Exploring Johnston Canyon, land of waterfalls and secrets

Banff = land of turquoise lakes, amiright?

Yes. But it’s also the land of turquoise water running through breathtaking canyons. Where can you get in on his action, you ask? Johnston Canyon.

You won’t be sorry.

Our hike through Johnston Canyon

Luke booking it to get ahead of tour groups

Not a traditional hike, but Johnston Canyon is amazing nonetheless!

Look at that water :)

We rolled up to the Johnston Canyon parking lot at about 8:30 or 9am in 32F weather, each wearing an insulation layer and tennis shoes. Smart hikers, we are ;)

But the good news is that the trails are well maintained and paved, so shoe choice won’t make or break you. And it’s hilly enough that, especially if you’re not meandering, you’ll build body heat. We’ve also heard this is a great hike for summer, and the canyon is always cooler than the surrounding area.

Boyfriend Perspective: We were NOT meandering. We got there just in time to see a bus full of tourists pull up. Ever seen that meme of an ostrich being chased by a cheetah? …we were the ostrich.

Even with our ambitious pace, we both stopped to gawk at the walkways and the various falls areas. The water looks like a pale blue topaz — crystal clear and tinted an exquisite turquoise. You’re pretty much obligated to gawk.

It’s also neat to know that swifts make their homes in the canyon walls. Fall isn’t quite the right time to see them, but it’s still cool to know about the various species that call the canyon home.

Additionally, we visited during elk rutting season, and there were signs everywhere about the dangers of bull elk. ACK. Considering how much other wildlife we saw on our trip, and how few humans were around us when we started out, we kept our eyes PEELED for awhile.

The Johnston Canyon falls!

One of the canyon’s many small falls

Awesome long exposure of the lower falls

Walk through that cave to get close to the falls!

We stopped for awhile at the lower falls. They’re relatively short compared to some of the others we’ve seen (lookin’ at you, Iceland!), but they still put up a powerful roar that you can hear far before you see the falls area.

Perhaps the coolest part is that, while you CAN just experience the falls from the walkway, you also have the option to walk through a short, narrow hole that comes out right across from the flume. On a breezy day, you’ll get soaked. Happily, we just enjoyed a little mist and then skipped out. Note, this is a tiny area and tour groups will literally blockade you in, so be cognizant of who’s around you before you head in.

We didn’t make it to the upper falls, as we got distracted along the way and we’re on a road trip timeline, but our research showed a gorgeous enough experience that we’ll plan to head back for another look on our next visit.

Boyfriend Perspective: The Johnston Canyon trails are so well developed you can have a decent morning run or walk through the park without worrying about tree roots or sneaky divots to roll your ankles on. Get there before tourists and enjoy the quiet nature of birds, trees, and waterfalls.

Pro tips for visiting Johnston Canyon

• Visit the Secret Cave — if you can find it!
• Wear shoes with decent traction. Our rubber-soled tennis shoes were just fine, but I would’ve preferred some additional grip in places. That said, we also saw people in freezing temps “hiking” in flip flops (not Tevas — flip flops), so take that as you will.
• Get there early, early, early. Everybody says this, but guys. Seriously. How much do you want to jockey with multiple cushy touring coaches full to bursting with tourists?!
• Be respectful of the park. Even if you do visit the Secret Cave, don’t be a douche — pick up after yourself and be gentle and careful with your surroundings.

Ready to get to Banff?

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Originally published at Two Restless Homebodies.