The village of Radium Hot Springs was built up around the area’s top attraction. While many activities in this part of British Columbia are meant for one season or another, the Radium Hot Springs and pools are one of the area’s top things to do any time of the year.
Province of British Columbia
With that being said, these 40-degree pools are especially wonderful on a snowy day, a day spent on the hills or trails, or as a way for families to escape the cold.
The Hot Springs has acted as a main draw for many to the area for over 100 years now, with BC’s Indigenous having used these waters for the same purposes for several hundreds of years prior.
Post-European settlement in the Rockies, the Radium Hot Springs continued to expand decade after decade. What was once a large natural pool and simple log cabin change house is now a Parks Canada Hot Springs surrounded by dining, lodging, trails, tour opportunities, and several other reasons for a winter trip to Radium Hot Springs.
Radium Rejuvenation
The large manmade pool of the Radium Hot Springs, and its position under the tall mountain cliffs, will make you feel as though you’re soaking in all-natural hot springs. The Radium Hot Spring pools (one hot pool and one cold pool) sit at the base of Redstreak Mountain to create incredible surrounding scenery for your day of relaxation or rejuvenation. As the Radium Hot Springs are located directly beside the Kootenay Highway, these peaceful feelings of seclusion you’ll get from the pool areas is even more spectacular to consider.
- Given that off-highway-location, the Radium Hot Springs are one of the easiest to access in BC, especially when you consider the natural hot springs like Lussier.
- The unique blend of minerals in the water creates odourless and perfectly clear pools. Those minerals include sulphate, calcium, bicarbonate, silica, and magnesium.
- The natural heat of the hot pool reaches about 37-40 degrees Celsius.
More to Do in Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park, which surrounds Radium Hot Springs, is a hub for trail adventures all year. During winter, these trails are open to cross-country skiing, hiking, or snowshoeing. And while the trails are not maintained over the winters, or officially groomed for skiing, the park’s washroom facilities remain open on the winter trails. All of the Kootenay National Park day use areas are also trailheads and located along Highway 93.
More Hot Springs to Visit near Radium Hot Springs
The drive between Radium Hot Springs and the Fairmont Hot Springs to the south is about 40km in distance. The small town of Fairmont sits between Windermere and Columbia Lakes with the Hot Springs Resort central to the community.
The Fairmont Hot Springs are similar to Radium in that the pools are man-made but naturally fed from mountain mineral water. Here, the resort offers an onsite restaurant, lodging options, and fun on the ski hill.
Winter Recreation in the Columbia Valley
Speaking of ski hills, Radium Hot Springs are surrounded by some of the region’s best skiing and snowboarding opportunities. This includes the smaller Fairmont Resort, and the much larger Panorama Mountain Resort.
Cross-country ski trails are also abundant in the area, with numerous places to find backcountry and groomed trail systems. Backcountry cross-country skiing is best reserved for Kootenay National Park where fellow skiers have lefts marked tracks, and where there are washrooms on the trails.
Credit: Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club
Aside from the National Park, there are additional ski areas and over 80km of groomed trail options between two different parks. Closest to Radium Hot Springs are the 50+km of groomed trails around the Nipika Mountain Resort. Plus, the frozen surface of Lake Windermere in Invermere is also groomed for skiing to add another 30km+ of set tracks. Lake Windermere Whiteway is also considered the longest skating trail in the world, with the cleared ice trail following the 30km of ski trail.
Where to Stay near Radium Hot Springs
The major mountain resorts near Radium offer outdoor fun along with dining and a cozy place to stay. Book your winter vacation with Nipika Mountain Resort east of Radium, Panorama Mountain Resort to the west, or Fairmont Resort to the south.
There are several more options for hotels and lodges in Radium that are within walking distance of the Hot Springs. There are over a dozen accommodation options along the same highway that the Hot Springs are on, plus many closer to the Columbia River.
Dining around Radium Hot Springs
There are almost as many places in Radium to dine as there are hotels, motels, and lodges. Choose between different dining styles (upscale vs. casual), different international cuisine, family restaurants, and cafes.
- Get your day started in Radium with the Steamboat Café, or the Big Horn Café.
- Sweeten your day with Screamers Ice Cream Café, or the Radium Mountainside Market.
- Dine as a group or family with Pheonix Hot Pot, The Old Salzburg Restaurant, Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery, or Back Country Jacks Restaurant.
Planning Your Trip – Radium Hot Springs
Opening Ceremony of Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt 1951/ Credit: Parks Canada
What: Radium Hot Springs is a small village and community built around the actual hot springs within the area. The Radium Hot Springs are naturally fed pools, now with modern amenities and infrastructures, of mineral water that naturally heat to around 37-40 degrees Celsius.
The Aquacourt, a Classified Federal Heritage Building, was designed by Ernest T. Brown in a modernist style characterized by symmetrical U-shaped plans and strong horizontal lines, marking a shift from rustic National Park architecture. Inspired by the International style, it features horizontal lines, smooth surfaces, and functional zoning. A major tourist attraction, it played a key role in developing the park and Radium Hot Springs townsite.
The admission-based attraction is for day visits with a hot pool and a cold pool to soak in during your visit. The pools are intended for people of all ages to enjoy. The most intriguing feature, historically, of Radium Hot Springs is how the unique combination of minerals causes the water to be crystal clear and odourless.
Radium Hot Springs is the largest of the three hot springs managed by Parks Canada, alongside Banff Upper Hot Springs and Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park.
Cost: $17.25 to $19.75 per person
Best time to go: year-round
Winter hours of operation – October 14, 2025 to May 2026
- Cool pool — Closed Monday to Thursday
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- Friday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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- Hot pool — open daily
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- Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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Location: 5420 Highway 90, Radium Hot Springs, BC.
Radium Hot Springs is located approximately 3 hours from Calgary and 90 minutes from Banff.
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