your guide to making the most of your stay at Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows and exploring the best of Banff National Park.
Here, we share a mix of travel tips, seasonal guides, local wildlife insights, and behind-the-scenes stories from the lodge. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for another unforgettable getaway, you’ll find inspiration and helpful information to deepen your canyon experience.
Quieter trails, golden larches, and crisp mountain air – fall might be Banff’s best-kept secret. This guide covers the top hikes, best spots for colour, wildlife to watch for, and what to pack for a season that rewards visitors willing to trade crowds for cooler, calmer days.
For a few short weeks each fall, Banff’s larch trees turn brilliant gold against alpine lakes and snow-dusted peaks. Discover when to catch peak colour, which trails offer the best views, and how staying near Johnston Canyon puts you closer to some of the Rockies’ most stunning hikes.
A quieter alternative to the Trans-Canada, the Bow Valley Parkway winds past waterfalls, wildlife, and viewpoints most visitors miss. This guide covers what to see along the way, and tips for timing the drive right!
Most visitors give Johnston Canyon an hour, snap a few waterfall photos, then leave. But this stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway has far more to offer — quiet hikes to the Ink Pots, cycling the car-free 1A, and a century-old lodge with the trailhead steps from your cabin door.
Most hikers turn back at Johnston Canyon’s Upper Falls. Push on another 3 km, though, and the trail opens into a meadow holding the Ink Pots — seven bubbling cold springs fed by ancient groundwater, never freezing even in winter. Quieter and stranger than the waterfalls, they’re proof that not every natural wonder needs to be dramatic.
As one of the most visited national parks in the world – with over 4 million yearly visitors – Banff National Park has no shortage
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