Ink Pots Trail

Ink Pots Trail is a day-hike in Banff National Park that follows the approach up to Johnston Canyon and continues beyond the Upper Falls into an open alpine meadow where the “Ink Pots” are found as seven colorful, cold mineral pools.

The hike is an out-and-back route with a total round-trip distance of about 11.7 km and roughly 608 m of elevation gain, typically taking 4 to 4.5 hours for most hikers.

In the canyon portion, the trail uses elevated walkways and connects through the Upper Falls area; the crowds tend to be heavier in this early section before thinning out once you leave the falls corridor.

Past the Upper Falls, the route climbs out of the canyon and transitions into sub-alpine forest and then an alpine meadow setting where the pools sit in clusters and are fed by springs from underground.

The Ink Pots’ color comes from mineral-rich water and fine silt activity in the pools; the water stays cold year-round and the surface often shows bubbling motion from the springs.

Plan timing around late spring through early fall for the best conditions; the route is also possible in winter, but conditions can be icy and may require extra traction equipment.

More information: Visitor information, Hike to the Ink Pots in Banff National Park, Johnston Canyon Inkpots