Banff Tours
Johnston Canyon Icewalk
5

Johnston Canyon Icewalk

By Discover Banff Tours
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
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
    • Travelers 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 canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    • 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
    $78.24
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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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
      4,135
      Banff, Alberta, Canada
      Joined in November 2007
    • Moira R
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great trip
      Great trip, scenery and trip was fabulous. The staff are lovely, helpful and they really added to our experience on the glacier. So glad we did this trip. Logan, our glacier driver, was a star 🌟
      Written September 16, 2024
    • filomenaj570
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not what I expected
      Our day started with parking issues. We went to the meeting point as instructed where we had to pay for parking. No problem but couldn’t believe that the daily rate was $72. We then arrived to the trailhead and it was extremely overcrowded with several large tour buses on the trail. the trail was narrow and started with many steep switchbacks. I got separated from my group. At a certain point I made the decision that it was unsafe for me to continue and I turned back. I am a hiker but did not feel safe under those circumstances. However, since I had to wait several hours for my group to return I was able to climb the Rock Pile for amazing views of Moraine Lake. I also walked the shoreline and had lunch. I thought the day was saved but alas upon return to the meeting spot I found a ticket on my windshield for not displaying a park pass. What does that mean? So this tour was definitely not as described or expected.
      Written September 16, 2024
    • Denise D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Trip of a life time on an amazing glacier
      Our 2 guides, Ethan and Jackson, were very knowledgeable on their surroundings and encouraged everyone to have a great time on the glacier. Both were very happy to answer questions and the whole tour ran very smoothly
      Written September 16, 2024
    • Chadb17
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wow!!!
      Lake Morraine might be the most beautiful lake ( and the Surrounding area) I have ever seen. God painted this landscape Hisself. Lake Louise was spectacular also.
      Written September 16, 2024
    • Bayney
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must see both lakes!
      We had a great tour with Kaya, who was fun and knowledgeable about the geology and earth science of the region. The trip was easy and so worth it to get access to Moraine Lake (no longer accessible by car).
      Written September 15, 2024
    • Jet02484824738
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worth the tour!
      What a great way to see and hear about Lake Louise and Morraine. Oliver was a terrific guide. He shared local history and tips for seeing the best on our tour.
      Written September 13, 2024
    • michaelnE1543HM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fly, ride and try everything
      Hi everyone. My kiddies (young adult daughter and youth son) had an amazing experience in Calgary and Banff and pretty much everywhere we went. We rented a helicopter flight for an hour and a half by Mountain view Helicopters out in the burbs of Calgary. We then went horse back riding for about an hour as well at the Banff trail riders. We had our own transportation so we were able to go off the beaten path a fair bit. And a must see is absolutely Lake Moraine and Lake Louise to name a few. These were great things to do. Aim for the moon, even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars. Mike
      Written September 13, 2024
    • victort414
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Viator management didn’t help us.
      Due to the road closure of the Trans Canada Highway and my wife’s medical issues, we weren’t able to make our tour. We called just a few hours after the 24 hour window, but Viator would not offer a refund. Very sad as our Banff Hotel immediately refunded our money as they acted with courtesy and understanding. When we return to Banff we will not seek out a Viator tour.
      Written September 12, 2024
    • BrianS948
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unsuitable safari vehicle
      Worst wildlife safari I have ever done. They use a totally inappropriate bus to get as many paying customers as possible, but if you're one of the last hotels they pick up from, you're inevitably at the back of the bus and will struggle to see animals in front of the vehicle, and if you want to take photographs there are too many people to get round and windows that create too many reflections. The immature guide thought it amusing to drape a bearskin over a guest : that's simply not what I paid to see. Desperately disappointing end to two weeks in Canada, and by far our worst treatment by any operator.
      Written September 9, 2024
    • brstl1
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Landscapes so perfect you’d think it was fake
      Great tour guide, spent about an hour at both stops. Never a bad photo at these lakes! Guide was knowledgeable about history, wildlife, and very friendly.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • Paula F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      More fun than a grizzly bear!
      Really great overview of the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake areas. Bear stories of Boss Bear and Split lip. Stories of mountaineering, and lake discoveries. An hour of free time at Lake Louise and just about an hour at Moraine (time enough to climb the Rock pile). Make sure you get on the right tour bus. So many busses in the parking lot departure area.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • M7120YCjonathand
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great tour!
      What a brilliant tour! Our guide was super helpful and very knowledgeable and she taught us a lot! We saw a few elks which was exciting! And even though we saw no bears the tour was fab and the sceneries beautiful.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • Gman558
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent half day tour - two iconic locations without the stress
      In advance we spent a lot of time looking at buses and logistics to visit both Lake Louise and Moriane Lake. Many public buses were fully booked and the bus links on Canada National Park pass bus to Moriane were not available. We then looked at tour options and booked on-line with Discover Banff Tours. On-line booking experience was very easy and clear and charged directly in GBP. Also an option to get a hotel pick-up was easy to organise via e-mail. Our guide Jake was very flexible and gave huge amounts of information. The huge plus of the tour is you avoid the parking/access chaos at both lakes access points. The small 24 seat bus parks and Jake directs you to exactly where to go for best views. Time at both locations was enough to really "soak up" the bautiful scenario and views. A great half day tour seeing both iconic locations without any stress. 10 our of 10 !
      Written September 7, 2024
    • Departure68562069300
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing lakes - do not miss
      Barry was our tour guide yesterday for our trip to lake Louise and lake Mouraine. Barry from Donegal was great - informative, witty and provided a very good service and really made the trip. It also took the pressure out of worrying about where to park - if we could get in etc as the lakes are so popular. I would highly recommend this excursion.
      Written September 6, 2024
    • debajeetm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      You can do the toughest hikes very comfortably with Discover Banff Tours
      Did the Larch Valley trek which was tough but made easy by Discover Banff tour. We had two guides in Andy and Rob who made it look very comfortable. Andy was always at the back and while we were trailing the group , he kept on telling stories to keep us going. The views of the ten peaks at the top was amazing. We missed the larch season by two weeks but it is still worth it. We asked to do the rock pile trail to start with and got some beautiful pictures of the moraine lake. We exceeded the time by more than 90 minutes but nobody was complaining. Now that we have completed two hikes including the Stanley glacier, will do the remaining hikes with Discover Banff tours next year.
      Written September 6, 2024
    See all 4,135 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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles348 reviews
    Excellent
    329
    Very good
    14
    Average
    1
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    3

    Tristan
    59 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Solo
    The Johnston canyon is truly spectacular, and has to be seen to be believed. Our guide didn’t add much to the experience, strangely spending 5 minutes talking about the washrooms, taking blurry photos and making up fake stories about the canyon’s history as a joke. The path is well marked, not slippery at all (cleats not necessary), and easy to navigate. If I went back to the canyon, I would be happy to explore it myself without paying for a guide!
    Written January 26, 2020
    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 Tristan, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback from your Johnson Canyon Icewalk with Raven, and we're sorry to hear that you didn't see value in the tour. You're completely correct that anyone can explore places in Banff National Park such as Johnston Canyon on their own, and we aim to provide value through the guiding experience. We've shared your feedback with our guide, so that she can learn from your feedback and improve. We're pleased to see that you enjoyed your Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Gina, and we hope to see you back again in the future.
    Written January 28, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Erin T
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Couples
    The tour was fantastic from the moment Jeff picked us up right at our hotel until he dropped us off again. He was attentive to the group members and knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area. I would highly recommend this trip. Booking online was simple and the company is very good at communicating and answering questions beforehand.
    Written February 20, 2020
    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.

    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.

    RaeLayne
    Calgary, Canada3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We did the Discover Banff ice walk in Johnston Canyon last night. Hugh was the perfect guide. Got us all outfitted with good humour and patience, talked to each of us separately to learn a bit about us, and entertained us with Irish-style storytelling (although he is from Alberta) on the drive to & from Johnston Canyon. Inspired us to try letting our eyes adjust to the dark and let starlight show us the way, although most of us relied on the complimentary headlamps. We were treated to hot chocolate and cookies. It was one of the best outings I’ve ever done, and the only thing I would change is the timing — we should have scheduled it during the full moon. Johnston Canyon did a good job too — lots of snow and ice, and just the sound of the falling / running water was magical. Not technically difficult; we had teens to septuagenarians.
    Written February 16, 2020
    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.

    deforest33
    23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We had a nice time hiking this canyon with our newly turned 8 yr old son. Our guide was very knowledgeable, patient and kind and allowed us all to go at our own pace. I will say that the maple cookies and hot chocolate he transported the entire way were well beyond worth the wait once we got to the finale of the hike - the huge frozen ice fall was our turnaround point and so breathtaking.
    Written January 29, 2020
    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.

    Kathleen
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    As others have mentioned, Jeff is a great guide!! He is very knowledgeable, experienced, gives just the right amount of detail in explanations and pointed out some smaller details along the trail that you would otherwise miss. The walking pace was perfect and the stories were very good. Highly recommend going on this hike - you'll see nature in a way you usually don't!
    Written February 13, 2020
    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.

    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.

    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.

    Ailsa S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We had the pleasure of having Matt as our tour guide for the ice walk. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but was so friendly and shared many stories with us. The walk was great as a family activity, with the ice cathedral at the end absolutely breathtaking. Coming from Australia we would highly recommend this tour as it is like nothing we've ever seen before. Matt really made our day and has been the best tour guide we've had while visiting Canada.
    Written January 1, 2020
    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.

    idreamoftravel
    Toronto158 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2021
    We had a wonderful and small tour with Anick. The canyon was beautiful and we were the only tour there because of the COVID restrictions and current limited access requirements. Anick was friendly, informative and fun. It was a good hike, but definitely worth it and the hot chocolate at the top was a nice treat. We highly recommend this tour especially if you get the chance to go while it's quieter. We also felt quite safe, as Anick was careful to follow COVID-19 protocols and best practices, while still making the tour enjoyable.
    Written January 9, 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.

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    Johnston Canyon Icewalk provided by Discover Banff Tours

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