Winter Wonderland on January 1, 2024: Johnston Canyon, Morant’s Curve, Lake Louise Ski Resort and “Ice Magic” at the Fairmont Chateau

Johnston Canyon
Ice on the walls of the Johnston Canyon, Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park; January 1, 2024. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

Story and photographs by MALIK MERCHANT

Wow! January 1, 2024, was gorgeous! My plan when I left Calgary was simple. I was to walk through Johnston Canyon on the Bow Valley Parkway and then drive to Banff to enjoy the town and have fish tacos at the Añejo Restaurant on Banff Avenue. As easy as that, provided that I had cleats to walk through icy patches on the 2.2 km round trip trail to Johnston’s Lower Falls. But, my plans fell apart. Nature drove me away from food. The tacos were forgotten and after completing the 2.2 km round trip trail to Lower Falls, I wanted to feel more nature! A clementine, an orange and an organic apple — all nature’s foods — were all I needed to energize me, as I continued my drive through the remainder of the Bow Valley Parkway towards Lake Louise. My stops after Johnston Canyon were: Castle Mountain Junction, Storm Mountain Lookout, the iconic Morant’s Curve Lookout, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and “Ice Magic” on Lake Louise at the Chateau Fairmont.

After joyfully conquering all that, my mind turned to the crème brûlée that I had had as a dessert at one of Fairmont’s several restaurants last summer. To my disappointment, the restaurant didn’t make the brûlée anymore, and instead suggested other dessert options. I turned down, and satisfied myself on the drive back with honey roasted Krispy Kernel peanuts from a Petro-Canada station. I reached Calgary at around 8:30 pm and drove to the highly recommended Lahori BBQ Hut Restaurant for a chicken tikka. It was good, but I remembered the Añejo in Banff!

Click on any photo to start the gallery, and enjoy! (If you are using your mobile, please expand the pictures).

ice magic sculptures at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park, January 1, 2024
Ice sculptures at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
ice sculpture lake louise fairmont chateau malik merchant simerg
A view of an ice sculpture built on the frozen Lake Louise located in front of the iconic hotel, Fairmont Chateau.
"Ice Magic", ice sculpture constructed on the frozen Lake Louise lake in front of the Fairmont Chateau, January 1, 2024.
Ice sculpture constructed on the frozen Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau.
Frozen Lake Louise, winter 2024
Visitors walk on frozen Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau in the midst of a beautiful mountain setting.
A beautiful view of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise from the frozen lake;
A beautiful view of the Fairmont Chateau from the frozen Lake Louise.
"Ice Magic" -- a beautiful ice sculpture on Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau; Banff National Park,
A side view of the beautiful ice sculpture constructed on Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau.
Visitors take off on a horse sleigh ride to experience the winter wonderland at Lake Louise in front of Chateau Fairmont, Banff National Park
Visitors experience winter wonderland aboard horse sleigh rides offered at the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise.
Visitors take off on a horse sleigh ride to experience the winter wonderland at Lake Louise in front of Chateau Fairmont, Banff National Park
Visitors take off on a horse sleigh ride to experience winter wonderland at Lake Louise.
Lake Louise skating
A beautiful view of visitors walking and skating on Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau.
Ski run Lake Louise Resort
A view of one of several ski runs at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
Mountain near Ski run at Lake Louise Resort
A view of a mountain adjacent to the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
Ski run Lake Louise Resort
A view of one of several ski runs at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
Morant's Curve where CP trains come round a bend
A view from world renowned Morant’s Curve Lookout point on the Bow Valley Parkway.
Storm Mountain Lookout
A view from Storm Mountain Lookout point on the Bow Valley Parkway.
Castle Mountain from Bow River
Cloud covered Castle Mountain from the Bow River near Castle Junction, Bow Valley Parkway.
A trail walk for young and old alike, with a parent pushing a stroller along the Johnston Canyon,
Young and old alike, including parents with strollers, walk through the trail in Johnston Canyon.
Children daringly slide down a snow/ice covered wall along Johnston Canyon, Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park; January 1, 2024. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Children daringly slide down a snow/ice covered wall along Johnston Canyon.
A pedestrian bridge underneath a canyon wall at Johnston Canyon
A pedestrian bridge underneath a canyon wall at Johnston Canyon.
A view of Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls from a lookout point
A view of Johnston Canyon’s Lower Falls from a lookout point several metres away.
Lower Falls view Johnston Canyon
Visitors line up to view Johnston Canyon’s frozen Lower Falls, which is shown at extreme left, through a huge canyon wall opening.
Pedestrian traffic along a bridge to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls
Visitor traffic along a narrow bridge to Johnston Canyon’s Lower Falls, with the creek flowing below.
A beautiful dog on leash on trail to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls
A beautiful dog on a leash on the Johnston Canyon trail.
blie colour of ice in johnston canyon banff
An incredible blue coloured ice section on the walls of Johnston Canyon.
Johnston Creek, Johnston Canyon, bow valley parkway, banff national park
(Frozen) Johnston Creek flowing through Johnston Canyon. The water flows into the Bow River.
ice formations Johnston Canyon
Ice formations on the walls of Johnston Canyon.
Johnston Canyon creek
(Frozen) Johnston Creek flowing through Johnston Canyon.
Johnston Canyon welcome sign and guide to trails
Johnston Canyon welcome sign with a guide to the Lower and Upper falls.
Johnston Canyon entrance, Bow Valley Parkway, Hwy 1a, Malik Merchant simergphotos
Johnston Canyon entrance, Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park.

Note: All photographs in this post were taken on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024.

Date posted: January 3, 2024.

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