Johnston Canyon, Lower Falls — Attraction in Alberta

I recommend this trail for anyone. The road up to the trail was originally open to bikes only but has been opened back up for cars. We went around 7:30am on a weekend and were able to park in the main parking lot no problem (nearly no one was there yet - maybe 5 cars total). There is a bathroom right at the parking lot before entering the park and the trail.

Once you start into the trail, there's a small cafe there which sells hot chocolate. It was the perfect drink for this lovely hike. The trail is very well made/preserved and follows a river. You begin at lower falls, then make your way to upper falls, then the ink pots. Unfortunately when we visited (September 10) upper falls is closed so you cannot access either it or upper falls, but I think the journey is still worth it just to see lower falls.

The trail is not too difficult or steep in any way and is pretty easy going. There are some parts when the trail is very narrow and so it's uncomfortable for multiple people to pass abreast. I would suggest going in single file. Also! Please do not litter! I saw several places where people had hidden trash behind rocks and such - please preserve this beautiful trail.

Bears are typically not seen on this trail but apparently it has been known to happen - so make sure to carry bear spray! I'm not personally sure how since the trail is so narrow. At the end of the lower falls trail there is a waterfall. You can observe the waterfall from the trail or walk through a small cave-like pass to view it from right up front. This latter area holds maybe around 5 people and is very slippery because of all the water splashing so be aware of that when walking through.

The trail was extremely busy starting around 8:30/9am. Several tour buses brought large groups of people and you couldn't walk a few steps without running into someone new. For me it didn't detract from the experience really, but if you want to see the falls mostly alone I'd recommend going at...

This was an epic hike, even in the cold of winter. It was 8 degrees Fahrenheit when we did this, but we just put on thermals, bundled up and got moving and we were fine. We were actually sweating a little at one point. I’d classify even the trek to the upper falls as a moderate hike given its only about 4 km roundtrip. We did it in 90 minutes though I’d say most people would probably want to give themselves a full 2 hours. There can be a little bit of a line to see the lower falls up close as there’s a small cave there that bottlenecks a bit. The views are absolutely stunning though and i wouldn’t miss this trail regardless of the time of year you’re in Banff. It’s on a gorgeous part of the old highway between Banff and Lake Louise, and your chance of spotting wildlife is very high in the area (we saw a moose). If you’re going in winter obviously dress warm and even though some people had them, don’t feel like you need cleats or ice shoes unless you’re prone to falls or unsure of yourself when hiking. We went in boots and were absolutely fine. Even if you’re looking for a longer or more strenuous trail, I recommend making time for Johnston Canyon. And if you have the time, push on to the Upper Falls! It’s...

Beautiful waterfall and location. Parking in the late afternoon/early evening was available, though the lot was still quiet full. The trail was usable for a family member who requires a cane, which was nice. The suspended trail at times will place you directly over the river, but it's secure enough that small children, with proper supervision can take the trail as well. If you're up to it, the upper falls are absolutely lovely, but that portion of the trail wouldn't be as accessible for those with mobility issues. Please note, if you want a photo at the base of the falls and are willing to wait about 30 mins, you can enter a small cove like area nearer the bottom of the falls, but there are multiple vantage points for taking photos of the falls even if you don't wish to linger in a que. We were surrounded by a multitude of wildflowers in July and while summer, it was still on the cooler side and it did rain on us so be prepared for the possible weather conditions and enjoy the stunning beauty that the park...