Johnston Canyon Icewalk: Experience Natural Ice Sculptures in Banff National Park

Experience the natural beauty of Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park. Walk along steel catwalks to marvel at frozen waterfalls and towering ice sculptures. Don’t miss this popular guided icewalk!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Johnston Canyon - This popular walk will lead you past the lower falls and to the breathtaking upper icefalls. You’ll hike on steel walkways built into the canyon walls and get an airy view of the canyon below.

What to expect:

ullet Walking Time: 2 - 2.5 hours

ullet Return Distance: 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers)

ullet Elevation Gain: 443 feet (135 meters)

What's Included
  • Maple cookie snack, hot chocolate
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional guide
  • Ice cleats
  • Hiking pole
What's Not Included
  • Optional gratuities
Additional Information

Johnston Canyon, a renowned focal point in Banff National Park, offers a fascinating spectacle of natural ice formations in winter when its powerful waterfalls freeze into statuesque structures. Throughout the sun-drenched summer, the confined canyon elegantly channels wafts of water. A system of metal platforms affixed to the canyon’s faces, allows…

Location
Mount Royal Hotel
Banff Avenue
All guests must wait at the public bus parking located behind the Mount Royal Hotel at 138 Banff Ave. You must be ready at the pick up point at least 20 minutes prior to the tour start time.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(445 Ratings)
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Joewi7981ox
Mar 25, 2025
What an amazing experience - A group of us from Scotland as corporate guests did the guided walk with Jeff . He was an excellent guide on the flora , fauna and geology and we all had a great time. We even saw some ice climbers going up and down falls at end.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_l
Mar 21, 2025
Gorgeous winter hike - Our hike with Tina was our favorite excursion on our trip. The canyon itself was gorgeous. The hike was uphill for the majority of the way with moderate difficulty. We were given crampons to wear which were very helpful. The hot chocolate and cookies were a great little snack! I highly recommend this hike.
Review provided by Viator
Morningbell5
Mar 20, 2025
A must do. - Absolutely amazing!! Really good walk, and a Jeff, the guide was spot on. Nice to have the the knowledge and good photo spots. Definitely recommend it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve
Mar 14, 2025
Walk in the snow - Picked up from Banff train station and we went on a wonderfull and beautiful drive and walk. Magical winter wonderland . Highly recommend and go slow. It is not for the unfit. They take it slow and hides are brilliant and service is excellent. Just remember it is a hike and it is up and down a man made path but it is lots of steeps. Go do it especially with kids it is brilliant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christina_n
Mar 13, 2025
Beautiful Hike! - This is a great winter hike -:but it definitely is a hike uphill going to the Upper Falls, so a decent level of fitness is needed. The Johnston Canyon is beautiful. We saw some ice climbers too and our guide, Rob, was super knowledgeable about the area and shared lots of interesting stories. We got some lovely snowfall near the end of the hike, which just made it picture-perfect afternoon!
Review provided by Viator
Wanderer817469
Mar 13, 2025
Fantastic tour with a friendly and knowledgeable guide. - Great tour of the Johnston Canyon. Would highly recommend visiting. The guide had excellent knowledge and was so friendly. Transport to and from the canyon included in the price. Walking poles and crampons included also. Pick the 8.30 tour if possible as the canyon is very quiet at this time. As we were heading back to the minibus it was getting noticeably busier. Our guide, Anick, was fabulous. Charming, friendly and super knowledgeable. She made the trip an excellent experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linda_l
Mar 12, 2025
Fantastic experience! - We had a fantastic experience on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours! Our guide, Andy, was excellent—knowledgeable, friendly, and great with the kids on the tour. He shared fascinating information about the canyon and made the hike both fun and engaging. The scenery was breathtaking, and the entire experience was well-organized and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Banff in March.
Review provided by Viator
Lamar_l
Mar 11, 2025
Wear the ice cleats! Fun... - Wear the ice cleats! Fun hike, a little more uphill that I expected but not too steep. About 3 miles total.
Review provided by Viator
Kellyndominguez
Mar 11, 2025
Great experience! The... - Great experience! The views were amazing and Ethan, our tour guide, did a great job of providing history and relevant information.
Review provided by Viator
K208ihmariag
Mar 10, 2025
Stunning!! - Tina was great! Learned a lot and she kept our 10 yr old entertained throughout the entire trail. Beautiful place and experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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