While Johnston Canyon and its popular waterfalls will be inaccessible during trail restoration, the Ink Pots above the canyon can still be reached from the alternate Moose Meadows trailhead. Andrew Hempstead photo.

Banff National Park’s Johnston Canyon trail will close on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, so Parks Canada can tend to restoration and infrastructure upgrades on the 2.7-km trail leading through the heart of the canyon to Upper Falls.

Johnston Canyon is easily the busiest trail in the Canadian Rockies, traversed by hundreds every day during the summer months. Infrastructure in the canyon includes numerous catwalks, or artificial walkways, that hang from the canyon’s walls above Johnston Creek.

While work is scheduled for completion by the end of October, this is dependent upon weather. The canyon is also a popular outing for hikers with traction devices (strap-on boot spikes) during the winter.

The Ink Pots and upper Johnston Creek valley will still be accessible during the restoration from the alternate Moose Meadows trailhead (Johnston Canyon-Ink Pots in the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide).