Hike Alberta
Lower FallsTunnel FallsStella FallsMarguerite Falls 500 m N
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Johnston Canyon

Near Moose Meadows · Banff National Park

Easy · Out and back · Official trail

Lower Falls in Johnston Canyon
Lower Falls in Johnston Canyon. Photo by Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 97 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Lower FallsStella Falls 1 km Open the map

About this trail

Johnston Canyon is a 5.7 km out and back trail near Moose Meadows in Banff National Park. It runs 2.9 km each way. The route gains 218 m in total and tops out at 1,610 m. Hike Alberta rates it easy, and Parks Canada rates it easy. Allow about 2 hours of moving time. It passes 11 mapped trail junctions. Along the way you pass Johnston canyon, Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls. Much of the route follows Johnston Creek. Also used for walking, trail running and cross country skiing.

Length
5.7km
2.9 km each way
Elevation gain
218m
Estimated time
2h
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,610m
Lowest point
1,437m

Elevation profile

1,437 m to 1,610 m
1,6101,437 0 km2.9 km

Highest point 1,610 m, lowest 1,437 m, 218 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 21% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.0 kmDrinking water
  2. 0.0 kmJohnston canyonHistoric site
  3. 0.0 kmJohnston Canyon TrailheadTrailhead
  4. 0.5 kmJohnston Creek ValleyViewpoint
  5. 1.1 kmLower FallsWaterfall
  6. 1.1 kmViewpointsAt 1.1, 1.9 and 2.4 km
  7. 1.4 kmTunnel FallsWaterfall
  8. 1.9 kmStella FallsWaterfall
  9. 2.3 kmMarguerite FallsWaterfall
  10. 2.4 kmUpper FallsWaterfall

Good for

  • Hiking, Walking, Trail running, Cross country skiing
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Waterfall, Views, River or creek, Canyon, Historic site

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.2460° N, 115.8402° W.

Driving directions

Banff National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy day or annual pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 588 trails in Banff National Park

Parks Canada trail data, Open Government Licence Canada
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30