Banff closes Johnston Canyon until December
Parks Canada reports that from 13 October to 11 December 2026 the Johnston Canyon Trail and day-use area in Banff National Park are closed — including washrooms and the P1 parking lot. The superintendent’s order cites public and worker safety during construction; the park’s hiking page says the work is essential rock-slope remediation.
The closure covers the trail from the parking-lot trailhead to both the Lower Falls and Upper Falls viewpoints. Upper Falls and the Ink Pots remain reachable via the Moose Meadows Trail. Violating the closure can bring charges under the Canada National Parks Act (maximum penalty $25,000).
Sources: Parks Canada — Area Closure: Johnston Canyon TrailParks Canada — Banff hiking (Johnston Canyon closed)
Context
In peak season Johnston Canyon is a queue on narrow bridges to the falls, not a wild path. The closure knocks out the easiest half-day Banff slot — but not the whole valley: the Moose Meadows detour is longer and rootier, yet keeps Upper Falls and the bubbling Ink Pots on the board while the canyon is repaired.