Grotto Canyon Icewalk

Explore trails less travelled this winter. Just east of Banff National Park lies a hidden gem in Grotto Canyon, a wonderland of frozen waterfalls and steep limestone walls. During the Grotto Canyon Icewalk, you will learn about the formation of the canyon, pick out fossil corals in the rocks, and photograph the incredible pillars of ice as you walk through the canyon bottom.  Your professional guide leads you past waterfalls frozen in mid-stream. It's the perfect destination for a break and a chance to see ice climbers in action. 

The trial begins from the Grotto Mountain day-use parking lot and continues 1km through forest to get to the narrow-walled creek bed, which twists and turns for another kilometre. Following the canyon floor for another kilometre , you’ll come upon a fork in the creek bed with up-close views of  incredible pillars of ice and faint Hopi pictographs, painted some 500-1,000 years ago*. Guide, transport and ice cleats included.

Our guide service is suitable for couples, families, singles and groups and our expert guides will gladly interpret the local geography, history and wildlife of the area for you.

*info courtesy Tourism Canmore Kananaskis

Available December 1 to March 31