10 incredible hot springs in Canada you need to visit at least once
Hot springs in Canada are a centuries-old form of rest and relaxation, and we're lucky enough to have dozens of amazing sites to indulge at. Each hot spring has a unique blend of natural minerals as a result of natural geothermic activity under the earth's crust — and they make for not only an enjoyable experience, but often a therapeutic one.
Here are some of hot springs in Canada you need to visit at least once.
Radium Hot Springs, B.C.
These hot springs are among the most well-known in the country, and have been a pit stop for visitors for decades. Located in a small eponymous community, the springs (and their hamlet) are named after the radioactive element radium, the decay byproducts of which are found in very trace amounts in their waters (about ten times more than normal background levels).
Though these pools contain natural mineral water, and the view is just as good as any in the area, the experience may not feel as authentic as others on this list due to the fact that the pool itself is human-made.
Hot Springs Cove, B.C.
Would this really be a proper a list of hot springs in Canada without including a place named Hot Springs Cove? Tucked away just north of Tofino on the south side of Vancouver Island, these rugged natural springs are far more untouched than other popular attractions on this list.
The fact that the springs are accessed via a boardwalk that trails through an old growth forest makes the experience that much better and more unique.
The Millcroft Inn and Spa, Ontario
Unfortunately, unlike its sibling provinces to the west, Ontario doesn't boast impressive geographical features like mountains and natural hot springs. But, we make do with manufactured hot pools, like the one at the Millcroft Inn and Spa in Caledon.
Precede your soak in these heated outdoor pools with a dip in the spa's "polar plunge pool" for maximum effect.
Lussier Hot Springs, B.C.
Located in the humble Whiteswan Lake Provinvial Park in the southeast corner of B.C., these adorable rock-lined pools are all-natural and are everything one could possibly dream of when they think of a hot springs experience.
Relax as you take in the view of the dense, silent forest and mountains beyond or the Lussier River below, all in waters that can reach temperatures above 40 C.
Banff Upper Hot Springs, Alberta
These Rocky Mountain springs are an extremely popular tourist destination, and for good reason: the pools are hottest of three different springs found on Sulphur Mountain, and are also the highest elevation springs in Canada. This makes them particularly special given how far the water has to travel up a fault line to reach the earth's surface after years underground.
The pool itself is artificial and you might have to be strategic about your visit's timing to avoid crowds, but these factors hardly detract from the stunning mountain panoramas, or the water's natural temperature and rich mineral content.
Scandinave Spa, Quebec
Though indulging in a dip at a spa chain isn't exactly the most authentic hot springs experience, the four Scandinave spas across the country manage to take hot springs in a new and different direction.
The luxury resorts have a very Nordic flair down to every beautiful detail, and between the steamy outdoor hot pools, the waterfalls and rustic wooden buildings — not to mention the slew of other activities and spa treatments available — there wouldn't be much cause for complaint at these little oases.
Liard River Hot Springs, B.C.
These hot springs are actually part of a river of naturally geothermically-heated waters that run through the Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park and take the form of eight warm pools and swamps (though only one is currently open for public use).
This makes Liard River the biggest hot spring in the country, and also one of the most lush and tropical feeling, due to the amount of heat and steam that get trapped within the canopy of the boreal forest.
Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.
These hot springs are a fairly easy drive north of Vancouver, and are actually comprised of two separate springs: Potash Springs and the significantly warmer Sulphur Springs.
The area has been a resort community since the 1880s, and the waters contain one of the highest concentrations of minerals out of any hot springs, an average of 1300 parts per million.
Kraus Hot Springs, Northwest Territories
These gorgeous springs are just one of many found in UNESCO World Heritage Site Nahanni National Park Reserve, but they are also some of the harder springs to access — by boat only — and thus have less people traffic (and are relatively unspoiled).
Enjoy picturesque scenery in a natural rock pool blanketed in comfortably warm water, infused with minerals from the surrounding earth. And, perhaps best of all is the fact that there likely won't be many others around.
Miette Hot Springs Pool, Alberta
Miette is yet another of this province's many alluring springs, and a frequented attraction within Jasper National Park.
The water at this pool — which is extra soothing and restorative for the skin and the body in general — is the hottest of any in the Rockies, and is actually cooled from its natural 54 C temperature to make it more comfortable for visitors.
Radium Hot Springs
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