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Johnston Canyon Campground in Banff National Park

Campground · Banff National Park

Johnston Canyon Campground

Camp near Johnston Canyon, with train noise to consider.

Type
Campground
Nearest trail
0.2 km
Audio stories
6 nearby
  • Restrooms
  • Parking
  • Picnic tables
DirectionsMap

Hear the audio tour

Johnston Canyon and the Falls

Overview

About Johnston Canyon Campground

Why stop

  • Walkable access to Johnston Canyon.

Heads up

  • Nearby trains and horns can disturb a quiet night.

Map

Where it is

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Full map
CampgroundJohnston Canyon Campground51.24488, -115.84185
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your stop

Before you go

8 active Banff alerts

  • ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
  • ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
See all 8 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Johnston Canyon Campground, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Banff audio tour

Recorded for this place

Johnston Canyon and the Falls
0:00 / 0:26
“Johnston Canyon is coming up, where railed catwalks carry you beside the creek through tight limestone walls. I'd choose Lower Falls for a shorter visit: allow about an hour round trip, with some uphill walking.”

Plays as you drive up to Johnston Canyon Campground in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • A Fish Nest Under the Gravel
  • Moose Meadows to the Ink Pots
  • The Woodpecker's Sap Wells
  • The Orchid That Offers No Nectar
  • 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
tesja22App Store review
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Guide

More about Johnston Canyon Campground

Camp close to Johnston CanyonJohnston Canyon Campground is a 132-site, unserviced campground on Banff’s Bow Valley Parkway.

Johnston Canyon Campground is a 132-site, unserviced campground on Banff’s Bow Valley Parkway. Its main advantage is location: the Johnston Canyon trailhead is within walking distance, and campers also use the Parkway as a base for other Banff stops.

Know what the sites includeThis is tent and small-RV camping, with unserviced sites that accommodate RVs up to 27 feet.

This is tent and small-RV camping, with unserviced sites that accommodate RVs up to 27 feet. Flush toilets, showers, kitchen shelters and fire rings cover the basics, but there are no hookups. The campground operates seasonally, so check the current dates before planning. Parks Canada requires a reservation and camping permit, as well as a national park entry pass.

Think about nighttime noiseTrains and horns can be audible here, sometimes overnight.

Trains and horns can be audible here, sometimes overnight. Some campers find the noise disruptive; others find it manageable. If you’re a light sleeper, factor that into your campsite choice.

campingcampgroundbowvalley

Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps
Grizzly Bear123 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapBrown Bear150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapGray Wolf44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapRiver Otter12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapMoose69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapBlack Bear466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Johnston Canyon Campground

See it all on the map

Trails nearby

EasyJohnston Canyon Trail to Upper Falls4.8 km · 2 hr · 0.2 km awayA 4.8 km canyon walk to the 30 m Upper Falls.EasyJohnston Canyon Trail to Lower Falls2.2 km · 1 hr · 0.2 km awayPaved canyon catwalks lead to a close view of Lower Falls.ModerateInk Pots Trail11.4 km · 4.5 hr · 1.7 km awayBlue-green pools in an open meadow after a long forest climb.ChallengingLuellen Lake Trail34.2 km · 12 hr · 1.7 km awayA long forest and meadow walk ends at a lake beneath cliffs.ModerateRedearth Creek Trail20.4 km · 7.5 hr · 3.8 km awayA long forest climb into the Shadow Lake backcountry.ChallengingShadow Lake Trail28 km · 9.5 hr · 3.8 km awayA long forest approach opens onto Shadow Lake and Mount Ball's reflection.ModerateSilverton Falls Trail1.8 km · 40 min · 5.8 km awayA quick climb to a waterfall tucked into a narrow rock gorge.ChallengingRockbound Lake Trail17 km · 6.5 hr · 5.8 km awayTwo lakes and Castle Mountain cliffs reward a long alpine climb.

More stops nearby

Sight · 0.1 km awayJohnston CanyonRailed catwalks lead to waterfalls in this steep, narrow canyon.Sight · 4 km awayInk PotsCold blue-green springs reward the long walk beyond the waterfalls.Scenic pullout · 4.7 km awayHillsdale MeadowA quick pullout for summer flowers and a Pilot Mountain view.Campground · 5.5 km awayCastle Mountain CampgroundA wooded, no-service base along the Bow Valley Parkway.Sight · 5.6 km awaySilverton FallsShort waterfall spur with an exposed, rocky finish.Picnic area · 6 km awaySawback Picnic AreaTables, outhouses and mountain views make a practical Parkway break.Scenic pullout · 6.4 km awayCastle Junction Bridge ViewpointA quick bridge stop for Bow River and Castle Mountain views.Sight · 6.9 km awayCastle Cliffs LookoutA short platform brings Castle Mountain's cliffs close.

Parkwolf’s Banff ranking

Top sights in Banff

All 90 places
  1. 1Lake LouiseSight
  2. 2Moraine LakeSight
  3. 3Peyto Lake ViewpointSight
  4. 4Johnston CanyonSight
  5. 5Banff GondolaSight
  6. 6Cave and Basin National Historic SiteSight

Take Parkwolf to Banff.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

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