Radium
Hot Springs |
The village of
Radium Hot Springs is little more than a support system for area vacation
development; gas stations, a couple of cafes, and a string of motels
that grow denser as one nears the hot springs at Radium Hot Springs.
But people come here for more than the town that is located within
the boundaries of Kootenay
National Park, which has the same mountain peaks and glaciers
as Alberta's more famous Banff National Park. They come here for the
natural hot springs, and Canada's largest hot springs pool.
Radium Hot Springs,
the actual springs, makes an ideal soaking spot at the base of Redstreak
Mountain in the Kootenay Mountain Range. The mountain setting is
spectacular, and a sheer rock wall rises above two pools; one heated,
the other much cooler. Unlike some hot springs, these waters are
free of odorous sulphur. The water temperature varies with the season;
in spring, the snowmelt cools the thermally heated springs.
The Radium Hot
Springs story is as old as the Rocky Mountains themselves. It began
with the unleashing of powerful forces that left its tale in heaving,
tortured rocks. The earth's crust cracked along a fault, more than
two kilometres deep. The shatter zone around the fault lets groundwater
seep close to the earth's core heating, pressurizing and returning
it to the surface with more than 700 milligrams of minerals per
litre at a rate of 1 800 litres (396 gallons) per minute. The hot
springs water, 44°C (114°F) at the source, is filtered and chlorinated,
and enters the pool at a comfortable temperature of 39°C (103°F).
The cool pool temperature is 29°C (84°F).
The soothing
mineral-rich warm water of Radium Hot Springs and the stunning Rocky
Mountain scenery combine to relax tired muscles and return peace
of mind. After soaking in the pools, visitors can enjoy a massage
or reflexology treatment in the spa. Of all the commercial hot springs
in BC, Radium is the most welcoming to people with disabilities,
with special bathing chairs available, and the pools and changing
rooms all fully wheelchair accessible. Radium and the Upper Hot
Springs are open to the public year-round.
Radium Hot Springs
is the perfect spot to enjoy great hiking and backpacking, rock
climbing, horseback riding, fishing, river rafting, and superb wildlife
viewing, and the golf courses nearby are simply world class. Winter
offers cross-country, backcountry and alpine skiing, ice climbing,
and outstanding downhill skiing at Panorama and Fairmont Hot Springs
Ski Resort.
Location
Radium Hot Springs is located on Highway 3 in the BC Rockies, at
the junction of Highway 93 & 95, a 90-minute drive north from Cranbrook.
Contact
Information
Radium Hot Springs
PO Box 225
Radium Hot Springs, BC
V0A 1M0
Phone:
(250) 347-9331
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