Moose Meadows to Ink Pots, Banff National Park - Jan 18th 2025

Trail : Moose Meadows to Ink Pots
Date : January 18th 2025
Location : Banff National Park, AB
Trailhead location : Along Highway 1A, just a few meters past the Johnston Canyon parking lot on the right-hand side if you’re heading west.
Distance : 12.2 km
Elevation gain : 505 m
Starting time : 9h11 am
Time to the ink pots : 1h31
Total time to complete including 15/20 min at the ink pots : 2h59
Difficulty : Easy to moderate/ no scrambling
Trail traffic : Only met 2 ladies after visiting the ink pots

Felt like -25°C in Banff this morning, full sunshine and no wind ; to me, it couldn’t have been a better day to visit the mountains—and I was absolutely right! What a stunning morning to explore the Ink Pots.
This was our third visit to this magnificent location, but today we tried a different approach to avoid the crowds, and it paid off. We had the entire trail to ourselves! Moose Meadows is a fantastic alternative to Johnston Canyon, especially if, like us, you’ve already explored the canyon multiple times and/or prefer quieter trails.
The entire path was perfectly packed down, so there was no need for snowshoes or spikes. The Ink Pots were breathtaking under the sunlight, with the mountains reflecting beautifully in the clear pools. While some of the pots were snow-covered, others revealed their vibrant hues, leaving my eyes in total awe.
The Ink Pots are one of those rare places you don’t mind revisiting—even if you’re not a fan of repeating trails. Winter can make it tricky to find safe hiking options, but this one is definitely worth considering!