Johnston Canyon Closed From October 13 Until Late November
Johnston Canyon closes October 13 for rock slope work, and Parks Canada says late November is the target, not a guarantee. Here is how to still reach the Ink Pots, and what happens to the bus.
With Johnston Canyon closed from October 13 until late November, one of the busiest trails in the Rockies is about to go very quiet. Parks Canada crews are moving in to make the rock above the trail less likely to land on the people below it.
The closure covers the day-use area, the P1 parking lot, the washrooms and the trail up to and including the Upper Falls Lower Viewpoint. Nobody gets in, which is a rare level of exclusivity for a place usually shared with a great many strangers.
The work is scaling, removing rock and debris, some localised tree removal and installing rock bolts and dowels. Crews will also inspect and re-tighten the existing bolts, the sort of job nobody notices until it goes undone.
Late November Is an Estimate, Not a Promise
Late November is the expected finish, and it depends on the work going to plan. If the rock has other ideas, the date moves.
Anyone who remembers how long the Banff Upper Hot Springs closure dragged on will know that a reopening date is a hopeful sort of number. Plan for late November, and do not book anything non-refundable around it.
Johnston Canyon Closed, but the Ink Pots Are Still on the Menu
Visitors can still reach the Upper Falls Upper Viewpoint and the Ink Pots, just not through the front door. Parks Canada points them to the Moose Meadows Trail, about two kilometres west of the canyon.
It is a popular out-and-back route with limited parking. Anyone planning to roll in at 10 am on a fine Saturday should adjust their expectations, and possibly their alarm clock.
The Bus Is Taking a Month Off Too
Roam Public Transit Route 9 to Johnston Canyon is suspended from October 13 to approximately November 30. The car-free visitor needs a new plan, ideally one that does not rely on optimism.
Round Two Arrives in 2027
This is the first of two phases. The second is estimated for September to mid-November 2027, though Parks Canada says that timeline could change.
Anyone dreaming of a quiet autumn walk next year should pencil it in and keep the eraser handy.
Parks Canada asks visitors to respect posted signs and closures. The signs, to be fair, will be hard to miss.
