Johnston Canyon Icewalk

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11

From CAD 106.61

4.89
445 reviews

Overview

Available languages

English

Water cascades into this narrow canyon in the heat of summer, but in the winter the thundering falls freeze solid to create natural ice sculptures. Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in Banff National Park and has a network of steel catwalks built into the canyon walls that allows you to walk right along this cathedral of ice with airy views into the gorge below.

As you do, you’ll get to wander through a natural cave to gaze down at the flowering waters of the lower falls. Continue onto the awe-inducing upper falls - a glittering tower of ice that rise 30 metres above your head. These gigantic pillars of ice are the tour highlight and ice climbers can often be seen scaling the frozen columns.

This popular guided icewalk will lead you past the lower falls and on to view the breathtaking upper icefalls from the upper deck. You will also travel through prime wildlife habitat to reach the falls and learn the clues to how Johnston Canyon was formed.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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.

A moderate level of fitness is recommended to ensure that you enjoy the tour.

Please note that this tour stays on the trail and does not traverse the ice due to safety concerns.

Group bookings of 9 or more guests have a 7 day cancellation period.

In accordance with our Cold Weather Policy, if safety conditions deteriorate, we may cancel the tour, offering guests the option to receive a refund or reschedule for another date or time.

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Maple cookie snack, hot chocolate

Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)

Professional guide

Ice cleats

Hiking pole

Optional gratuities

Options

Start Times

Reviews

4.89

445 reviews on TripAdvisor

415
21
3
2
4
  • Gorgeous winter hike

    JESSICA L,

    Mar 21, 2025

    5.00

    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.

  • Beautiful Hike!

    Christina N,

    Mar 13, 2025

    5.00

    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!

  • Fantastic experience!

    Linda L,

    Mar 12, 2025

    5.00

    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.

  • Wear the ice cleats! Fun...

    Lamar L,

    Mar 11, 2025

    5.00

    Wear the ice cleats! Fun hike, a little more uphill that I expected but not too steep. About 3 miles total.

  • Great experience! The...

    kellyndominguez,

    Mar 11, 2025

    5.00

    Great experience! The views were amazing and Ethan, our tour guide, did a great job of providing history and relevant information.