly what you need.
Johnston Canyon Lower Falls Trail
The hike to Johnston Canyon’s Lower Falls is approximately 2.3 km round trip, with about 105 meters of elevation gain. For those with more time and energy, the trail continues to the Upper Falls, making the full hike approximately 5.5 km round trip.
Both sections are relatively easy and follow a well-maintained trail, making Johnston Canyon accessible to hikers of many fitness levels.
For us, though, the Lower Falls were the perfect choice that evening.
2.3
Length (km)
out & back
Route Type
105
Elevation Gain (meters)
easy
Difficulty
A Quiet Evening in Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon can be extremely busy during the summer, with visitors filling the trail and viewing areas throughout the day.
Our October visit couldn’t have been more different.
We arrived toward the end of the day, when most visitors had already headed back. The cooler autumn air, fading light, and nearly empty trail gave Johnston Canyon an entirely different personality.
Instead of navigating around crowds, we could slow down.
We could stop whenever we wanted.
And most importantly, we could actually listen.
The canyon was filled with the sound of rushing water, leaves moving in the breeze, and the occasional echo bouncing between the limestone walls. With so few people around, the experience felt almost private—as though we had stumbled upon a secret corner of the Canadian Rockies.
Walking Above Johnston Creek
The trail begins by winding through the forest before gradually entering the narrow canyon.
But Johnston Canyon isn’t just a typical forest hike.
One of the most memorable features of the trail is the series of steel catwalks built along the canyon walls. The walkways cling to the limestone cliffs, carrying hikers above the rushing waters of Johnston Creek.
As we walked farther into the canyon, the walls seemed to close in around us.
Below, Johnston Creek tumbled over rocks and through narrow passages, its turquoise-green water rushing beneath the catwalks. Above us, towering limestone walls framed the canyon, creating a dramatic contrast between the rugged rock and the lush forest.
There were moments when we simply stopped walking and looked around.
Even though this was supposed to be our quick, easy hike of the day, it didn’t feel like something we needed to rush through.
The combination of the narrow canyon, rushing creek, towering rock walls, and elevated walkways makes Johnston Canyon feel almost otherworldly.
And walking along the catwalks with the creek roaring beneath you adds just enough adventure to make this short hike especially memorable.
The Sound of the Lower Falls
As we approached the Lower Falls, the sound of the water became louder.
The canyon narrowed, and the rushing creek seemed to echo from every direction.
Then, suddenly, we reached the viewing area.
The Lower Falls dropped dramatically into a small pool below, surrounded by towering limestone walls. The white water against the darker rock made the waterfall stand out beautifully, while the emerald-colored pool added another layer of color to the scene.
It was one of those moments where the hike suddenly felt completely worth it.
Get Up Close to the Waterfall
One of the fun features of Johnston Canyon’s Lower Falls is a small tunnel carved into the rock that leads to an up-close viewing area.
Naturally, we couldn’t resist.
Walking through the narrow tunnel brings you almost directly beside the waterfall. From this perspective, you can see the water crashing down just a few feet away—and feel the cool mist rising from the falls.
If you’re carrying a camera, this is definitely a place to have it ready.
And maybe keep it protected.
The spray from the waterfall can reach the viewing area, so you’ll want to be a little more careful with your camera equipment than you might expect.
Standing there, surrounded by limestone walls with the waterfall roaring beside us, was one of the highlights of the evening.
A Little Piece of the Canadian Rockies
There is something almost magical about the scenery at Johnston Canyon.
The white cascade of water, the emerald pool, the weathered limestone walls, and the surrounding forest come together to create the kind of landscape that looks almost too perfect to be real.
It’s easy to understand why Johnston Canyon has become one of Banff National Park’s most popular attractions.
But visiting late in the day, in October, gave us something that summer visitors don’t always get—a chance to experience the canyon without the crowds.
We lingered at the falls longer than we expected.
We took photographs.
And for a few minutes, we simply stood there and enjoyed the scenery.
After such a long day of hiking, it was exactly the kind of peaceful ending we needed.
Hiking Back After Sunset
Eventually, we had to turn around. The problem? It was getting dark.
By the time we made our way back along the canyon trail toward the parking lot, daylight had nearly disappeared. The forest that had seemed bright and inviting on the way in now felt completely different beneath the fading evening sky.
When we finally reached the parking lot, only a handful of cars remained. There was something strangely satisfying about seeing that nearly empty parking lot.
We had started the day with a long list of places we wanted to explore, and by this point, we had managed to check off hike after hike, viewpoint after viewpoint. We were tired. Our legs were tired. And we were more than ready to call it a day. But there was also that familiar feeling we get at the end of a big adventure—the feeling that comes from knowing we had made the most of the day.
Johnston Canyon may have been our shortest hike of the day, but it certainly wasn’t one of the least memorable.
Sometimes, you don’t need to hike the entire trail to experience the magic of a place. Sometimes, a short walk through a canyon, the sound of rushing water, and a waterfall waiting around the corner are more than enough. And on a fading October evening in Banff, the Lower Falls were exactly what we needed.
Travel Tip
If you’re visiting during a busy season, consider going early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Johnston Canyon is popular for a reason, but experiencing the canyon with fewer people around can make the trail feel completely different.
And if you’re visiting in the fall, don’t underestimate how quickly daylight disappears in the mountains. We learned that lesson firsthand!