Discover the best hot springs in British Columbia
Soaking in the healing waters of a natural hot spring is one of the most effective ways to relax in nature. British Columbia offers every soak experience, from resort-style complexes just off the highway to undeveloped wilderness pools accessible only by hiking trail. In BC, there are hot springs for every type of traveler.
British Columbia's best hot springs span the province, from the Alaska Highway to the Fraser Valley. The top ones are: Liard River Hot Springs, Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, Halcyon Hot Springs Resort, Nakusp Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, and Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa. Together, they cover every type of hot spring experience in BC: provincial park wilderness, resort luxury, cave geology, community soaks, road trip stops. Most are open year-round and prices range from free to approximately $20 at resort facilities. Always verify current hours before visiting, as seasonal maintenance closures apply at several locations.
These fan-favorite hot springs will transform how you experience relaxation in Canada's westernmost province.
Quick Facts
Top hot springs, rated: Liard River (1), Ainsworth (2), Halcyon (3), Nakusp (4), Fairmont (5), Harrison (6)
Hot spring types: Provincial park wilderness, resort, cave/geological
Best for: Wellness retreats, road trips, winter escapes, couples' getaways, nature immersion
Temperatures: 85 °F (children's pools) to 125 °F (Liard)
Regions: Kootenay Rockies, Northern BC, Fraser Valley
Steam rises above the wild thermal pools at one of BC's most remote and rewarding soaks, tucked deep into the boreal forest along the Alaska Highway. Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain
What makes Liard River Hot Springs the best in BC?
BC's best hot springs sit in a remarkable setting off the Alaska Highway in Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park. These hot springs are beloved for being the second largest natural hot springs in Canada, as well as for being fed by a genuine river of geothermal water rather than a spring-fed pool.
The geothermal activity here has created an unusually warm microclimate where tropical plants flourish despite the northern latitude, with 14 species of orchids. To reach the Alpha pool, you follow a 765-yard boardwalk through the warm water marshland where moose are frequent visitors. A cooler Beta pool sits nearby for those who prefer a gentler soak.
Winter visits are widely considered the most magical experiences. Imagine soaking in steaming water while snow blankets the surrounding spruce forest. The park offers 53 vehicle-accessible campsites, making it an essential stop on any Alaska Highway road trip.
Type: Provincial park wilderness hot spring
Location: Alaska Highway, near BC/Yukon border
Temperature: 107–125 °F
Few hot springs match the backdrop at Ainsworth. Where thermal waters, Kootenay Lake, and a golden sky converge for one of BC's most breathtaking dips. Credit: Destination BC/Kari Medig
What BC hot spring has a natural cave you can walk through?
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort offers something no other hot springs in BC can match: the chance to wade through a 150-foot horseshoe-shaped cave as mineral water cascades from above, creating a natural steam bath. The experience shifts between an open-air pool and an enclosed geothermal tunnel, with stalactites forming in the cave's interior. It’s truly an experience unlike anything else in the province.
The science behind it is compelling. The water originates from the Cody Caves above and to the east of the resort, then flows down through the fractures in the rocks, increasing in temperature at a rate of 104 °F per kilometer until it hits a layer of rock at a 45-degree angle. Hydraulic pressure then forces the water to the surface, emerging at the resort at around 116 °F before being cooled for the main pool.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Selkirk Mountains on Kootenay Lake's western shore, this Ktunaxa Indigenous-owned resort combines geological wonders with full amenities. Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort operates year-round with accommodations and fine dining at Ktunaxa Grill, which features fresh, Indigenous-inspired dining.
Type: Resort hot springs with natural cave
Location: West shore of Kootenay Lake, Kootenay Rockies
Temperature: 97–100 °F (pool); 104–110 °F (cave)
Features: Horseshoe-shaped cave, natural steam bath
Mineral-rich pools and Arrow Lakes views await at Halcyon Hot Springs Resort,a family-friendly highlight on BC's Hot Springs Circle Route. Credit: Kootenay Rockies Tourism/Mitch Winton
What is the best hot springs resort in the BC Kootenays for families?
Halcyon Hot Springs Resort on the shore of Upper Arrow Lake offers four pools, each one at a different temperature: a hot pool, a warm pool, a cold plunge and a seasonal lower pool made for swimming. The upper deck features a jetted swim channel, while the lower deck has a splash park for kids. And you can work your way through all four in one day, making this resort an excellent choice for families.
Local First Nations called the waters here “great medicine water” and it is the high lithium content that makes this BC’s premier healing hot springs. Other minerals include sodium, magnesium, calcium and strontium, a combination the resort's long-time guests swear by. Halcyon sits along the famous Hot Springs Circle Route through BC’s Kootenay Rockies. Make sure to book well in advance for long weekends.
Type: Resort hot springs
Location: Upper Arrow Lake, north of Nakusp
Temperature: 104 °F (hot pool); 99 °F (warm pool); 58 °F (cold plunge)
What is the best community-owned hot spring in BC?
Community owned-and-operated since the village took it over, Nakusp Hot Springs sits 7.5 miles into the Kuskanax Valley in the Selkirk Mountains foothills, north of Nakusp. It’s a genuine local treasure, consistently praised for having some of the clearest, cleanest soaking pools in the province. The two pools receive 52,830 gallons of fresh filtered mineral water daily.
Just imagine you're enjoying a soak while surrounded by the forest with perfect views of the mountains. Both the hot and warm pools are cooled slightly in the summer, allowing guests to the pools as well as the hot summer sun. On-site accommodation is available in cedar chalets and a riverside campground. The setting rivals any resort experience in the Kootenays, at a fraction of the price.
Part of what some call the Hot Springs Highway, a loop of eight hot springs in the Nakusp area, this is an ideal extension to a trip that also includes the Halcyon or Ainsworth resorts.
Type: Community-owned hot springs
Location: Kuskanax Valley, 7.5 miles north of Nakusp
Temperature: 101–104 °F (hot pool); 85–98 °F (warm pool)
A winter soak at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in BC's Columbia Valley, where fresh odourless mineral water flows at over 1.2 million gallons a day. Credit: Credit - Destination BC/Zoya Lynch
Where are Canada's largest natural mineral hot springs?
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in the Columbia Valley holds the record for Canada’s largest natural mineral hot springs. With a daily flow of over 1.2 million gallons of fresh mineral water, The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort brings in visitors from across Canada and the western United States.
Three public pools cover the full range of soaking preferences: a large soaking pool, a swimming pool and a dive pool. Hotel guests have additional access to a private guest pool complex featuring Nordic-style hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room, and a sauna. The mineral content—calcium bicarbonate, calcium sulphate, magnesium sulphate and more—is odorless, making this resort accessible for visitors who find the sulfur smell at other hot springs off-putting.
Beyond the water, the resort is a full Columbia Valley destination. There are 45 holes of golf across three courses as well as a family ski hill, ziplines, hiking trails and a spa. Located a 3.5-hour drive from Calgary or roughly 9 hours from Vancouver, it sits naturally at the end of a Kootenay road trip loop.
Type: Resort hot springs
Location: Columbia Valley, between Canal Flats and Windermere
Temperature: 102 °F (soaking pool); 89 °F (swimming pool); 86 °F (dive pool)
Features: Largest natural mineral pools in Canada
Just two hours from Vancouver, Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa offers a polished gateway to BC's geothermal waters. Tourism Harrison River Valley/Andrew Beaumont
What are the closest hot springs to Vancouver?
Harrison Hot Springs is the closest hot spring to Vancouver, located in a complete resort town built around its geothermal waters, 90 minutes east of Vancouver. The setting on the southern shore of Harrison Lake, framed by the Coast Mountains, does all the heavy lifting. Few hot springs destinations in BC are both this scenic and this accessible. There are two ways to experience the hot springs: either at the resort or at the public pool.
Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa was established in 1925 on the site of the original 1886 St. Alice Hotel. It offers five spring-fed mineral pools, a spa and multiple dining options, including the historic Copper Room.
The town of scenic Harrison Lake is known for water sports and its dramatic mountain backdrop. Here you can experience the springs via the public pool or the pools at Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa. Beyond soaking, Harrison offers beach access, restaurants, shopping and more, making it ideal for a weekend getaway from the city.
Type: Resort town hot springs
Location: 90 minutes east of Vancouver, Fraser Valley
Temperature: 100–103 °F (indoor pool); 90–95 °F (outdoor pools)
Features: Public pool and resort spa, Harrison Lake access
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at Liard River Hot Springs year-round?
Yes. The pools stay open all seasons and BC Parks monitors water quality regularly. Winter visits are popular because the steam rises off the hot water with views of snow-covered spruce forest. Make sure you bring water shoes as the bottom of the pool is rocky.
Can you visit multiple BC hot springs on one road trip?
Absolutely—and the Kootenays are practically designed for it. The Hot Springs Circle Route connects Halcyon, Ainsworth and Nakusp, with Nakusp's Hot Springs Highway loop presenting eight springs in the area. Most visitors go to Halcyon and Ainsworth in a single day because they're only about two hours apart by road. Liard River is a dedicated trip as it's near the Yukon border, but it’s truly a spectacular destination stop on an Alaska Highway road trip.
What minerals are in BC hot springs water and what do they do?
It varies by location. Halcyon and Nakusp are known for high lithium content alongside sodium, magnesium and calcium. Ainsworth's cave pools carry a distinct mineral signature from the Selkirk Mountain geology. Fairmont's water is odorless and contains calcium bicarbonate, calcium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, sodium chloride and trace dissolved radium. Guests frequently report a sense of skin rejuvenation after soaking. The mineral profile at each spring is a product of the specific rock the water filters through on its journey to the surface, which is why each is different.
Which BC hot springs have accommodation on site?
Ainsworth, Halcyon, Nakusp, Fairmont and Harrison all have accommodation on site or directly adjacent. Halcyon offers cabins, cottages and chalets; Fairmont has lodge rooms, villas, cabins, RV sites, and a campground. Liard River has a provincial campground within the park. Halcyon and Nakusp tend to book up on long weekends and during fall color season in late September, so be sure to reserve well in advance.
Sources & Registry:
BC Parks- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park: bcparks.ca/liard-river-hot-springs-park/
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort: ainsworthhotsprings.com/
Halcyon Hot Springs Resort: halcyon-hotsprings.com/
Nakusp Hot Springs: nakusphotsprings.com/
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort: fairmonthotsprings.com/
Harrison Hot Spring Resort: harrisonresort.com/