Johnson Lake is a pretty lake in Banff National Park that is the perfect place to spend time swimming, hiking, or just relaxing. I’ve been visiting Johnson Lake every summer since 2018, it’s one of my favourite places in Banff and one of my favourite Banff lakes to swim at!
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Johnson Lake in Banff; from where it is, how to get there, what there is to do, and more!
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Visiting Johnson Lake in Banff
Where is Johnson Lake?
Johnson Lake is located in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It’s about a 15 minute drive from Downtown Banff on Johnson Lake Road, just off of Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr.
From Lake Louise, it’s around a 45 minute drive down Highway 1.
How to Get to Johnson Lake
To get to Johnson Lake from Banff via Mt Norquay Road, you’ll want to get on the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) towards Calgary and exit onto Banff Ave, turn left away from Downtown Banff towards Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive.
Then watch for signs to turn right towards Johnson Lake/Two Jack Lake/Lake Minnewanka, and follow Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr., until you come to another sign telling you to turn right to Johnson Lake. Follow Johnson Lake Road all the way to the parking lot at the end of the road, find a parking spot, and you’re there!
To get there from Banff via Banff Ave, follow Banff Ave towards Highway 1, but instead of turning onto the Highway, continue driving and Banff Ave will turn into Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. Follow the instructions above, essentially following the signs to Johnson Lake.
Parking at Johnson Lake
There is a medium sized parking lot that fills up incredibly fast during the summer. Once the lot fills, a lot of people begin to park on Johnson Lake Road and walk the rest of the way to the lake. This is technically not allowed, however it seems to be a popular option when the lot is full.
If you have a really large vehicle, trailer, or motorhome, you’ll want to get here early during peak times (summer weekends) to make sure you can park easily.
There are 4 accessible spots reserved for those who have a pass.
The parking lot is located just steps from the sandy beach and Johnson lakeshore.
Public Transportation to Johnson Lake
If you don’t want to worry about parking, or you are traveling the Canadian Rockies without a car, taking public transportation is the perfect option for you. ROAM transit route 6 connects Downtown Banff to Johnson Lake.
New in 2024, there is a Park and Ride lot where you can park your car and wait for Route 6 to pick you up and take you to the lakes in the area (Johnson, Two Jack, and Minnewanka). The Park and Ride lot isn’t marked on Google Maps right now, but if you put in “6F9C+75 Bankhead, Alberta” this will take you to the lot.
ROAM Transit route 6 only runs during the summer months, so if you are planning to visit Banff in the winter, you unfortunately won’t be able to take public transit to Johnson Lake.
Johnson Lake Facilities
At Johnson Lake there are quite a few facilities for visitors, including:
- 4 pit toilets at the parking lot
- Bear-proof garbage bins
- Picnic tables
- Sandy beach and grass space
- Watercraft wash station
- Watercraft self-service permit station
- Bike racks
The Best Time to Visit Johnson Lake
You can visit Johnson Lake year-round, whether it is spring, summer, fall, or winter!
Although you can visit year-round, the best time to visit is during the summertime; you can swim, hike, picnic, or play in the sand during the summer.
In the winter, you can go to Johnson Lake to go wild ice skating in Banff.
In the shoulder season (spring and fall), it will most likely be too cold to swim and the lake won’t be frozen yet. During this time, the best thing to do is hike the Johnson Lake Loop or bring your paddleboard (without getting wet!).
The best time of day to visit Johnson Lake is in the early morning during peak season (summer) if you want a spot at the beach. If you’re looking to relax without the crowds, visiting during the evening in the summer would be your best bet.
Things to do at Johnson Lake in Banff
There are quite a bit of things to do here, including a small hike, swimming, picnicking, and spending some time out on the water.
Hike the Johnson Lake Loop + Explore the Lakeshore
- Distance: 2.9km
- Elevation gain: 69m
- Typical hiking time: ~45 minutes
The Johnson Lake Loop is an easy hike in Banff that takes around 45 minutes to complete. It is a trail that takes hikers around the lake in a loop (if you couldn’t already tell from the name :)). The trailhead to the hike starts at the sandy beach of the lake, and you can choose to go clockwise or counter clockwise! Although it doesn’t really matter, if you go clockwise around the lake, you’ll have a small steep section to get down at about half way. If you go counter-clockwise, you’ll be hiking up this small steep section. I prefer to go counter-clockwise, because I found it easier to get up this section instead of down!
The Johnson Lake hike will take you to a nice view of the lake along a mini ridge/hill, as well as through some forested sections. It’s a really nice little walk and I love to hike this loop when I visit Johnson Lake!
Photography
Johnson Lake is also a great spot to snap some photos. For the best photo opportunities, I like to take the Johnson Lake Loop to the other side of the lake, for nice photos of Cascade Mountains with the Lake in the foreground.
Swimming at Johnson Lake
During the summer, Johnson Lake is an incredibly popular place to go swimming or spend a hot summer’s day. The water can be a little chilly, although it is not a glacial-fed lake, so it’s actually one of the warmer Banff lakes to swim in, plus it is super refreshing when it’s hot outside!
Make sure to bring a floatie if you’re wanting to relax in the water (or a SUP to go farther out on the lake!). This is a popular spot for families in Banff as well.
Hang out at the Beach
One of the few sandy beaches in Banff, Johnson Lake is the perfect place if you’re wanting a beach day in the mountains. Because it is one of the only sandy beaches in Banff, it is very popular! Arrive early to grab a spot on the actual sand, otherwise you may have to sit further back in the grass. The sand makes swimming a lot more enjoyable as well!
Have a Picnic
At the lake there are a few picnic tables to have lunch at, but they do go fast during the weekends in summer. Arrive early to snag a picnic table.
If you can’t get a spot at a picnic table though, be sure to bring a blanket and have a picnic on the grass instead!
Stand Up Paddleboard at Johnson Lake
If I’m going paddle boarding in Banff, this lake is my first choice! The water is nice and clear and the lake is quite large, meaning you can paddle away from the busy beach-front area and enjoy a peaceful time out on the water.
Johnson Lake isn’t huge though, so you don’t feel like you’re floating away from civilization and going to get lost in the mountains. It’s an easy paddle back if you need to get back to your car in a rush.
There is also a watercraft wash station at the Lake, meaning you can rinse your board before packing it up to ensure it’s clean for the next body of water you use it in.
There is a whirling disease problem in Johnson Lake, which is not dangerous to humans but is dangerous to fish populations. Make sure you take the proper precautions to be a responsible Banff visitor and clean your board in order to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Banff lakes and beyond!
In Banff, watercraft users need to self-register for a permit when using watercraft on Banff lakes (like a standup paddleboard). The self-permit station is right at the entrance of the lake, right at the sandy beach just off the parking lot. Make sure to complete one of these before heading out on the water (it’s free)!
Can you go Fishing at Johnson Lake?
Fishing is not allowed at Johnson Lake in Banff. For more information on fishing restrictions and rules in Banff National Park, check out their fishing/angling webpage.
How Long to Spend at Johnson Lake
The amount of time you should spend at Johnson Lake depends on a variety of things: what you want to do there, what you’re interested in, and what else you want to see while visiting Banff.
If you have a jam-packed Banff itinerary, Johnson Lake is a nice lake to spend a short amount of time at. You can pop in for a quick visit, check out the immediate lakeshore, snap some photos, and move on.
On the other hand, you can spend a whole day swimming, paddle boarding, and hanging out at the sandy beach here.
To visit and hike the Johnson Lake Loop trail, I would budget around an hour of time to loop the lake, take photos, and have a nice amount of time exploring before moving on.
Other Things to do Near Johnson Lake
In the area nearby, there are other great things you can see and do! The best things to do nearby are continue visiting other lakes that are located on the same road as Johnson Lake, the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive road. The other lakes that are also on Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive are Two Jack Lake, Lake Minnewanka, and the Cascade Ponds. Johnson Lake is also right near some great hikes!
Two Jack Lake
6 minutes down the road is Two Jack Lake. Two Jack Lake is another great spot for swimming, SUPing, and photography. This lake also has a great view of Mount Rundle and the famous red chairs for an amazing view!
Lake Minnewanka
4 minutes down the road from Two Jack Lake, and 10 minutes from Johnson Lake, is Lake Minnewanka. Lake Minnewanka is one of Banff’s largest lakes and it is the only lake in Banff that allows small-motorized boats. Here, you can go on a Lake Minnewanka Boat Tour, rent canoes or kayaks, grab some ice cream, hike, and picnic. It’s a popular spot in Banff with a large parking lot, and can’t be missed!
Cascade Ponds
At the very beginning of Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive is the Cascade Ponds. You’ll pass them on your way from Banff to Johnson Lake. The ponds are a nice, picturesque place to stop and take some photos, have a picnic, swim, SUP, or to just spend some time out in nature. There are pretty bridges and a lot of green space here, it’s a nice addition to any Banff itinerary!
Hikes Near Johnson Lake
I already mentioned the hike that leaves at Johnson Lake: The Johnson Lake Loop. Nearby there are some other great hikes as well.
- Lake Minnewanka Lakeside Trail: 15.6km and 505m elevation gain along the shore of Lake Minnewanka, this hike goes to different backcountry campsites along the shore of the lake.
- Stewart Canyon: This hike also starts at Lake Minnewanka, it takes you to a nice bridge with views of the river. It’s a great option for a hot day because it is quite shaded with trees!
- Aylmer Lookout: Another Lake Minnewanka hike, this one is a long hike, and takes around 8 hours to complete in one go. With 23.2km and 1,093m of elevation gain on an out+back trail, it has great views of Lake Minnewanka but takes a lot of work to get there!
- C Level Cirque: Starting near Lake Minnewanka at the Upper Bankhead parking lot, this is a 9.3km out and back trail with around 759m of elevation gain. This is a great half-day hike in Banff with great views!
Where to Stay
The closest place to stay near Johnson Lake is at the campgrounds that are right nearby. Otherwise, staying in a hotel or hostel in Downtown Banff is another great option.
Camping Near Johnson Lake
Johnson Lake is located on Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, and on this road there are 2 different campgrounds: Two Jack Main and Two Jack Lakeside Campground.
Two Jack Main Campground
This is a really nice campground that is a 6 minute drive from Johnson Lake. It has nice trees and campsites, with 313 unserviced campsites in total. There are flush toilets at this campground, and fire rings at most campsites. There is also free firewood here (included with your fire permit when you book your sites).
Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Across the street from Two Jack Main Campground is Two Jack Lakeside Campground. This is one of Banff’s most popular campgrounds! It is located on Two Jack Lake and has 64 unserviced campsites. This campground also has flush toilets, most sites have fire rings, and firewood is included with your fire permit as well. This is one of my favourite places to go camping in Banff if I can snag a spot!
If you can’t get a spot at those two campgrounds, the other campgrounds in the Banff area are a great option as well!
Hotels and Hostels Near Johnson Lake
Downtown Banff is around a 15 minute drive from the lake, meaning you’ll be closeby no matter where you choose to stay in Banff. A few to check out are Moose Hotel and Suites (rooftop hot pools, an indoor pool, they are pet-friendly and include a free ROAM transit pass for route 1,2,4, and 6 with your stay), Canalta Lodge (an amazing outdoor courtyard with outdoor hot tubs, firepits, a cold plunge, and a sauna), or Samesun Banff (a hostel in Banff, with both mixed and female-only dorm rooms, an onsite bar). For a luxury hotel in Banff, check out Fairmont Banff Springs (looks like a castle and is stunning against the mountains and provides guests with a free ROAM transit pass for routes 1,2,4 & 6).
For a cheaper, but farther, option, check out hotels in Canmore. We usually stay at the Mountain View Inn because I can typically find a good price there, but it is basic accommodation since we don’t spend much time in the hotel anyway. For a more luxurious experience in Canmore, check out The Malcolm Hotel.
Things to do at Johnson Lake in Winter
Johnson Lake is not only a summer spot, there is stuff to do here in the winter as well! In the wintertime, the lake freezes over and is covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. Banff in the winter is absolutely stunning!
You can still hike the Lake Loop trail, although depending on how trafficked it is, you may or may not need snowshoes. If the trail is well-packed, ice cleats may be beneficial for extra traction. If you have snowshoes, you could also explore parts of the frozen lake!
Another thing to do at Johnson Lake in the winter time is go wild ice skating. Essentially wild ice skating is skating on a lake in Banff that is not maintained, cleared off, or monitored by Parks Canada. It is a popular activity, and usually people bring shovels and a portion of the lake is already cleared of snow for skating! You can bring your own shovel to clear your own spot, or hope that someone else was there before you and made a nice spot to skate :).
If you are wild ice skating, be sure to check ice thickness, you are responsible for your own safety.
Other Johnson Lake Tips
- Arrive early during peak times (summer, summer weekends) to get a parking spot. Especially if you’re wanting to spend the day here!
- There are no boat rentals available here. If you want to use a watercraft on the lake, you’ll have to bring your own!
- Use the bear-proof garbage cans that are provided in order to Leave No Trace and keep Banff clean.
- If the main area is full (the sandy beach and grassy spot nearby), take the hiking loop counter-clockwise for a few minutes and find a spot on the grassy hills instead.
FAQ + Summary
This lake is one of my favourite lakes to spend a summer day at in Banff. You can either spend the entire day out on the water, swimming, paddle boarding, and picnicking. Or, stop in for a quick hike and photos before continuing on to another place in Banff National Park!
Yes! It is cold, but you can definitely swim in Johnson Lake in Banff.
Yes, Johnson Lake is one of the few lakes in Banff that has a sandy beach! It is small, but it is the perfect spot on a hot summer day.
Because Johnson Lake is in Banff National Park, you will need a Canadian National Parks Pass to visit.
Dogs are allowed at Johnson Lake as long as they are kept on a leash!
No, Johnson Lake is not glacier-fed! This means it is typically warmer than the glacier fed lakes in Banff (like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Two Jack Lake), although I still find it chilly, but refreshing, on a summers day!
Hopefully this guide helped you plan your trip in Banff!
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Other Posts on the Canadian Rockies:
- Moraine Lake Tips for Visiting
- Sunshine Meadows Hike in Banff, Canada
- Chester Lake Trail in Kananaskis
- How to Visit Banff on a Budget
- Can you visit Moraine Lake in the Winter?
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
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