Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs is a developed hot-spring pool complex in Sinclair Canyon at the south end of Kootenay National Park. It pairs a natural mineral hot pool with a deep, cooler swimming pool. It makes a good road-trip reset if you want time to soak and swim; set aside about one to two hours. The hot pool is 37–40°C, so expect a comfortable soak rather than scalding water.

The hot pool uses natural, odourless mineral water. In the separate cool pool, there's deeper water, a slide and a diving board. Moving between the two is a big part of the visit; the cool pool makes this more than a soak-only stop.

Entry is first-come, first-served, with no reservations. Waits tend to be longer on weekends, statutory holidays and school breaks, so leave some flexibility if you're visiting then. You'll need a national park pass as well as separate pool admission. Check the current hours and fees before you go. Refill a reusable, unbreakable bottle at the water fountains; water is the only drink allowed on deck.

The main parking lot is across Highway 93 on the southbound side, reached by a pedestrian underpass with 20 stairs. Accessible parking and a ramp are on the northbound side. Inside, an elevator goes to pool level; the hot pool has a ramp or six steps, and staff can help with a lift into the cool pool. An aquatic wheelchair can be requested at reception, subject to availability.

The Aquacourt opened in 1951, after a 1927 bathhouse burned in 1949. More than 1,000 people attended its opening, and the building cost $958,653. It's now a classified federal heritage building, recognized for its historical associations, architecture and environmental values.

The springs were once called Sinclair Hot Springs, after James Sinclair, who led mostly Métis families through the region in 1841. Roland Stuart bought the spring land for $160 in 1890. After McGill researchers identified trace radon, Stuart renamed the springs Radium Hot Springs in 1915.

The mineral water is naturally odourless. Sulphate is the most abundant of the five minerals listed in the published analysis, at 302 mg/L; calcium, bicarbonate, silica and magnesium follow. It's a neat bit of context for a place whose name came from trace radon.