Johnston Canyon Evening Icewalk: Frozen Waterfalls at Night

Walk a frozen canyon by headlamp while your eyes learn to see by starlight alone

An evening icewalk through Johnston Canyon near Banff takes you along suspended catwalks to the Lower Falls, lit first by your own headlamp and then by moonlight on the return. A professional guide leads a small group of up to 12 through the narrow, water-formed canyon, pausing for moments of silence and darkness. The hike covers 1.4 miles with 213 feet of elevation gain over roughly an hour to an hour and a half of walking. Pickup from the Mount Royal Hotel parking area is included, ice cleats and a souvenir headlamp are provided, and hot chocolate and maple cookies wait at the turnaround point.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bow Riverpass by
2. Johnston Canyon1h 30m

Evening hike through Johnston Canyon

• Travel to trailhead through scenic nature
• Hike along suspended catwalk to Lower Falls
• Pause for darkness and quiet moments
• Explore ice formations and natural tunnel
• Enjoy hot chocolate and maple cookies
• Return through pine forest guided by moonlight

The experience

One to one and a half hours of walking gets you from the trailhead to the Lower Falls, where the canyon narrows and the ice thickens around the rushing water. Your guide uses a powerful flashlight to show you the unique features of the limestone walls and the expanding ice formations, but the real moment comes when you reach the viewing platform beside the cascading falls themselves. The suspended catwalks built into the canyon walls make the route manageable for all fitness levels, and the elevation gain of 213 feet spreads across the full distance, so the pace stays steady and unhurried.

The return journey is where the night icewalk becomes something else. You're invited to turn off your headlamp (the one you keep after the tour), and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Within minutes, the ambient light of the moon and stars is enough to navigate the pine forest without any artificial light at all. Your guide stays with you, but the walk becomes a quiet, sensory experience: the scent of fresh pine, the crunch of ice underfoot, the silence of the canyon at night. Most people don't expect their eyes to adjust that quickly, and the shift from lit to starlit changes how the place feels entirely.

Pickup happens from the public bus parking behind the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff, so you don't need a car or a separate ride to the trailhead. The group stays small (no more than 12 people per guide), which keeps the canyon itself quiet and makes the moments of intentional darkness feel genuine rather than staged. Ice cleats are provided, and you'll want to dress in ski wear with hat, mittens and warm boots. A detailed packing list comes with your voucher. Children from age 8 can join when accompanied by an adult, and everyone signs a waiver before starting.

What’s included

• Professional guide leading a small group of up to 12.
• ice cleats and a souvenir headlamp you keep after the tour.
• hot chocolate and maple cookies at the Lower Falls.
• pickup from the Mount Royal Hotel parking area in Banff.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except WednesdayDeparts at 18:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover Banff Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Banff without a car: the included pickup from the Mount Royal Hotel parking area means you walk into the canyon instead of spending time arranging transport. The small group size and the guide's pauses for darkness and silence create the kind of quiet night experience that gets lost in larger groups, which is what makes the starlight return walk feel genuine rather than a gimmick.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

97 verified traveler reviews

5 ★93

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Under 8: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the walk to the Lower Falls in Johnston Canyon?

The hike to the Lower Falls takes one to one and a half hours of walking time, covering 1.4 miles with 213 feet of elevation gain. The suspended catwalks keep the route easy for all fitness levels, and your guide sets a steady pace with pauses to highlight features and moments of silence.

What happens on the return walk through Johnston Canyon at night?

On the way back, you're invited to turn off your headlamp and walk by moonlight and starlight alone. Your eyes adjust quickly to the darkness, and you navigate the pine forest guided only by the ambient light above, which transforms the experience from a lit hike into a sensory immersion in the canyon at night.

What's included with the Johnston Canyon evening icewalk?

The tour includes a professional guide, ice cleats, a souvenir headlamp you keep after the tour, hot chocolate and maple cookies at the Lower Falls viewing platform, and pickup from the Mount Royal Hotel parking area in Banff. The small group size is capped at 12 people per guide.

Do I need my own transportation to get to Johnston Canyon for the evening icewalk?

No. Pickup is included from the public bus parking located behind the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff, so you can book without arranging your own ride to the trailhead. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer to make your own way.