Johnston Canyon Frozen Waterfalls - Small Group Tour
Description
Immerse yourself in the winter wonderland that is Johnston Canyon. From breathtaking vistas of frozen falls to the hidden gems along Bow Valley Parkway, experience a morning packed with awe-inspiring beauty and heartwarming moments. Highlights: - Johnston Canyon's Icy Allure: Traverse through the enchanting snow-draped Johnston Canyon. Your expert guide will prep you for everything you need to journey to the mesmerizing Lower Falls, where nature's frozen artistry awaits. For the more adventurous, continue onward to the Upper Falls and witness grandeur on a whole new scale with daredevil ice-climbers scaling the icy towers. - Bow Valley Parkway Revealed: As we travel en route to Johnston Canyon, we'll make special stops at lesser-known viewpoints along the Bow Valley Parkway. Ready your camera for scenic shots that locals are privy to!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the breathtaking splendor of Banff National Park's premier winter walk at Johnston Canyon! Upon arrival, your expert local guide will regale you with fascinating tales and trivia as you journey along the gentle road towards the Johnston Canyon falls trail. They will provide you with ice cleats/crampons and (optional) hiking poles for your journey to the frozen falls. This trek takes about 30 minutes, covering a distance of 1.2 km with an elevation gain of 50m. Upon reaching the Lower Falls, you can either return to the trailhead where a complimentary hot drink by a toasty firepit awaits or venture further to the Upper Falls, which adds another 30 minutes and 1.3 km to the trek. There, you'll be spellbound by the most magnificent frozen waterfalls in the canyon and can watch intrepid ice climbers navigate the icy cliffs. The complete round trip to the Upper Falls spans 2 hours, 5.0 km, with an elevation gain of 120m, suitable for those of average fitness.
Immerse yourself in the captivating vistas of Banff National Park, from towering peaks to lush forests, as we navigate scenic routes between Castle Junction & Banff. Along our journey to Johnston Canyon, we'll pause at local-favored spots, amplifying our chances of witnessing the Rockies' grandeur and wildlife. Though there's plenty to explore, our tour ensures maximum outdoor immersion. Prioritizing an authentic experience, our knowledgeable local guides adjust the itinerary considering bus timings, weather, and exclusive tips. We aim to craft an unforgettable adventure, evoking envy in others.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 5 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
Reviews(51)
Excellent tour with an enthusiastic and dedicated guide (Taylor) - towards the end, a bonus sight was added and it turned out to be an overjoyed surprise. We saw on the way to that sight a mother black bear and three cubs - a rare event given there are only an estimated 60 black bears in the whole national park!
What a bonus to end on! A mother black bear with three cubs is an extraordinarily rare sighting, with only an estimated 60 black bears in the entire national park, you witnessed something that most visitors to Banff never get to see. 🐻 Taylor's dedication to going the extra mile for guests is something we're incredibly proud of, and it sounds like it paid off in the most spectacular way possible. We'd love to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon!
Rae & Georgia were great guides, we were picked up on time from our hotel, and the tour was excellent with wonderful scenery on a snowy day!
Good hiking trail. Beautiful views along the way. Tyler was our tour guy. Very personable and knowledgeable about the area. And we saw a momma grizzly with her 2 cubs and 2 wolves on the drive
Wow, a momma grizzly with two cubs AND two wolves?! That is an extraordinarily rare and memorable outing and we're so glad you were there to witness it safely. 🐻🐺 Those are the kinds of moments that make the Canadian Rockies so extraordinary. Tyler is brilliant at making guests feel at ease while getting the most out of every stop, and it sounds like the day delivered in every way. Thank you for sharing, we hope to welcome you back again soon!
It was a good choice to travel with this small group. The tour guide was kind and prepared so well for everything. He offered the icepaws and a hot drink after the walk. Even if it was winter, the scenery in Johnston Canyon was wonderful. It was quite and amazing.
Thank you for the lovely review! Johnston Canyon in winter is truly something special, that quiet, icy stillness is unlike anything else. We're glad our guide made sure you were well equipped and warmed up afterwards! Making sure guests are comfortable and prepared in winter conditions is really important to us, and it sounds like it made all the difference. We hope to welcome you back again soon! ❄️🌊
Very smooth tour start to finish. There was only 4 of us. Liam our guide was fantastic. Great knowledge and sense of humour and totally approachable. The canyon itself is stunning. I was in total awe of its beauty. It took us about 2.5 hours to do top and bottom canyons with plenty of time for photos. This is a not to be missed tour.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful and detailed review! We’re thrilled the tour hit every mark — from the small group experience to the stunning canyon itself. Liam will be over the moon to hear your kind words about his knowledge and humour; he’s a real gem on the team. It sounds like you soaked up every moment, and that’s exactly what we hope for every guest. We hope to see you back in Banff for another adventure!
First of all, Gini deserves 10/10. She is dedicated to make everyone feel welcomed and enjoy the trip. Secondly, stick to Radventure whenever you can for this agency constructs my best experiences in Banff. And you should see how Gini makes drinks and chocolate biscuits with marshmallows for everyone. The trip is full of this tiny moments of comfort besides fascinating natural landscapes.
This review genuinely put the biggest smile on our faces, thank you! Gini truly is one of a kind and she'll be overjoyed to read this. Those little moments of warmth, the drinks, the chocolate biscuits with marshmallows, are Gini's way of making sure everyone feels at home out in the wilderness, and it means so much that they were noticed and appreciated. Thank you also for the wonderful words about Radventures, that really does mean everything to us. We can't wait to welcome you back! ☕🍫🏔️
It was an excellent tour and Gini was a very experienced guide.
Thank you for the lovely feedback! Gini's experience and expertise really do shine through on every tour and we're so glad it added to your visit to Banff. We hope to welcome you back again for another great outing! 🏔️
We loved the tour and our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable. The upper and lower falls were incredible views
Thank you so much, we're so glad you loved the tour! The upper and lower falls really are something special, aren't they? We'll pass your kind words along to your guide. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the Rockies soon! 🌊
We hiked with Gini and made it to the upper falls on a quiet morning hike. Ice spikes, which were provided were definitely needed. The path is well maintained with a nice safety rail making it easy to see into the canyon. Gini was very knowledgeable and pointed out many areas along with the history of the area. We definitely benefited from having her as a guide.
Thank you so much! An early morning hike to the upper falls with ice spikes on, that's a proper Banff winter experience right there! We're glad the trail and safety infrastructure made it enjoyable, and even more glad that Gini's knowledge of the history and landscape added so much to it. That's exactly the difference a great guide makes. Hope to see you back on the trails with us again! 🧭🧃
We had both Taylor and Tyler show us the stunning Johnstone Canyon waterfalls . Their care and knowledge was incredible and we loved the stories about the ‘Boss’ bear! It was very icy and they very thoughtfully provided the group with crampons . They went at a pace that suited all the group - not too fast and not too slow. I highly recommend them , it was such a great day out !
Thank you so much, this is a wonderful review! Taylor and Tyler love sharing the legend of the Boss, he has a way of capturing everyone's imagination even when he doesn't make an appearance! 🐻 Icy conditions on the canyon trail can be tricky, so we always want to make sure guests are set up safely, great to hear the crampons made a difference. Pacing a group so everyone feels comfortable is something Taylor and Tyler do really well, and it's lovely to hear that came through. We'd love to welcome you back for another great day out! 🧃
