Banff Day Trip: Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls

A catwalk built into the canyon walls takes you along a turquoise creek through dramatic limestone cliffs.

This full-day guided tour departs Calgary or Canmore for Banff National Park, visiting Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls and Surprise Corner with a live English-speaking guide. The national park pass is included on select dates (May 1–June 18 and September 8–October 12, 2026), and pickup and drop-off happen at your chosen starting point in Calgary, Canmore or Banff Town. The day runs 8 to 10 hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Banff National Park highlights

• Meet at Calgary meeting point
• Board and travel to Banff
• Walk scenic trail with canyon views
• Explore Banff Town and lunch free time
• Walk catwalk trail in Johnston Canyon
• Visit Lake Minnewanka
• Stop at Two Jack Lake for photos
• View Bow River panorama and Fairmont Hotel
• See Bow Falls waterfall
• Return to meeting point and farewell
• Return to Calgary drop-off spot

The Experience

The guide meets you at your chosen pickup—downtown Calgary, Canmore Visitor Centre, or Elk Avenue in Banff Town—and the drive to the park takes roughly 20 minutes from Canmore onward. Johnston Canyon comes first: you walk a scenic trail that crosses several bridges high above the narrow gorge, then continue along a catwalk built directly into the canyon walls, following a rushing turquoise creek through the limestone cliffs. The trail is the main event here, not a viewing platform—you are inside the canyon, not looking down at it.

After Johnston Canyon, the tour moves to Banff Town for free time to explore shops and grab lunch at your own pace. Then it's on to Lake Minnewanka, a glacial lake ringed by rugged mountain peaks, followed by a quick stop at Two Jack Lake for final photos. The day closes at Bow Falls, a wide, shallow waterfall on the Bow River where you see the aqua-green water crashing over limestone with the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Mount Rundle rising behind it. The sound and the sight together are the payoff after a full day of walking.

You return to your starting point in Calgary, Canmore or Banff by the end of the afternoon. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the tour is built for all fitness levels—the walking is steady but not strenuous. Arrival times in Banff can shift with traffic and weather, so the schedule is flexible on that front.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide.
• pickup and drop-off from Calgary, Canmore or Banff Town.
• Banff National Park pass (May 1–June 18 and September 8–October 12, 2026).
• access to Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls and Surprise Corner.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Westar Travel Ltd.

Is this one for you?Choose the 7:45 AM Calgary departure if you want the maximum time at each stop and the quietest hours at Johnston Canyon; the 9:10 AM Canmore pickup cuts the drive time if you're staying in the mountain towns; the 9:30 AM Banff start works if you're already in town and want to join the tour partway through the day.

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Top questions

What is Johnston Canyon like when you get there?

Johnston Canyon is a narrow gorge carved through limestone cliffs by a turquoise creek. You walk along a catwalk trail built into the canyon walls themselves, crossing several bridges as you move deeper into the canyon—you are walking through it, not viewing it from above or from the valley floor.

Do I need to bring my own lunch?

Lunch is not included, but the tour stops in Banff Town for free time where you can buy food at local shops and restaurants at your own pace.

Which pickup time gets me to Banff earliest?

The 7:45 AM departure from downtown Calgary arrives first, followed by the 9:10 AM pickup at Canmore Visitor Centre and the 9:30 AM start from Elk Avenue in Banff Town. The earlier you leave Calgary, the more time you have at each stop.

Is the national park pass included in the price?

The Banff National Park pass is included on this tour during May 1–June 18 and September 8–October 12, 2026. Outside those dates, the pass is not included in the tour price.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes steady walking at Johnston Canyon along the catwalk trail and scenic paths, plus free time to walk around Banff Town and stops at Lake Minnewanka and Bow Falls. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the canyon trail involves crossing bridges and following a narrow path along the cliff edge.

Can I bring a child under 7 years old?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If your child is 7 years old or younger, you will need to bring a car seat for the vehicle portion of the tour.