Johnson Lake hike
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Johnson Lake hike
Difficulty Rating:
This hike around Johnson Lake is a great choice for beginners or those with limited physical abilities and it is especially family-friendly. We also think it’s a great way to start or end the day and makes a great after-dinner walk in summer.
Getting there
Head towards Lake Minnewanka from Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. Take the second signed right towards “Two-Jack Lake”. Follow this road and take the first right, indicating the route to Johnson Lake. Follow this road to the parking lot at the end.
About
| When to do | All Year |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Toilets | Trailhead |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Circuit |
Johnson Lake
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Johnson Lake
From the parking lot, head towards the beautiful and enormous Johnson Lake. There is a path that can go either left or right. There isn’t any significant difference between the routes here. If you go right, you’ll pass the electricity pylons briefly and then circle the lake in the trees, with views coming and going as you proceed.
Coming to the end of the trail, you’ll continue downwards and pass a long, flat strip of land – otherwise known as a berm. Here, there are often people fishing in Johnson Lake. Pause for a moment to look at the water – sometimes it appears that the water is boiling due to the number of fish coming to the surface feeding.
On the other side of Johnson Lake there are two options: a high route or a low route. We prefer the high route, and Parks Canada has left two large red chairs to take a break and enjoy the views if you select this one.
The remainder of the trail is in trees. As you near the car park, there are several picnic tables. These can be busy, but if you’re lucky enough to find a nice spot you can easily spend a pleasant hour here enjoying a snack or a meal.
Insider Hints
This is a good trail to do year round, though bring micro spikes if it is snowy or icy.
When you have the chance, look into small bays and shallow water – there are often many fish to see.
There are some nice picnic spots to stop and enjoy a delicious lunch with wonderful views. To get there, come towards the lake from the parking lot and head left.
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gpadva 4 years ago
%dummy-text%fun hike
gpadva 4 years ago
Chichi Uyi 4 years ago
refreshing short walk. the glimmering lake feels nostalgic.
Chris F. 4 years ago
We had a nice picnic nearby the lake.
Elmer J. 4 years ago
There's no repetition when it comes to nature. There's always something new to see.
RobCruz 4 years ago
Johnson Lake is inspiring! It's great to see plenty of fish into the shallow water.
MayP 4 years ago
I had a good time here. The scenery made me want to go back again, but this time with my family.
dkdot1 4 years ago
Super chill super easy little stroll
Grant Ko. 4 years ago
The wildflowers and general vegetation were spectacular. Pretty easy and nice hike.
Larry D. 5 years ago
It was stunning! It was a tranquil paradise for me!