Parking
Park at the Johnson Lake Day-use Area, about 12 km east of Banff. Toilets and picnic tables are at the trailhead. Parking is limited on busy summer days.
Overview
About Johnston Lake Loop
Why go
- Easy 2.9 km loop with mountain-framed lake views
- Picnic tables and toilets at the day-use area
- Upper and lower paths add variety without a long hike
Heads up
- Parking fills on busy summer days
- Roots and uneven footing on sections of the shoreline
- Winter ice can make the loop slippery
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,418–1,437 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
- ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Johnston Lake Loop, 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.
Recorded for this area
Ancient Campsites of Lake MinnewankaListen
“This is Lake Minnewanka. The Stoney Nakoda call it Minn-waki, or 'Water of the Spirits.”
Plays on the road 2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Rails Beside the Highway: Banff’s Laggan Subdivision
- Banff Hoodoos Viewpoint and a Photo Tip
- Two Jack Lake: Reflections and Calm Waters
- Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court: RVs Only
- 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Johnston Lake Loop
A simple Banff loopThe complete loop is 1.8 miles (2.
The complete loop is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the Johnson Lake Day-use Area, and takes about an hour. It rolls gently around the shoreline, with a few short climbs and roughly 90 m of gain. Expect water views, forest, and Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle in the distance.
Choose your sideWalk either direction.
Walk either direction. Upper and lower shoreline paths add variety, while packed dirt and gravel keep the walk approachable. Roots and occasional uneven sections are part of the route, but this is a good family outing when you want scenery without a long commitment.
Look across the waterWatch the small bays for fish in the shallows, and pause at the picnic spots near the day-use…
Watch the small bays for fish in the shallows, and pause at the picnic spots near the day-use area. For photos, frame the lake with the mountain backdrop rather than filling the phone with water alone. Interpretive signs near the bridge add context about the lake and surrounding landscape.
Make access easyParking is limited on busy summer days, and the day-use area is about 12 km east of Banff.
Parking is limited on busy summer days, and the day-use area is about 12 km east of Banff. Toilets and picnic tables are at the trailhead. Dogs must remain on leash. In winter, bring traction for icy footing; the access road may close for wildlife management.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
122 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
