Johnston Canyon Will Close For More Than A Month This Fall

Johnston Canyon will temporarily close this fall while Parks Canada carries out rock slope work aimed at reducing safety risks from falling rocks.

Beginning Oct. 13, there will be no public access to the Johnston Canyon day-use area, P1 parking lot, washroom facilities or the Johnston Canyon Trail up to and including the Upper Falls Lower Viewpoint, according to Parks Canada.

The closure is expected to last until late November.

Parks Canada said the work is part of its ongoing rockfall hazard management program.

“Remediation activities are intended to reduce rockfall-related safety risks for visitors,” Parks Canada said in a statement to Bow Valley Insider.

The work will include scaling, removing rock and debris, localized tree removal and installing rock bolts and dowels. Crews will also inspect and re-tighten existing rock bolts.

Upper Falls and Ink Pots remain accessible

Although the main Johnston Canyon access will be closed, some destinations in the area can still be reached from another trail.

Parks Canada said visitors can access the Johnston Canyon Upper Falls Upper Viewpoint, Ink Pots and areas beyond using the Moose Meadows Trail.

Moose Meadows is approximately two kilometres west of Johnston Canyon and provides an alternate route to those destinations.

However, Parks Canada noted the trail is a popular out-and-back route with limited parking.

Roam Public Transit Route 9 service to Johnston Canyon will also be paused during the closure period, according to Parks Canada.

More work planned for 2027

This fall's work is the first of two phases planned for Johnston Canyon.

According to Parks Canada, the first phase is scheduled from Oct. 13 to late November 2026. A second phase is estimated to run from September to mid-November 2027, although that timeline is subject to change.

The work comes several months after a man drowned at Johnston Canyon. His body was recovered nearly four weeks later. 

The incident, however, was separate from the rockfall remediation work announced by Parks Canada.

Visitors are being asked to respect posted signs and closures while Parks Canada staff and contractors complete the work.