Hiking in Banff

One of the best things about any national park are the seemingly endless miles of hiking trails & Banff National Park is no different. While we didn’t get to do a ton of hiking while we were there (must. go. back!), we went on two easily accessible hikes that area easy to fit in a day trip to the park. Since both these hikes are within Banff National Park, make sure you have a park pass before venturing out.

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is a well-known hiking spot along the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff & Lake Louise. It’s so popular, in fact, that when we told the bellman at our hotel that we were headed out for a hike there, he response was “Why? Do you like standing in line?” Taking his tongue-in-cheek advice to heart, we decided to get up early & tackle the hike before the crowds.

We arrived at the parking lot around 8:30am & were surprised at the number of cars already there. Since we were a little short on time, we decided we’d only hike to the Lower Falls. It’s about 40 minutes round trip – an easy hike along paved trails with paved catwalks teetering over the creek, clinging to the side of cliffs.

Once you reach the Lower Falls, there is a little viewing area complete with a small cave to climb through & get very close to the falls (note: you WILL get wet!)

If you have time, the Upper Falls & beyond that the Ink Pots are notable destinations. After our brief hike, we were left wishing we had more time to venture on.

Moraine Lake

When we arrived at Moraine Lake on an overcast Sunday afternoon, we had hoped to spend an hour or two exploring the lake in a canoe. But the wind – & ensuing ripples on the lake – had other ideas, so we settled for a hike instead. The Lakeshore Trail is an easy, flat trail which follows the shoreline to the south end where a stream carries snow melt from the Wenkchemna Glacier.

Along the way, we saw wildlife including a few very cute chipmunks, & met a couple who was spending the afternoon fly fishing.

Don’t be fooled by the lines to get into the parking lot or the crowds at the trailhead, clamoring with cameras for the best view of Moraine Lake – once you get going, the trail won’t be nearly as crowded.