Between Banff and Lake Louise runs the Bow Valley Parkway, a beautiful scenic route for 55 km to substitute taking Highway 1. When you are lucky you can see Bears, Coyoties and Wapiti’s along the roadsides.

Half way is Johnston Canyon, a hour and a half return trip on the boardwalk pas the lower falls (1.1 km) to the upper falls (2.7 km). You’ll get a gorgeous canyon view of rapids and rockfaces combined with the awesome waterfalls. If you want to go the extra mile you can hike an extra 3 km after the upper falls towards the ink pots. A real not-to-miss hike for sure. An hour or 2-3 should be enough to see and take it all in.