Adventure

Banff: Morning or Afternoon Johnston Canyon Icewalk

4.9 / 5

77 reviews

Activity provider: Discover Banff Tours
Adventure

Banff: Morning or Afternoon Johnston Canyon Icewalk

Activity provider: Discover Banff Tours
Likely to sell out

From US$ 68.92 per person

Likely to sell out

Explore the unique ice-covered waterfalls and beautiful scenery of Banff’s Johnston Canyon during this guided Icewalk. Embark on a half-day hike which takes you all the way to the iconic upper falls, a glittering tower of ice that rises 30 meters.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Duration 4 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Take the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon, a scenic drive through a wildlife-rich habitat
  • Hike to Johnston Canyon's frozen falls, including the lower falls and spectacular upper-falls
  • Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and maple cookies while you admire the views
  • Learn about the history and geology of the area from your knowledgeable guide
Full description
Start with pickup from Banff and travel in a modern minibus along the Bow Valley Parkway to the Canyon. On arrival at the Johnston Canyon trailhead, your guide will show you how to put on ice cleats over your winter boots, as well as give you some tips on winter hiking. From here, start the moderate 2.7 kilometer hike with 135 meter elevation to the Upper Falls. Walk along the steel catwalks built into the canyon walls which allows a spectacular view down the canyon walls to the ice and river below. Along the way you'll learn the clues to how Johnston Canyon was formed and stop at the Lower Falls, where you'll have the option to walk through a natural cave feature for a unique view. At the Upper Falls, enjoy a brief stop on the upper deck with a small refreshment break to enjoy the views. These gigantic pillars of ice are the tour highlight and ice climbers can often be seen scaling the frozen columns. Once you've finished your hot chocolate, hike back down and your guide will transport you back to Banff and drop you at your hotel.
Includes
  • Pickup and drop-off in Banff
  • Professional certified guide
  • Small-group tour, maximum of 12 guests per guide
  • Hot chocolate and maple cookie snack
  • Use of ice cleats
  • Use of hiking poles
  • Gratuities
Not suitable for
  • Children under 8 years

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Wait at the public bus parking spot located behind the Mount Royal Hotel at 138 Banff Ave. You must be ready 5 minutes before the 8:12 AM or the 1:12 PM pickup time (depending on the tour time selected).

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Important information

What to bring

  • Thermal clothing
  • Warm clothing
  • Snow clothing
  • Scarf
  • Warm shoes

Not allowed

  • Luggage or large bags

Know before you go

  • The minimum age for this tour is 8 years
  • Children aged 15 and under must have someone 18 years and older with them
  • 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 winter clothing for this trip including a winter jacket, snow pants, hats, mittens, and waterproof winter boots
  • In total, this is a 5.4 kilometer hike with 135 meters of elevation gain. Moderate fitness is recommended to ensure that you enjoy the tour
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 77 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    5/5
  • Transportation
    5/5
  • Value for money
    4.7/5
  • Service
    5/5

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Star rating:

Fantastic walk through Johnston Canyon. We booked our tour before we went on holiday and decided to switch the day because we wanted a day off from skiing slightly earlier than intended. The company were extremely helpful and amenable and happily moved the original booking. Neil, our guide was very informative and made the tour interesting and fun. We were issued with ice cleats to put over our boots ahead of the walk and felt safe and looked after throughout the afternoon. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who needs a day off from skiing but still wants to learn about the local area and make the most of their time in Banff.

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March 26, 2023

The whole trip was very smooth - we had a really small group of 5 so it was perfect. The pace was just right too and the hot chocolate was delicious! Our guide Chris was really kind, friendly and knowledgeable and he really took the time to make sure everyone was ok.

March 11, 2023

I usually don't like excursions, but this time I loved it. This girl talked about so many things that I didn't know and she referred to the animals of the forest as if they belonged to her. You can see the love he has for what he does and the knowledge. Today I love more banff.

November 19, 2022

Product ID: 303253