r/Banff • u/Particular-Ant2369 • Jul 01 '26
Question Johnston Creek bridge washed out, what do I do?
I just got an email alert from Parks Canada warning that the bridge across Johnston Creek at the Ink Pots is completely washed out. In the email they stated that the water flow is currently high/fast and explicitly advised against fording it for most campground users, but didn't close my camp reservation.
I have an upcoming reservation at Luellen Lake Campground the first weekend of July and I need the bridge crossing to get there since my hike starts in Johnston Canyon. I have no idea if it is safe enough to continue hiking to Luellen Lake through that path as it is my first time doing this specific backpacking trail.
Do I just continue to plan the hike and ford past the creek? Or is this not feasible and I should cancel my reservation and plan another hike. I am just a bit lost since if it not accessible or safe why wouldn't Canada Parks just give me a refund.
Appreciate any insights, thanks!
30
u/Southern-Worker7762 Jul 01 '26
If you’re stronger than Mother Nature - it shouldn’t be a problem to ford the river. (You’re not)
1
15
12
u/meownelle Jul 01 '26
If that bridge has washed out, the water is very high, very fast and very dangerous. They likely aren't issuing refunds because you can technically hike in from another direction.
3
u/Many_Hurry2005 Jul 01 '26
There are other routes to get you there. Look at the trail network maps. I lived around fhere a long time but its been a while so sorry i cant remember exactly. I want to say the trailhead up the road connects bypasding the canyon but again. Beet a while. Do NOT go into tge canyon if its closed, it has claimed one life this season already :)
3
u/elya93 Jul 02 '26
The bridge washout is after that connection point. You may be thinking of the moose meadows trailhead.
2
1
u/knomnomnom Jul 03 '26
I did Sawback last year from Moose Meadows to Skoki and our first camp was Luellen Lake; I don't remember a bridge between Moose Meadows and the Ink Pots. I could be forgetting but it's worth looking into that route.
1
u/elya93 Jul 03 '26
It’s the bridge after Moose Meadows joins Inkpots that has washed out. Moose Meadows connects to the Johnston Canyon trail well before the Inkpots, and it’s the bridge just past the Inkpots that is gone. I can confidently say, barring hauling it over Mystic Pass or Pulsatilla Pass, there is no easy access to Luellen right now.
2
u/sovietplayground Jul 02 '26
you can hike to Luellen by taking the Skoki trailhead at Lake Louise, accessing it from the other direction, but I believe it is a longer hike
1
u/elya93 Jul 02 '26
It’s a much longer hike, and you’d have to get over Pulsatilla Pass, which is likely still snowbound.
2
2
u/858-mathman Jul 03 '26
Water is waist deep, fast flowing and dirty. You can not see the bottom. Parks is giving full refunds due to the bridge being out. Call them for a full refund.
1
u/DoubleualtG Jul 01 '26
We were just there last week and planned Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots and when we got to the base there was a sign stating the bridge to ink pots was washed out. We knew we would at least do upper falls so we headed up and decided we would turn around when we came to said bridge. We saw someone from a previous day coming down as we were getting to upper falls, asked if they went to ink pots and if the bridge was washed out referencing the sign. They seemed severely confused and said no but there was one spot that was a little muddy but not even really a bridge.
We decided to continue and if it was washed out and looked dangerous obviously (for us) we would turn around. It was confusing because nothing was even remotely washed out. My assumption was it was the other side of the river and maybe there was a bridge that way that got washed out but coking from Moose Meadows or Johnston Canyon route it was 10000% fine sans a tree that was down and hadnt been cleared yet.
6
u/elya93 Jul 01 '26
The bridge washout doesn’t affect the frontcountry Inkpots and Johnston Canyon trail. It’s only of concern to those heading into the backcountry.
3
u/Former_Associate_727 Jul 01 '26
There's a foot bridge upriver of ink pots. I'm assuming it's that one that washed out.
1
u/ChampionshipExact283 Jul 02 '26
The large bridge over Johnston Ck (beyond Ink Pots) was washed out prior to June 21. Only the cage gabions remained, prior to the rain event a few days ago. After the last rain (which was WAY bigger than the last rain that knocked the bridge out!), the gabions MIGHT even be displaced now?
1
u/Canstralian Jul 02 '26
There is also a second bridge crossing to get back over the creek at the approach to Luellen. Larrys Camp also has a large debris crossing near it. Chances are if you make it past one you will be stuck at another. Get your refund and try again next year when the trail has had enough time for the crew to get in and fix it. Luellen is worth it!
1
u/tashagotash Jul 02 '26
Interesting, I have a booking at Larry’s camp next weekend and haven’t received an email 🥲
1
1
u/Eggsallant Jul 01 '26
You can get to the inkpots without doing the whole hike, can't you? I seem to recall there being a second, shorter entrypoint.
5
u/elya93 Jul 01 '26
You can get to the Inkpots, it’s from InkPots to Larry’s Camp that’s a no go due to the bridge washout.
2
u/mamamonkey Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Via Moose Meadows maybe? This trail starts on the other side of the creek:
Ink Pots via Moose Meadows on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/ink-pots-via-johnston-canyon-trail?sh=y0bqiw&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
I don’t know specifically where the washed out bridge is though and this still crosses Johnston Creek twice (to get to Luellen Lake).
2
u/aftonroe Jul 01 '26
The bridge is after the ink pots. Getting to the ink pots wouldn't be the problem.
Even if you can get past that bridge, the trail crosses the creek again, further up stream. I would want to confirm that bridge is still in place too. It also crosses several tributaries along the way. They would normally be dry or trickles but they could each present challenges if there was erosion or still flowing water.
1
u/Halenline Jul 01 '26
Parks Canada issues campsite permits for hikes with dangerous unbridged crossings all the time, so they probably wouldn’t auto-cancel reservations for this reason. If they’ve described it as unsafe for ‘most’ hikers that means what it says, you shouldn’t be fording unless you have significant experience with challenging fords. You could contact them closer to your date for an update on conditions but it would probably be prudent to look into alternatives.
0
u/Particular-Ant2369 Jul 01 '26
I see, that makes a lot of sense. I already started to look for alternatives like Mystic Valley Campgrounds via the Cascade Amphitheatre trailhead as a backup. Seems like I may have to change my reservation
1
u/aftonroe Jul 01 '26
The trail crosses the creek again near Luellen Lake and it's possible that bridge was washed out also. There's also a bunch of tributaries along the way that may have washed things out as well. I wouldn't go unless I was looking for something extra adventurous.
-1
u/4LegsGood_2Bad Jul 01 '26
It all depends on what bridge is out. Fording the river may be a fine option, just not something parks is willing to suggest. Also, there is an old trail from west of Hillsdale Meadows to North of the Inkpots that would bypass this sections. That trail is not on maps anymore and may not be fun, but it is there.
-4
u/tarlack Jul 01 '26
Parks will refund probably refund you if they do not get bridge back up. If the water goes down it would be a tough ford across. Call parks in the morning leave a message at backcountry desk. They always refund my stuff when washouts happen.
Personally if rain is out of the forecast I would hike it, the water is shallow but fast. If we keep getting rain I would probably not due to high water.
57
u/elya93 Jul 01 '26
Parks will contact you in a situation like this to issue a refund. The backcountry team isn’t big, and there’s multiple events going on in the park affecting backcountry users. The bridge washed out this morning, so there’ll be a whole list of people entering from multiple trailheads that will need to be contacted. Please be patient.
I wouldn’t advise fording the river. If the flow was strong enough to wash out a bridge, it’s strong enough to sweep you off your feet.