Johnston Canyon Icewalk
5

Johnston Canyon Icewalk

By Discover Banff Tours
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Trying to trek along the frozen Johnston Canyon without a guide could be tough in frigid temperatures with icy walkways. Opt to take this guided tour from Banff, and see wildlife, waterfalls, and, of course, a lot of ice. Plus, this tour provides round-trip transport, ice cleats, a hiking pole, a snack, and a hot cup of cocoa to make things super easy on you.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 8-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
  • A guide knows the Johnston Canyon Icewalk® and helps keep you safe
  • All equipment—ice cleats and a hiking pole—is provided for convenience
  • A snack and hot chocolate keeps you warm and energized
  • Round-trip transport is included with this Johnston Canyon Icewalk® tour

  • Professional guide
  • Ice cleats
  • Hiking pole
  • Maple cookie snack, hot chocolate
  • Small group size (up to 12 guests per guide)
What's not included
  • Optional gratuities

After being picked up from your Banff accommodation, your guide takes you to Johnson's Canyon for the icewalk and gets you suited up with ice cleats and a hiking pole. During your hike, walk about 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) and the elevation gain is 443 feet (135 meters). Learn about the history and geology of the area, as you keep a lookout for wildlife, such as wolves, moose, elk, and coyotes. See the upper and lower waterfalls trapped in ice. Afterward, enjoy a snack and a cup of hot chocolate to warm up before getting dropped off back at the original pickup place in Banff.

Start:
  • Mount Royal Hotel, 138 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1A7, Canada
    All guests must wait at the public bus parking located behind the Mount Royal Hotel at 138 Banff Ave. You must be ready at the pick up point at least 20 minutes prior to the tour start time.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3827JC

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Minimum age is 8 years. All children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by someone 18 years and older.
    • All adults must sign a waiver prior to the tour. A waiver must also be completed by the parent or guardian of any child under the age of 18.
    • Guests should dress in ski wear for this trip including hats, mittens, and warm boots. A detailed list of items to wear and bring is provided on your voucher.
    • A moderate level of fitness is recommended to ensure that you enjoy the tour.
    • Please note that this tour stays on the trail and does not traverse the ice due to safety concerns.
    • Group bookings of 9 or more guests have a 7 day cancellation period.
    • In accordance with our Cold Weather Policy, if safety conditions deteriorate, we may cancel the tour, offering guests the option to receive a refund or reschedule for another date or time.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3827JC

    From
    C$106.61
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Discover Banff Tours
      4,221
      Banff, Alberta, Canada
      Joined in November 2007
    • 746ceria
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing trip
      This trip was amazing. Went to places we would not have been able to get to without a car (and would never have thought of going to) and lunch at the Emerald Lake lodge was fantastic. So much snow and the scenery at every stop was picture postcard perfect. Emma was a great tour guide and told us lots about the places we visited and the history of Banff.
      Written February 11, 2025
    • T1004ZWlisad
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lisa’s 60th Birthday Adventure
      This tour was just so fun and Jake made it a truly memorable hike. It is my first time coming to Banff and I will be back! I would recommend this evening ice walk to anyone.
      Written February 9, 2025
    • 763nelliek
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best tour guide in Banff
      We had the joy of going on the lake Louis tour with our guide Eli. It was a small group of us 4 and 1 other lovely lady. This was one of the best experiences we have ever had. Eli was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and friendly. We were taken to lots of incredible stops that we wouldn’t have stopped at or known about if we hadn’t of done this tour. The flow of the day was perfect, never once did we feel rushed. We can’t rave about it enough and will be recommending to all our family and friends.
      Written February 8, 2025
    • MontrealMan49
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Canada’s beauty and world-class access to nature
      Among Canada’s most beautiful national parks, Banff National Park is incredible to visit at any time. The village of Banff, Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise ski resorts, Lake Moraine, as well as the numerous walks and hikes and glacial lakes can occupy a visitor for weeks. Allow at least four days to discover the Banff and Lake Louise area. Easy-to-modest hiking in Johnston Canyon and Marble Canyon, visiting Banff, skiing (Norquay, Sunshine, Lake Louise) and walking or skating or kayaking on Lake Louise are popular activities. TIP: these areas get very crowded, so to miss the crowds start as early as possible… For foreigners visiting Canada for the first time, I’d propose a 3-4-week itinerary with stops in Montreal/Quebec City/Charlevoix (1 week); Banff National Park (4 days); Toronto/Niagara Falls (3 days); Vancouver/Vancouver island (1 week), Halifax/Cabot Trail (4 days).
      Written February 1, 2025
    • jackiehO7892VH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      magical experience
      What an amazing evening The sky was perfect just beautiful The guide was very knowledgeable on lots of topics and well prepared we were well looked after the canyon took on magical feel in the evening where all we could hear was the river running under the ice and the ice cracking would highly recommend it
      Written January 26, 2025
    • Lukelois36
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      First time to Canada
      Visiting this gorgeous country from Wales UK, our your guide was Emma, from start to finish , everything was amazing, it was just me,my husband and Emma on this particular day, she was so knowledgeable , she was amazing, day was lovely, thoroughly enjoyed, thank you 👍
      Written January 20, 2025
    • F8976HJandrewc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Johnston Evening ice walk
      A well run guided walk. Jake, our guide was most entertaining with plenty of stories and facts from the moment we got on the tour bus to completion. The night we went was clear with beautiful skies. No others in the car park except for us and the fox. Safety conscious throughout. equipment provided for the walk was of good quality. Hot chocolate and maple cookies were a nice addition. Would be happy to book through this company again.
      Written January 19, 2025
    • mku4440
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Don’t pass on this experience
      This was a great excursion. I was a bit skeptical but we are so glad we went. We had a clear sky and full moon. Beautiful! And our guide Tina was fantastic. Would highly recommend this experience.
      Written January 14, 2025
    • beezee2010
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great fun, fabulous for older kids and teens. Does require a level of fitness.
      We chose this as an "easy" activity to do on Christmas Day. Note to all that snowshoeing is NOT necessarily an "easy" activity even for those of us who are generally very fit. Our teenagers absolutely had a ball on this tour. They loved whizzing down the slopes on the "crazy carpet slide" and making taffy in the snow. They voted this to be one of the most fun tours of the ten or so that we did while in Canada. I will say that it does probably require a higher fitness level than the website would have you believe though. Our whole family are long distance runners, cyclists etc but snowshoeing in deep powder for 3km isn't necessarily as easy as one would think when you aren't used to snowshoes or the thinner air. We were absolutely fine but I personally found this far more taxing than hiking Johnston Canyon etc and may not have eaten quite so much on Christmas morning if I'd realised. After reading the blurb on the website I think I was gearing up for a pleasant stroll rather than something that required that much effort! Fun - 100% yes. An "easy" stroll after a heavy Christmas brunch, not quite!
      Written January 9, 2025
    • beezee2010
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour to book when you first arrive in Banff
      I was a bit dubious about booking this tour but we ended up thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Great way to get your bearings in Banff when you first arrive and we went to some really lovely spots for photos. Wildlife wise it was a bit sparse - we saw a coyote, red squirrels, deer and some elk. I imagine that in Summer you'd see a lot more if that was your focus. I have to admit that part of the reason we loved this tour so much was due to our guide. We had Jake and he was fabulous. We did around ten different tours during our month in Canada and he was probably the best tour guide we had. He kept the entire group entertained with stories and history about the area. We ended up doing a couple of tours through this company and were really happy with them. If you book direct on their website there are multi tour discounts that make the pricing really competitive. We did this particular tour in the morning and then stayed on with the same tour company to do the Gondola in the afternoon. We could have visited the Gondola reasonably easily using the ROAM bus but we had a packed schedule during our week in Banff so this helped us to squeeze as much as we could into the time we had.
      Written January 9, 2025
    • Stanthorpe
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great way to start your Banff experience
      After a busy time getting into Banff we were keen to make the most of our time. We did this tour and finished at the Gondola. What a great morning. Annik our guide was a font of information on the history and nature of Banff. We saw the hot springs at sunrise and stumbled onto some playful otters in the lake. The grazing elk were also amazing as was the birdie. Annik was great fun as well as helpful with our plans. We enjoyed the gondola and Annik arranged our pick up by another helpful guide Buck. Highly recommend this as a great informative tour
      Written January 7, 2025
    • artm2025
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best experience - pay extra for interactive!
      The interactive tour was an incredible experience. It is great to see how well these beautiful animals are cared for. Most are rescued from well-intentioned cross-breeders who were not prepared to raise a wild animal. HIGHLY recommend if you are ever in the Calgary-Banff area.
      Written January 5, 2025
    • verenaz2511
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended
      Incredible snow shoeing tour 🥰 our tour guide girls took us in the wilderness where we had so much snow. The tour was absolutely awesome. Including hot chocolate, maple taffy treat, sleigh riding and of course a lot of information and especially fun. Thank you Girls for this unique experience with you. Highly recommended
      Written December 29, 2024
    • N3UH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Do the Grotto
      Great scenery and a comfortable walk/distance. To boot Buck was a fantastic guide and provided useful back stories and historical references.
      Written December 25, 2024
    • dejk2022
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The perfect way to avoid the crowds - mesmerizing at night
      What a gorgeous way to see the canyon - no crowds (no other people at all!) and a sky full of stars. Jake was a great guide - knowledgeable, safety-conscious and great company.
      Written December 25, 2024
    See all 4,221 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles363 reviews
    Excellent
    340
    Very good
    17
    Average
    1
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    3

    Girlfrom_Aus
    Australia21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited in January 2023 and did a tour with Discover Banff Tours nearly every day of my trip, once twice in a day. Snowshoeing to Paint Pots, Discover Banff and its Wildlife, Johnston Canyon Day and Night, Lake Louise Snowshoe, Grotto Canyon and Marble Canyon with guides Kelsey, Rye, Tim, Anaki, Rob and Tyler. Could not recommend more highly, this was my second Winter trip to Banff and second time seeing everything with DBT and felt safe, welcomed and in good hands despite some treacherous weather and road conditions. All the guides were inclusive, engaging, had amazing knowledge of the area despite not being locals and I wouldn’t experience Banff with any other company. 100/10.
    Written June 8, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience with our guides and tours. Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities, and we're glad we could make your trip memorable despite the weather. We look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure!
    Written July 4, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Vikstarharvey
    Worthing, UK19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Solo
    Phenomenal ice walk experience through Johnston Canyon hosted by our lovely driver and guide, Chris. Aside from the breathtaking views from both the upper trail, and through a cave path to the lower viewpoint, the way the tour was structured impressed me. Chris was switching from the front to the back of the group always ensuring nobody got left behind and the pace was okay for everyone. We stopped for hot chocolate and cookies (he provided) halfway, while we took in the view. I was also extremely impressed by the knowledge Chris delivered to us on the tour, about the history of Banff, the roads and engineering, the local known Grizzly called The Boss which was once hit by a train, the protected snail species (which inhabit no other place in the world) within the natural springs, the organised tree burns to encourage natural re growth of the forests and control of the parasitic beetle species which kills the trees…along with so many other fascinating facts and knowledge of the area. The snow cleats (provided) also helped no end on the slightly hilly parts of the trail. Overall a highly recommend, well organised tour. Thank you
    Written February 13, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi, Thank you for the review and your kind words. Johnston Canyon is an iconic Banff destination and we are glad you were able to experience it with us. Chris is a long time local and knows many stories about the area and the canyon. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Banff and will join us again next time!
    Written February 24, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    megan
    49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a magical trip into Johnston's Canyon. Our guide, Jake (sporting the best ugly Grinch jumper I've ever seen) was full of knowledge and genuinely friendly.
    We thoroughly recommend this tour as the canyon is stunning. When we visited, we had the best of both worlds, with stunning frozen sculpture-like ice formations, often with running water seen in behind them. The trail was busy but there were still moments where we had a section to ourselves to appreciate the surreal quiet.
    If you are able, go all the way to the top of the Falls. It's not that much further and not too strenuous.
    Yummy maple biscuits and hot chocolate halfway!
    Written December 25, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    MIHYE S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Friends
    I went to Johnston Canyon on this tour on last week (11/23/2023). My guide, Nicole, was so friendly and explained in detail the history of Banff and the canyon, which I did not know about and it was very interesting and informative. I feel like my trip has been enriched by this tour guide.
    When I travel to places where I don't know much about, especially museums and arts, I tend to use a tour guide, but my friend who went with me said this was his first guided tour and he really liked it.
    I highly recommend this tour.
    Written November 28, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Nicole was able to make your Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour both informative and enjoyable. We are glad that you and your friend had a memorable experience. Hope to see you again!
    Written December 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    TxAg1977
    Fredericksburg, TX21 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is potentially a wonderful hike. Don’t go if it is peak tourist time. Imagine a 1 1/2 mile trail with probably over 2000+ people on it. Just like lemmings. It is mostly paved but does have a lot of up and down and stairs. People are on this trail not to enjoy the hike but to see how fast they can go to the end and back. They have strollers, kids running wild. People running into the back of you or stopping right in front of you to get a candy bar for a screaming kid. Oh, and add hundreds of dogs with full leash extended as a tripping hazard. Then at the falls at the end a line forms. People stop and take a dozen selfies from every angle while others who don’t want to wait cut to the front of the line shoving their way up. It was misery.
    Written July 2, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello We operate our Johnston Canyon Icewalk in the winter time. The date of your review and your description are clearly describing the summer. You are conflating the location Johnston Canyon (a great place to visit, that is very popular in the summer months) with our tour Johnston Canyon Icewalk which is only operated in the winter for those very reasons. Winter time is a very different experience as trail conditions and typical weather reduce traffic and make the walk a very pleasant out door experienc. I'd ask that you review the location rather than my tour experience since I don't believe you joined my tour. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Banff
    Written July 4, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mangalam P
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    We booked Johnston Canyon Icewalk through Banff adventures website during the month of Dec 2022, and I must say this experience was truly amazing. The website allows you to choose your nearby hotel pickup and desired timeslot, The crew operated by Discover Banff Tours sent us a pickup bus at the exact pickup time.
    Our guide was Ross, and she was truly professional and had a good knowledge of Geology and Rocks.
    She helped us with the equipment and gear required for Icewalks, and explained about the tour on the Go, she even took amazing photos of the scenic locations.
    On the way back she greeted us with Hot chocolates and Maple cookies which were Yummy....!!!

    This tour is truly recommended and are kids friendly Too!!

    Thank you Discover Banff Tours Crew team and Ross for making this trip memorable one!!
    Written January 3, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the kind words! Icewalking is a unique experience and Johnston Canyon has many secrets that only a guide will be able to show you. We are glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you on more soon!
    Written January 5, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ellen K
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I highly recommend this tour. We were so lucky to have Emma as our guide. Not only was she a font of information about the geology of this area, but she explained the concepts like the science teacher you wished you could’ve had! She was also a talented, storyteller, enchanting us with the story about how the cavern got its name. Best of all, Emma was upbeat, encouraging, and always making sure that everyone was safe.
    Written March 23, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Ellen, Thank you for your kind review. Emma is an amazing guide who is passionate about the Banff area. She is very patient and encouraging and will make sure to go at a comfortable pace for the whole group. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Banff and will join us on more tours in the future.
    Written March 27, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    SBFam
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022 • Family
    I’m kind of a selfie master. My teenage kids were giving me grief and I appreciated how Roz sort of defended me but, also, she graciously offered to take our pictures and those look better than my selfies do. Roz drove the bus like a pro, she gave some great Banff-area history and geologic information, and the hot cocoa and maple cookies were tasty. This was a fun, beautiful hike and Roz brought it alive and represented for our group when things got busy on the bridge. Recommended.
    Written December 26, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Mavis, Roz is an amazing guide and a self master in training. We are glad to hear your Johnston Canyon Icewalk Tour was fun and hope to see you on more tours in the future!
    Written January 2, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Elissa W
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2021 • Family
    It was a great day for the Johnston Canyon Icewalk - found our tour guide Anik extremely knowledgeable, funny & kind. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip, getting picked up from our hotel, her knowledge of the area, wildlife, getting to know the people in her group! All COVID restrictions were in place therefore the group was small. It was a beautiful day and will definitely recommend this to visiting friends & family ❤️ Forgot to mention the cleats were very secure and worked like a charm - Anik also provided us with hot chocolate (hot cocoa ) and cookies at the top that she carried in her backpack. It was an awesome treat when we reached the upper falls, she also takes great pics making sure she sanitized between each couple!
    Written February 27, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Elissa, Thank you for joining us on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Anick, and for taking the time to share your feedback. She has been with us for many years, and we completely agree that she has an incredible knowledge of the local area. We're glad to hear that you felt comfortable with the COVID-19 protocols as we have been taking these very seriously, and that you enjoyed the hot chocolate and maple cookies while enjoying the stunning views at the Upper Falls. We hope to see you back in Banff sometime soon.
    Written March 2, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Southtrack
    Canberra, Australia248 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This walk is definitely worth doing. It wasn’t as isolated, involving or striking as the Maligne Canyon ice walk near Jasper. You walk on a boardwalk rather than on the frozen river, there is no scrambling over ice except where the crowds (it’s a popular spot) have worn the snow flat, and you are looking down into the canyon rather than surrounded by it.

    We found it a great opportunity to learn more about the Banff National Park, we covered a bit more ground (at sufficient pace not to freeze), and saw a lot of striking scenery and ice formations. They still give you light crampons/cleats, and advice on where to walk, and you will definitely appreciate both. Because there are a lot of unguided tourists there, we got lots of opportunity to see how difficult things can get without them.

    Our guide was very knowledgeable, like the others we’ve had in Banff (and Jasper), and intent on everyone getting the fullest experience possible.
    Written January 29, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Rohan, I'm so happy you had a great experience in the canyon and that you felt safe and comfortable with the equipment and guidance our guide provided to you! We hope you enjoyed your stay in Banff fully and we will be happy to see you again!
    Written January 30, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    2025 Johnston Canyon Icewalk provided by Discover Banff Tours

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