Johnston Canyon closure starts in Banff National Park on 13 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 00:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A Johnston Canyon closure in Banff National Park (parc national Banff) begins on 13 October 2026, affecting the main trail and both waterfall viewpoints near Banff. Parks Canada says essential rock slope remediation work is behind the temporary restriction.
The closure changes the route to one of the park's best-known canyon walks during the autumn travel period. Visitors can still reach the Upper Falls and Ink Pots from the Moose Meadows Trail, but the usual Johnston Canyon approach is unavailable.
Johnston Canyon closure begins on 13 October 2026
The restriction covers the Johnston Canyon Trail from its parking-lot trailhead to the Lower Falls and Upper Falls viewpoints. The P1 parking area, washrooms and other parking facilities are also unavailable from 13 October 2026.
The official Parks Canada closure notice says the work is intended to support essential rock slope remediation. A regional report says visitors are being directed away from the closed trail and its catwalk while the work is under way.
How the closure changes the Johnston Canyon walk
Johnston Canyon follows an uneven paved path into a narrow canyon crossed by bridges with railings. The route normally leads to the Lower Falls and then the 30 metre-high Upper Falls, with the Ink Pots beyond the upper viewpoint.
The closure therefore affects the central visitor experience rather than a remote side route. The Moose Meadows alternative follows the same wider canyon area towards the Upper Falls and Ink Pots, but it includes exposed roots and rocks and has its own trailhead on the Bow Valley Parkway.
Banff National Park is Canada's first national park and forms part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its maintained hiking network extends across the Rocky Mountain landscape, while the Johnston Canyon restriction places a specific access change within that wider protected area.
Johnston Canyon remains a Bow Valley landmark
The main Johnston Canyon day-use area lies 25 km northwest of Banff and 33 km southeast of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway. The Moose Meadows and Johnston Creek parking area is 27 km northwest of Banff and 31 km southeast of Lake Louise.
That geography gives the closure a practical effect for visitors travelling from either Banff or Lake Louise. The alternative access is not simply a change of viewpoint: it moves the starting point and removes the usual parking and washroom facilities at the canyon entrance.
Visiting Banff National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Johnston Canyon closure begins on 13 October 2026 and affects the main trail to the Lower Falls and Upper Falls viewpoints.
- The P1 parking area, washrooms and parking facilities are unavailable, while the Upper Falls and Ink Pots remain accessible via the Moose Meadows Trail.
- Johnston Canyon is on the Bow Valley Parkway, 25 km northwest of Banff; the Moose Meadows access point is 27 km northwest of Banff.
- The ordinary canyon route has an uneven paved surface, narrow bridge sections and railings. The Moose Meadows route includes exposed roots and rocks.
- Banff National Park is in Canada, where English and French are official languages and the national currency is the Canadian dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Banff National Park
When does the Johnston Canyon closure begin?
The closure begins on 13 October 2026 and affects the main trail, Lower and Upper Falls viewpoints, P1 parking area and washrooms.
What has changed at Johnston Canyon?
The main approach is closed for essential rock slope remediation work, while the Upper Falls and Ink Pots remain accessible via the Moose Meadows Trail.
Where is Banff National Park and how do you get to Johnston Canyon?
Johnston Canyon is on the Bow Valley Parkway, 25 km northwest of Banff and 33 km southeast of Lake Louise. The alternative Moose Meadows access point is 27 km northwest of Banff.
