This hike can be easily done as a day hike, but we decided to try out our new camping equipment and completed this as an overnight hike. Campsite reservations are super easy – just call or visit in person: Parks Canada.
Johnston Canyon is one of the best-known hikes in the Banff area. It’s an easy and relatively short hike with rewarding waterfall views. If you plan to hike just Johnston’s Canyon, arrive early or later in the afternoon for your best chance to find parking.
You have the option to visit the Lower Falls (1.1 km) and Upper Falls (2.6 km), which can be completed in 2-3 hours round trip. Parts of the hike are on a catwalk, from which you can view cascading falls, vivid blue pools of water, and the rushing creek as you traverse the canyon. We loved the contrast of the lush moss from the wet weather this year.
After reaching the Upper Falls, there is the option of continuing through the forest for 3 km to reach the Ink Pots. The forest will clear into a meadow, with the blue-green pools in view, with mountain peaks in the background.
The path will continue through the meadow to a bridge crossing Johnston Creek. From here, it’s 3 km to Larry’s Camp. The path follows alongside the creek before ascending back into a forest.
The trail was a little muddy given the recent rainy weather, so good hiking boots are a must! Many people will hike to Larry’s Camp as part of the Saddleback trail. This beautiful area has plenty of flora, forest, creeks, and mountain ranges to gaze at!
We encountered the campsites at Larry’s Camp before we found the actual sign. A little confusing at first, but it made sense once we considered that most people will have approached the camp from another direction. It’s often a stop on the 2nd, 3rd, etc, night of hiking. This campsite is nestled in the forest full of tall pine and mossy ground, just slightly uphill of the creek.
We set up at one of the camps closer to the creek, away from the main path, as we were found of the sound of rushing water. We had our pick of all the campsites, as no others were booked! The camping area is a quick jaunt away from the cooking and food storage area (cables are provided), where two fire pits and large picnic tables are located.
The creek was a perfect spot for cooling our drinks while we prepped lunch. 🙂
The path from Larry’s Camp crosses the creek, close to the food storage area, and you have the choice to continue left or right. One path leads northwest to Luellen Lake (~9 km), while the other leads eastward, eventually to Mystic Lake. Eager hikers could make it to Luellen Lake campsite for the night! Once we set up, we crossed the creek and went exploring on the trail towards Mystic Lake.
The path towards Mystic Lake continues through the forest along the stream. We saw plenty of mushrooms, moss, and mountains!
We packed plenty of layers, but somehow we were still surprised to wake up to snow on the mountains around us. It seems September is the start of that time of year!
It’s always wise to be prepared in the mountains, but this time of year seems to offer even more variability in the weather. Sun, rain, snow, fog, we’ve seen it all in a 24-hour period.
Hike Info
- Time: 2-3 hours for Johnston Canyon Upper Falls (round trip); 3-4 hours for Ink Pots (round trip); 4-5 hours for Larry’s Camp (round trip)
- Distance: Upper Falls: 2.6 km on way; Ink Pots: 5.5 km one way; Larry’s Camp: 9 km one way;
- Elevation gain: Upper Falls: 120 m; Ink Pots: 320 m; Larry’s Camp: 350 m;
- Difficulty: medium
- How to book a campsite in Banff
- Johnston Canyon Trailpeak Info
Pine Trees and Prana 