Grotto Canyon Icewalk: Small-Group Adventure Through Ancient Rock Formations and Icefalls

Embark on a journey across a frozen stream in Grotto Canyon, where you’ll encounter unique geological structures, ancient indigenous rock paintings, and cascading icefalls. With the guidance of a skilled expert, this small-group excursion promises a truly memorable bespoke sightseeing adventure!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Grotto Mountain - Here at Grotto Canyon, you’ll hike on the frozen creek bed through a narrow canyon, past unusual rock formations and spectacular icefalls. This is a unique experience to walk directly on the ice, and walking on the creek bed floor gives you a unique view of the canyon.
    The history of the rock art, which is over a thousand years…
What's Included
  • Maple cookie snack, hot chocolate
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional guide
  • Ice cleats
  • Pick up from the public bus parking located behind the Mount Royal Hotel.
  • Hiking pole
What's Not Included
  • Optional gratuities
Additional Information
  • Minimum age is 8 years. All children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by someone 18 years and older.
  • All adults must sign a waiver prior to the tour. A waiver must also be completed by the parent or guardian of any child under the age of 18.
  • Guests should dress in ski wear for this trip including hats, mittens, and warm boots. A detailed list of items to wear and bring is provided on your voucher.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(49 Ratings)
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318janetteb
Feb 11, 2026
Stunning walk with a fun informative guide - Fabulous walk with Heidi as tour guide. Lots of fun facts and information along the way. Stunning walk which is a little off the main tourist trail.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heyitsdi4n4
Jan 26, 2026
Beautiful, special winter experience - Heidi was an amazing guide, showing a variety of things that made this walk so special. From the formation of the rocks, hidden nooks, details of the flora. It was a really beautiful and unique walk, and I’m so glad I did it while in Banff!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allyson_c
Dec 31, 2025
Enjoying Ice Walking - Heidi was a fantastic guide. I learned so much about Banff National Park while experiencing ice walking. It was a very fun day.
Review provided by Viator
Beth_h
Dec 20, 2025
Beautiful hike with very... - Beautiful hike with very knowledgeable and considerate guide. Provided equipment was appreciated! Definitely worth the price.
Review provided by Viator
N3uh
Dec 25, 2024
Do the Grotto - Great scenery and a comfortable walk/distance. To boot Buck was a fantastic guide and provided useful back stories and historical references.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steven_c
Mar 28, 2024
Grotto Canyon Rocks! - Great experience all around. Our group ended up being small, just my wife and I along with another guest. Emma was excellent at navigating the group dynamic and attentive to the needs of the group. She provided pertinent information and a great experience all around. Terrain was extremely approachable with the provided slip on spikes. Beautiful scenery throughout the walk.
Review provided by Viator
Sightsee281754
Mar 26, 2024
Fabulous! - Was a fabulous informative hike with Emma as our tour guide! Was happy to see her again as I hiked with her last year on the Johnston Canyon tour as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pamela_f
Jan 13, 2024
Magical Ice Walk - Bastion was a very informative guide and was attentive to the needs of each person in the group. The hike was beautiful. It was a little challenging going up the grade into the canyon in fresh powder, but very doable even for a person in their 60's. The scenery was magical.
Review provided by Viator
Anjalim616
Dec 24, 2024
Average guide but phenomenal views - Views were phenomenal and wouldn't do this hike without a guide, but tour guide was lackluster, seemed jaded by politics and wasn't cognizant of individual pacing differences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
310jiachenp
Dec 27, 2023
My Disappointing Experience with Viator - Missed Johnston Canyon Icewalk - I want to share my frustrating experience with Viator. On December 26th, I booked the Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour, excited for the adventure. However, due to incorrect guidance from Viator's customer service, my day turned out to be a disappointment. Upon arriving at the Johnston Canyon parking lot around 12:40 PM, we contacted customer service for guidance, as we were early. Surprisingly, they advised us to wait at this parking lot, asserting it was the only one for Johnston Canyon. We waited for one and a half hours, only to realize later that we were at the wrong location, and the tour had started without us. Multiple opportunities for customer service to correct this error or contact the tour guide were missed. This misguidance led to a wasted afternoon and a missed experience. I am now seeking a refund and hope to prevent others from having a similar experience by sharing my story.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $80
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).