Johnston Creek (Alberta)
Encyclopedia
Johnston Creek is a tributary of the Bow River
in Canada
's Rocky Mountains
. The creek is located in Banff National Park
.
in a glacial valley southwest of Badger Pass and south of Pulsatilla Pass, at an elevation of 2500 metres (8,202.1 ft). The creek flows southeast between Helena Ridge and the Sawback Range
, and then south through a gorge known as Johnston Canyon. The stream empties into the Bow River
, south of Castle Mountain, between Banff
and Lake Louise
, at an elevation of 1440 metres (4,724.4 ft).
rock to form sheer canyon walls, as well as waterfalls, tunnels, and pools.
A popular hiking trail follows the canyon and leads to a meadow within the Johnston Valley above the canyon. The first part of the trail consists of a constructed walkway with safety rails and bridges, while the last part of the trail is natural and more rugged. Within the meadow are the Ink Pots, which are six blue-green spring-fed pools.
Ice climbing is a popular activity on the frozen waterfalls in winter.
A tourist lodge and large parking area is located at the foot of the canyon, close to the creek mouth, along the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Rocky Mountains
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. The creek is located in Banff National Park
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains. The park, located 110–180 kilometres west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine...
.
Course
Johnston Creek originates north of Castle MountainCastle Mountain
Castle Mountain is located within Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, approximately half-way between Banff and Lake Louise. While looking nearly impenetrable from the Trans-Canada Highway, the peak can be ascended from the backside on the northeastern slopes...
in a glacial valley southwest of Badger Pass and south of Pulsatilla Pass, at an elevation of 2500 metres (8,202.1 ft). The creek flows southeast between Helena Ridge and the Sawback Range
Sawback Range
The Sawback Range is a mountain range of the Canadian Rockies that stretches from the Bow Valley in Alberta into southeastern Banff National Park.-Mountains:This range includes the following mountains and peaks:-References:...
, and then south through a gorge known as Johnston Canyon. The stream empties into the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
, south of Castle Mountain, between Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
and Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Alberta
Lake Louise is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Improvement District No. 9 Banff . It is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta , the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and the wife of John Campbell, the 9th Duke of Argyll, who was the...
, at an elevation of 1440 metres (4,724.4 ft).
Johnston Canyon
As Johnston Creek approaches the Bow River, it flows through a a large canyon formed by erosion over thousands of years. The creek has cut through the limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock to form sheer canyon walls, as well as waterfalls, tunnels, and pools.
A popular hiking trail follows the canyon and leads to a meadow within the Johnston Valley above the canyon. The first part of the trail consists of a constructed walkway with safety rails and bridges, while the last part of the trail is natural and more rugged. Within the meadow are the Ink Pots, which are six blue-green spring-fed pools.
Ice climbing is a popular activity on the frozen waterfalls in winter.
A tourist lodge and large parking area is located at the foot of the canyon, close to the creek mouth, along the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).
External links
- Banff.com - Johnston Canyon
- Johnston Canyon Trail to Ink Pots