Canada’s national parks began with a bath. In 1883 railway workers found hot springs in a cave on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain, and the government protected them two years later, creating the reserve that became Banff National Park. Parks Canada still runs three hot pools in the Rockies, and soaking in one with snow on the peaks is the classic Canadian spa day.
British Columbia has the most springs, from developed resorts around Kootenay Lake to wild pools in the boreal forest on the Alaska Highway. Quebec went another way: since the 1990s it has built Scandinavian-style Nordic spas, outdoor circuits of hot pools, saunas and cold plunges in the woods, and the idea has spread across the country.
Spa culture here is outdoor and year-round. Winter is high season at the Nordic spas, when steam rises off the pools into frozen air, and the mountain hot springs are busiest after ski days.
At a Glance#
- Rockies hot springs: Banff Upper Hot Springs above Banff, Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay and Miette Hot Springs in Jasper, each C$19.75 (about US$14) for adults.
- Kootenay springs: Ainsworth’s cave pool on Kootenay Lake near Nelson, plus resort pools around Nakusp and Fairmont.
- Wild springs: Liard River Hot Springs on the Alaska Highway, and Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs (the former Takhini Hot Springs) near Whitehorse under the northern lights.
- Nordic spas: outdoor hot-cold circuits in Gatineau near Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Mont-Tremblant and Whistler.
- Near Vancouver: the hot springs village on Harrison Lake, under two hours away.
- Retreats: yoga and wellness centres on the Gulf Islands and in Tofino.
The Rockies#
Parks Canada runs three hot spring pools, all with the same price, C$19.75 per adult and C$17.25 for youths and seniors, and all walk-in only with no reservations. You also need national park admission to reach them.
Banff Upper Hot Springs sits at about 1,585 m on Sulphur Mountain, a few minutes’ drive above Banff town, with views across the Bow Valley to Mount Rundle. It reopened in spring 2026 after a renovation. Go early or late in the day; afternoons after skiing or hiking are packed. Down in town, the original cave and basin is a national historic site where you can see the springs but not bathe.
Radium Hot Springs, at the southern end of Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park, has a hot pool and a cooler swimming pool set against the cliffs of Sinclair Canyon, and is open all year. Miette Hot Springs, at the end of a winding road about an hour from Jasper, is the hottest spring in the Rockies, cooled for bathing, and opens seasonally from late spring to mid-October. Bighorn sheep often graze around the car park.
Kootenays and interior BC#
The Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia has so many springs that locals drive a hot springs circuit. Ainsworth Hot Springs, on Kootenay Lake north of Nelson, has a horseshoe-shaped cave where you wade through hot mineral water dripping from the rock, then cool off in a cold plunge. Further north, Halcyon and Nakusp have lakeside resort pools on the Arrow Lakes, and Fairmont Hot Springs, south of Radium, is a large resort with golf and skiing.
For something wilder, Lussier Hot Springs in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park is a set of natural rock pools beside a river, reached by a long gravel road and free to use. Bring water shoes and expect company on weekends.
The north#
Liard River Hot Springs, in a provincial park on the Alaska Highway in far northern British Columbia, is one of the great natural springs on the continent: a boardwalk leads through warm-water swamp and boreal forest to deep, clear pools that stay open year-round. It is a classic stop for anyone driving to the Yukon; there is a campground beside the pools and a small day-use fee.
Near Whitehorse, Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, on the old Takhini Hot Springs site about half an hour from town, is the Yukon’s spa (adults 19 and over). In winter, bathing there at night under the aurora is one of the north’s best experiences.
Quebec's Nordic spas#
A Nordic spa is a circuit, not a treatment: you move from a hot pool, sauna or steam room to a cold plunge or waterfall, then rest in a hammock or by a fire, and repeat three or four times. Most are outdoors in forest settings and open in all weather. Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, which bills itself as the largest in North America, is in the Gatineau Hills just across the river from Ottawa. In Montreal, Bota Bota is a spa on a converted ferry moored in the Old Port, and Strøm has spas around Montreal and Quebec City.
The Scandinave group started near Mont-Tremblant and now runs spas in Old Montreal, at Blue Mountain near Collingwood in Ontario and in Whistler, where walk-in thermal access costs about C$103 to 138 depending on the day and season. Thermëa in Winnipeg brought the format to the prairies. Most Nordic spas ask for silence or whispers in the bathing areas.
Hotel spas and retreats#
The grand railway hotels in the Rockies, at Banff and Lake Louise, have large spas with mineral pools and treatments, open to non-guests on some packages. On the Pacific, Tofino combines surf and spa, with treatment rooms facing the ocean and hot springs reachable by boat or floatplane at Hot Springs Cove in Maquinna Marine Provincial Park.
The Gulf Islands, especially Salt Spring Island, and the remote islands north of Vancouver Island host yoga and wellness retreats from spring to autumn, usually several days with classes, organic meals and forest walks. Some Indigenous tourism operators include smudging or teachings in their programmes; sweat lodges are ceremonies, not spa treatments, and are joined only by invitation.
Costs and etiquette#
- Parks Canada hot springs: C$19.75 per adult and C$17.25 for youths and seniors, plus park admission. Lockers, towels and swimsuits can be rented.
- Nordic spas: about C$70 to 140 for thermal access, more at weekends and in holiday periods; massages extra. Reserve ahead for weekends, especially in winter.
- Hotel spas: treatments from about C$150 for a massage, more in the Rockies resorts.
- What to bring: swimsuit, flip-flops, a warm robe or hat for winter circuits, and a water bottle. Most Nordic spas are adults-only or have adult-only hours.
- Seasons: the Rockies and Liard pools and the Nordic spas open year-round; Miette closes in winter.
Go to the Rockies hot pools at opening time or in the last hours before closing. Midday, especially after ski days and on summer weekends, means queues at the door and crowded water.
For hot springs and spas south of the border, see the United States wellness and spa guide, and for the global picture the world wellness and spa guide. Our national parks guide covers passes and trails near the Rockies pools.
Best places for spas in Canada#
More Things to Do#
Canada spa FAQs#
What are the best hot springs in Canada?
Banff Upper, Radium and Miette in the Rockies are the most visited, run by Parks Canada. Liard River Hot Springs on the Alaska Highway is the best natural spring, and Ainsworth’s cave pool on Kootenay Lake is the most unusual.
How much do the Banff hot springs cost?
Adult admission to Banff Upper Hot Springs is C$19.75 (about US$14), and C$17.25 for youths and seniors. Radium and Miette charge the same, and you also need a national park pass.
What is a Nordic spa?
An outdoor circuit of hot pools, saunas and steam rooms alternated with cold plunges and rest, repeated several times. Quebec popularised them in Canada, and they now operate near Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Whistler, Collingwood and Winnipeg.
Can you visit hot springs in Canada in winter?
Yes. Banff Upper, Radium and Liard River are open all year, and winter is high season for the Nordic spas. Miette Hot Springs in Jasper closes from mid-October to spring.
Do I need to book the Rockies hot springs?
No. The Parks Canada hot pools at Banff, Radium and Miette are first come, first served and do not take reservations. Arrive early or late to avoid queues.