8+
Age
Dec-Apr
Season

Combo Package; tour the highlights of Banff while looking for animals, then explore a frozen canyon of ice.

YouTube video
YouTube video

Included: Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour (8:30am – 11:30am)

Build a connection to our World Heritage Site as you visit Banff’s landmarks, learn its history and view wildlife in their natural winter habitat. This morning tour will include some of the most scenic and historically significant highlights of Banff such as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, Hoodoos Viewpoint and Lake Minnewanka. Plus, enjoy hot chocolate and maple cookies at one of the scenic stops. A complete orientation to Banff and a great tour for seeing wildlife in the morning!

Included: Johnston Canyon Icewalk (8:30am or 1:30pm)

Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in Banff National Park and has a network of steel catwalks built into the canyon walls that allows you to walk right along this cathedral of ice with airy views into the gorge below. This popular guided icewalk will lead you past the lower falls and on to view the breathtaking upper icefalls from the upper deck. You will also travel through prime wildlife habitat to reach the falls and learn the clues to how Johnston Canyon was formed.

Tours in this package can be taken on the same day or different days.

Included
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hot chocolate
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools

The best parts of the Discover Banff & Its Wildlife tour for most people include the following:

1

Bow Falls

Water crashes over ancient limestone creating a spectacle of sound and sight.
2

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The ‘Castle of the Rockies’ is the railway’s contribution to the building of Canada.
3

Surprise Corner Lookout

See a higher view of Bow Falls and the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
4

Hoodoos Viewpoint

What is a hoodoo? Understand the lay of the land as you look out over the Bow Valley.
5

Lake Minnewanka

Learn about an underwater village and native history with a pleasant break at Banff National Park’s largest lake.

The best parts of the Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour for most people include the following:

1

Bow Valley Parkway

Travel through prime wildlife habitat on the way to the trailhead.
2

Catwalks

Walk along the steel catwalks built into the canyon walls which allows a spectacular view down the canyon walls to the ice and river below.
3

Lower Falls

Walk through a natural cave feature for a unique view of the lower falls.
4

Upper Falls

Gigantic pillars of ice are the tour highlight and ice climbers can often be seen scaling the frozen columns. There will be a small break so you can enjoy the scenery and take photos.
Included
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hot chocolate
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
The tour begins at 8:30am and returns around 11:30am, approximately three hours.
The half-day tour includes transportation from most hotels in Banff on a guided bus tour to see some of the local highlights such as the iconic Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Lake Minnewanka. The tour includes several stops, including a brief break with a maple cookie snack and hot chocolate, and hands on interpretive tools.
We pick up from most hotels in Banff, and you can select your preferred pick-up location during the booking process. For drop offs, our guide will ask you on the way back where you would like to be dropped off either in town or at your hotel.
You are welcome to meet us at any of our pick up locations in Banff to join the tours, and a popular central downtown meeting point is the public bus parking area behind the Mt Royal Hotel (the hotel address is 138 Banff Avenue).

Most guests choose to self-drive into Banff, although please note that you will need to find parking in Banff that exceeds the duration of the tour. You can park at the Banff train station for instance and we also pick up from there. Please refer to the Town of Banff website for general parking information, or the banffparking.ca website for live parking availability. For guests staying in Canmore, you can also use the Roam bus service and disembark at the Banff High School. The closest pick up point to the Banff High School is across the road at the Elk and Avenue Hotel.

There is a chance of seeing wildlife on the tour and we often spot animals, however we do not guarantee seeing wildlife on any of our tours. Our guides have a lot of knowledge about the animals within the park and can fill you in about them if you see any wildlife or if you have any questions.
The tour is 4 hours long which includes 2 – 2.5 hours for the icewalk. The 1:30pm tour returns to Banff at 5:30pm.
This half day tour includes transport to popular Johnston Canyon for a guided hike to see the frozen waterfalls. Guests will hike along snow and the steel walkways called ‘catwalks’ built into the canyon walls that give an airy view of the gorge below, and past the lower falls and to the breathtaking upper falls. Please note that this tour stays on the trail, and does not traverse the ice due to safety concerns.

We provide ice cleats that will be attached to your boots that will prevent you from slipping on the ice. We also have hiking poles if you would like to use them for extra stability.

This tour does not walk on the ice (as it is fragile, dangerous and you can punch through to the icy flowing water). You will be following the trail and steel catwalks that are built into the canyon wall and allow a spectacular view down the canyon walls to the ice and river below. The steel catwalks are above the canyon, and vary in height from ground level up to about 10m (30 ft).
The Icewalk is 5.4km (3.4 miles) and has an elevation of 135 metres (443 feet), with a total walking time of 2 – 2.5 hours. This icewalk is considered easy/moderate but it is the most difficult winter walk that we offer as the main elevation gain is done is short climbs (in some cases steep enough for steps), rather than being dispersed over the entire distance. Moderate fitness is recommended to ensure that you enjoy the tour.

We provide ice cleats that will be attached to your boots that will prevent you from slipping on the ice, and we have hiking poles for extra stability if you would like to use them as well.

Please be prepared for the mountain weather, it changes quickly and our winter tours run in anything from -27C (-17F) to +10C (+50F). Wind chill can change the temperature dramatically and you will be outside for the majority of your tour.

To ensure that you enjoy the tour, please wear/bring:

  • Photo ID for each adult (18+) for waiver verification.
  • Thermals/base layers/long johns.
  • Snow pants are recommended for this tour and are mandatory if it is below -16C (3F). Otherwise on warmer days, jeans/regular pants over long johns are okay. Snow pants can be rented from stores in Banff such as Snowtips-Bactrax.
  • A warm sweater.
  • A warm jacket. Ski jackets can be rented from stores in Banff such as Snowtips-Bactrax.
  • A hat and mitts.
  • A neck warmer or scarf.
  • Sturdy, warm, ideally waterproof shoes. Winter boots or hiking boots are the best. No heels, ugg boots, flip flops or sandals. If you do not have warm shoes, we recommend a rental store such as Snowtips-Bactrax.
  • A water bottle.

Please note that safety is our first priority. If the guide thinks your attire or footwear isn’t appropriate and compromises your safety on the tour, you may not be able to participate.

It does get icy during the winter season which is why we provide ice cleats during the tour to give you extra grip while you are doing your icewalk. We cancel our tour at around -30 degrees Celsius or -22 Fahrenheit, and would offer to reschedule or refund your tour if this occurred.
There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 24 hours outside your booked tour (up to 7 days for group bookings).
Tips are not expected, but are certainly appreciated. If you think your guide did a wonderful job and would like to indicate that with a tip, it will be graciously accepted.
Included
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hot chocolate
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
  • Tours in this package can be taken on the same day or different days.
  • The minimum age is 8 years.
  • All children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
  • All adults must sign a waiver prior to the icewalk tour, which will be sent through upon booking. A waiver must also be completed by the parent or legal guardian of any child under the age of 18 years.
  • The Johnston Canyon Icewalk stays on the trail and does not traverse the ice for safety reasons.
  • Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
  • By participating in a tour with Discover Banff Tours, guests are acknowledging that they understand that we may take video and photographs of them during their tour. These videos and photographs may be used in promotional materials including, but not limited to, social media.
  • Please note that these tours requires a minimum of 4 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tours.
Included
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hot chocolate
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
See the frozen upper falls on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Hoodoods viewpoint on the winter Discover Banff Tour
Hoodoos winter viewpoint guided tour with Discover Banff Tours
Guided tour of the Hoodoos viewpoint with Discover Banff Tours
Hoodoos viewpoint winter photos with Discover Banff Tours
Discover Banff and Its Wildlife with Discover Banff Tours
Discover Banff and Its Wildlife with Discover Banff Tours
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Winter from Surprise Corner
Hot Chocolate on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Johnston Canyon Icewalk in Banffwith Discover Banff Tours
Hike on catwalks at Johnston Canyon on a guided icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
See ancient fossils on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Lower Falls Cave on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Johnston Canyon winter icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Maple Cookies on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Wear ice cleats on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Discover Banff Tours
Bow Valley Parkway winter drive to Johnston Canyon with Discover Banff Tours