5 Hot Springs in BC you should visit

January 23, 2018

(Main photo credit: @_miss.mandy_ via Instagram)

5 Hot Springs in British Columbia that you should visit

Of the roughly 115 known hot springs in Canada, most are in British Columbia. These springs, often in spectacular surroundings, include streaming pools reached after a hike up a mountain, tide-washed streams where you can dangle your toes in the ocean, rustic pools beside gravel roads, and fully developed commercial resorts. Finding an unfamiliar hot spring and settling in for a long, relaxing soak is one of life's great pleasures. We have chosen our top 5 hot springs for B.C.

Meager Creek Hot Springs

Photo Credit: panoramio.com

Meager Creek Hot Springs were once the most visited non-commercial hot springs in B.C. That changed in an instant in 2010 when a huge landslide swept down Capricorn Creek, ripping out the road and bridges and removing all easy access. For the moment, the springs are reserved for those who are willing to travel on an off-trail by road and do an 11 km hike. A campground is available to spend a night or two. If you can get there, this will be an unforgettable experience.

Water Temperature: 47 to 59°C

Experience: Excellent

Sloquet Hot Springs

Photo Credit: @dream_and_wander via Instagram

These springs are arguably the best in the chain of springs stretching from Harrison Hot Springs to Pebble Creek. They are in an unlogged spot right beside the clear, cold, mountain-fed Sloquet Creek. Because reaching them involves a long drive, they get less traffic than Tsek (Skookumchuck). With recent improvements to the road up Sloquet Creek, the springs have become increasingly popular but are still among the most attractive of the major springs in southern B.C.

Water Temperature: 57 to 67°C

Experience: One of the best

Hot Springs Cove

Photo Credit: @_miss.mandy_ via Instagram

Whether you arrive by powerboat, kayak, or floatplane, the trip to Hot Springs Cove is a wilderness adventure with all the scenery, marine life, and uncertain weather for which the coast of Vancouver Island is famous. This unspoiled but increasingly crowded spot on the edge of the open Pacific Ocean offers possibly the best soak in Canada. Good at any time of the year.

Water Temperature: 51°C

Experience: One of the very best but often crowded; boat or plane access.

Liard River Hot Springs

Photo Credit: Nicole Geils

The Liard River Hot Springs are among the largest and finest in Canada and are the main attraction of Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park. They are a "must do" for anyone driving the Alaska Highway. Two of the largest pools have been developed for bathing and are the main focus for most visitors. However, the park complex includes half a dozen smaller springs. Most of these have been left in their natural state and are allowed to flow into the acres of marsh, providing a year-round warm habitat for many plant, bird, mammal and fish species.

Water Temperature: 41 - 52°C

Experience: One of Canada's best; large and hot, popular with tourists

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort

Photo Credit: www.ainsworthhotsprings.com

This is the only commercial hot springs that we have included in our list. It made our list due to its unusual nature. The main attraction of the resort, overlooking the Kootenay lake, includes the "caves"; old mine workings dug in to the hillside. Ainsworth is popular with families and local residents. It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you are in the Nelson area or are exploring the old mining towns of Kaslo or Silverton.

Water Temperature: 44 - 48°C

Experience: Commercial resort with unusual "caves" with hot springs running through.

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