Photo: Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
📍 Banff Moderate
TODAY'S STATUS (OFFICIAL SOURCE)
Open
✅ Good · 2026-10-16: Stay on trail; Mainly dry; Access through Moose Meadows parking lot / Johnston Creek trailhead only Parks Canada ↗
11 km
Distance
+425 m
Elevation gain
4 h
Time
Moderate
Difficulty
✓
Dogs on leash
From Johnston Canyon, this trail follows the busy paved path to the Upper Falls. Beyond the falls, a forested trail with exposed roots and rocks goes up and down to a meadow with the Ink Pots: shallow pools where water bubbles up from deep below.
From the Moose Meadows/Johnston Creek parking lot the distance is the same, on a path with roots and rocks. From October 13, 2026, with Johnston Canyon closed for work, access is via Moose Meadows.
There are two trailheads on the Bow Valley Parkway: the Johnston Canyon Day-use Area, 25 km northwest of Banff (Roam route 9 in summer), and the Moose Meadows/Johnston Creek parking lot, 27 km northwest of Banff.
📍 Moose Meadows / Johnston Canyon, Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park
Summer to early fall. Snow and ice can linger on the trail into late spring.
This is bear country. Hike in a group, make noise, carry bear spray within reach and know how to use it. Keep at least 100 m from any bear.
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
No comments yet. Be the first.