Johnston Canyon Evening Icewalk®
Starts atCA$ 104US$ 78€ 68£ 59A$ 113
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Age: 8+
Departure: 6:30pm, 7:30pm
Season: Dec-Apr
Overview
The Johnston Canyon Evening Icewalk® is all about heightening your senses, appreciating the darkness, the scents of the fresh pine forest, and enjoying the silence of a night spent beneath the stars. At one point, the group turns out their lights and you’re immersed in the peaceful stillness of a winter night.
Light your way through this narrow, water-formed canyon as your small group follows our guide to the canyon’s lower falls. The suspended catwalks, built into the limestone walls, make this an easy trip for everyone. Along the way, your guide will highlight unique features by powerful flashlight and pause for moments of darkness and quiet to foster an appreciation for spending time in the canyon at night.
At our turnaround point, your guide will illuminate the expanding ice that encases the rushing water and escort you through a natural tunnel onto the viewing platform, beside the cascading Lower Falls themselves. Warm-up with hot chocolate and a maple cookie snack while you look around the Lower Falls, the turnaround point.
The return journey is your opportunity to travel without your headlamp (should you wish!). You’ll be amazed as to how quickly your eyes adjust to the darkness, enough for you to travel through the pine forest guided only by the ambient light of the moon and the stars above your head.
Highlights
The best parts of the tour for most people include the following:
Bow Valley Parkway
Glistening ice and snow under the stars
Lower FallsTour Details
Tour Duration
2.5 Hours
Departure Time
6:30pm, 7:30pm
Age Required
8+
Season
Dec-Apr
Walking Distance
2.2km (1.4 miles)
Day of Week
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Included
- Maple cookie snack
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
- Use of hiking poles
- Professional certified guide
- Hot chocolate
- Souvenir headlamp
- Ice cleats
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the tour?+
The tour is 2.5 hours long, which includes 1.5 – 2 hours for the icewalk. The tour runs seasonally at 6:30pm or 7:30pm, the 6:30pm tour returns to Banff at 9pm and the 7:30pm tour returns to Banff at 10pm.
What does the tour include?+
The tour includes transport from Banff to popular Johnston Canyon for an evening guided hike to see the frozen waterfalls. Guests will hike along snow and the steel walkways called ‘catwalks’ built into the canyon walls and explore the lower canyon with the icefalls lit up by powerful uplights. Plus, all icewalks include hot chocolate and a maple cookie snack. Please note that water is not provided and you may wish to bring your own.
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.
Where is our pick up and drop off from?+
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.
How can I join this tour if I'm not staying in Banff?+
You are welcome to meet us at any of our pick up locations in Banff to join the tour, 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.
Does the tour walk on ice?+
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 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).
Is Johnston Canyon Free?+
All visitors to Banff National Park require a park pass. We recommend joining the Banff Icewalk tour with a knowledgeable guide to discover more about the area. Your tour includes ice cleats to prevent slipping, with optional hiking poles for stability. Enjoy hot chocolate and our famous maple cookie and transportation to and from Banff.
What is the difference between the evening tour and daytime Icewalk?+
The day and evening tours are different lengths of time, distance and elevation. The Johnston Canyon Evening Icewalk is a 2.5 hour tour that visits the lower falls with 1.5 – 2 hours of walking 2.2 km with an elevation gain of 65 metres (213 feet) and includes a souvenir headlamp (yours to keep after the tour!) to light your way under the stars.
The Johnston Canyon daytime tour is a 4 hour tour that includes both the lower and upper falls with 2 – 2.5 hours of walking and is a little more strenuous due to the increased distance (5.4km) and elevation gain of 135 metres (443 feet).
What should I wear/bring?+
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 read the PDF guide below on what to wear/bring:
PDF guide download
Please note that safety is our 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.
Does it get icy? Can the tour be cancelled from the cold weather?+
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.
What is the cancellation policy?+
There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change, cancel, or refund your booking up to 24 hours prior to your tour (or up to 7 days prior for group bookings).
Should I tip my guide?+
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.
Can you do the Johnston Canyon Icewalk by yourself?+
You can do it alone in the day but not in the evening. We recommend you join a tour to fully enjoy the experience, learn about the area, get ice cleats to avoid slipping and hiking poles for stability. Enjoy hot chocolate and snacks and transportation to and from Banff as part of the tour.
Booking Terms
- 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 , 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.
- 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 this tour requires a minimum of 4 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.
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