Johnson Lake is a popular spot during the summer. The shallow, sun baked lake is one of the few (if only!) tolerable swimming spots in Banff. As such, it can be a busy spot during the warmer months as locals and tourists alike take advantage of the almost-warm waters. Surrounding this lake is the lovely little Johnson Lake Trail that often gets overlooked. It’s a 3 km loop that circles the lake and travels through the trees and meadows, with exceptional views of Mount Rundle towering over the water and Cascade Mountain framing the end of the lake. The views are surprising, considering the easy-going, mostly flat nature of the trail.

There are great views of Mount Rundle along the trail.

There are parts of this loop that remind me of growing up on warm water lakes in Northern Ontario. There’s something about the wooden steps near the beginning that, if you look just right, are reminiscent of the docks that lead out to the misty waters during the muggy summer weather. There is a nostalgic feeling about this hike that reminds me of a happy childhood spent in the bush with no one around, rather than a busy tourist centre in the height of the season.

The wooden steps at the beginning o the Johnson Lake Trail give this hike a nostalgic feeling for me.

This trail is surprisingly quiet for how busy the lake and parking lot can be. In just a few minutes, you can escape the crowds and be surrounded by nothing but the chirping of birds, the buzzing of insects, and the gentle whisper of the wind through the trees. I had a lovely moment with a cheeky squirrel who was intent on his pinecone snack. It wasn’t until another person walked by that he chattered his opinions at me and scampered off along the deadfall with his delicious prize.

I had a wonderful moment with this squirrel before his cheeky attitude came out and he scampered off.

This short but sweet trail is punctuated by moments of beauty and it’s sometimes punctuated by the haunting call of the loon. There is a loon family living on the lake, and they were close enough to the trail that I could watch them dive deep after fish before coming up, seemingly an endless amount of time later, to share their catch with the younglings. As far as the chicks go, they were starting to dunk their heads in the water, but they weren’t ready to take the plunge just yet. There’s still lots of summer left to learn.

These loons were close to shore and didn't mind me watching them dive deep under the water while the chicks practiced getting their heads wet.

There are no bikes allowed on the Johnson Lake Trail, so the footing has held up relatively well despite the years of use from humans and animals alike. As such, there are limited exposed roots to catch your feet as you walk, which means you can spend more time with your eyes taking in the natural beauty around you.

For how used this trail is, it's held up well and it's pleasant to walk.

At the far end of the hike, a couple of benches make great places to sit and take in the views of Cascade Mountain overlooking the end of the lake. The footbridges crossing the creek at the very tip of the water body also provide spectacular views, and it’s worth a short break to just sit and admire this little hidden spot.

The views at the end of the lake with Cascade Mountain overlooking the length of the water.

The gentle lap of the water against the shoreline is reminiscent of a paddle dripping across the water in between strokes. The sound brings back memories of canoe trips as a child, barely able to reach over the sides of the canoe but still trusted to steady the craft in the calm waters of a warm lake. Much like those warm waters of home, Johnson Lake is a fantastic place to paddle. Stand up paddleboards have become increasingly popular, and this lake is a great place to enjoy a gentle float on the water or learn how to stabilize yourself on a board for the first time. The water is often busy with people paddling, but the farther from the beach you get, the more moments of serenity you can find where there are actually very few people around.

The gentle lap of the water mixed with these fantastic views make this a quiet hike, even in the busy season.

The trail ends (or begins, depending on your direction of travel) by the powerlines, which may seem uninspiring except for the vibrant colours of the wildflowers that grow beneath them. Especially this time of year, the dusty pink wild roses and bright red paintbrushes make even this section of trail a beautiful spot.

The opening for the powerlines makes for spectacular wildflowers, like these wild roses.

If you’re visiting Banff this summer, take the time to explore the gentle, short Johnson Lake Trail. If you take it slow, you’ll really notice the spectacular moments in nature.

One last look at the beautiful Johnson Lake from the end of the trail.

Kate Barker