One thing that I love about Banff is that it’s filled with beautiful scenery.
When I was first researching Banff I saw this one picture that really caught my attention. It was a picture of a gigantic rock in the middle of the river that looked like it was about to tip over.
I’m not sure if the rock has a name at all. I really just call it the “tipping rock” myself haha.
As it turns out, this rock is actually a “hidden gem” in Banff. It’s located in Johnson Canyon and also has a small cave and waterfall.
So if you’re going to Banff and want to see the amazing Johnson Canyon Secret Cave, then stay tuned!
Here is my guide to hiking Johnston Canyon and getting to that amazing Secret Cave and “tipping rock!”
Hiking Johnson Canyon
Johnson Canyon is one of the most popular hikes and best things to do in Banff (and for good reason). It’s incredibly beautiful and the trail is well maintained.
The trail is definitely suitable for children and many kids were running around when I got there!
Just be sure to wear the proper footwear (sneakers or hiking shoes) as the way down to Johnson Canyon’s Secret Cave is a little steep and you’ll have to get your hands dirty.
So Johnston Canyon really consists of two trails: (1) the Upper Falls trail (2.6 km or 1.6 miles) and (2) the Lower Falls (1.1 km or 1 mile).
The Upper Falls trail will take about an hour and the Lower Falls trail will take about 30 minutes. Of course, it took me about 3 – 4 hours to do both, but I had plenty of stops to take pictures and visit the cave 🙂
And don’t worry, to get to the Upper Falls you have to first hike to the end of the Lower Falls.
Hiking the Lower Falls
The hike to the Lower Falls is breathtaking. You’ll see amazing trees, the sound of the bustling stream below, and smell that fresh mountain air.
I loved hiking at Johnston Falls and would highly recommend it if it’s your first time in Banff.
The Lower Falls trail is pretty short (should take about 30 minutes or so). During the summer, there can be a lot of people on the trail, which does cause some traffic.
At the end of the Lower Falls is a small viewing platform for the waterfall. You’ll need to cross the bridge and there will usually be people lining up to go inside.
Fair warning, the viewing platform is usually pretty wet and you can definitely expect to get splashed with some cold water!
The platform is pretty small, so only 3 – 4 people can be inside at one time.
Hiking Upper Falls
The Upper Falls trail is a bit longer than the Lower Falls. It should take an hour or so. You will have made some elevation gain at this point.
So the views will be even more incredible! It’s like being in a different world. Everything is so beautiful and simple.
Eventually you will reach the Upper Falls. There are two view points of this amazing waterfall.
The first is a viewing platform that lets you get an amazing view of the water gushing down. There is usually a line to get to the end of the platform where you can get a great selfie with the backdrop of the water.
The other viewpoint is a short hike away. You’ll walk back on the main trail and it’ll take you to a platform that hangs over the gorge (right above the waterfall).
Both views are equally as impressive!
Hiking to Johnston Canyon’s Secret Cave
Okay…I’ve talked about the Upper Trail and the Lower Trail….but where is the Secret Cave?!
Well, let’s get into it then!
The Secret Cave is after the Lower Trail, but Before the Upper Trail. Yes, I know, that’s very descriptive haha!
The Secret Cave is actually off trail so there are no signs pointing to it at all. So you’ll have to keep an eye out for it. The best way to spot it is to keep your eyes peeled for the giant tipping rock.
And you’ll often hear voices or even see people trying to climb down to it as well.
As I said there is no formal trail that leads down to the Secret Cave. But, there is a makeshift trail that leads down from all the people to have traveled here over the years.
The hike down is steep, so be prepared to use your hands and get them dirty! It’s not terribly difficult to get down so many of you will be able to do it without too much trouble.
Once you hiked down the first thing you will see is the giant tipping rock.
And WOW! Is this thing amazing or what?
The rock literally looks like it would tip over if you so much as breathed on it haha. But don’t worry, it’s very stable.
You’ll see moss and grass and even tree branches growing on top of the rock. It’s a thing of beauty 🙂
Directly behind the rock is the secret cave. It’s pretty small, but allows you to get great views of the tipping rock. And you’ll notice travelers to this hidden gem in Banff have carved their names into the caves of the rock.
The final thing around the secret cave is the small waterfall (to the left of the giant tipping rock). And in case you’re wondering, YES, you can go under the waterfall without getting wet!
And that’s it! I know those aren’t the best instructions to get to this amazing place, so I do apologize. But as long as you keep your eyes peeled after passing the Lower Falls, you should be able to spot the top of the giant tipping rock.
If you do end up coming to this amazing place, let me know what you think and share those pictures!