- Bathing
- Outdoor
- Established
- 1932
The Upper Hot Springs sit at about 1,585 m on the flank of Sulphur Mountain, the highest-elevation hot spring in Canada. A single large outdoor pool is fed by sulphate-rich water that arrives at roughly 40°C, with the peaks of Banff National Park directly above the parapet.
Balnevia view
Why visit
It is the simplest way to sit in natural thermal water inside a Canadian national park, and in winter the steam and the snow-covered ridgelines do most of the work.
The water
Thermal water
- Source
- Upper Hot Spring, Sulphur Mountain
- Character
- Sulphate-rich mineral water, with calcium, magnesium and sodium
History
The springs were the reason Banff National Park was created in 1885, after railway workers found hot water on Sulphur Mountain. The present bathhouse dates from 1932 and was restored in the 1990s in its original Art Deco form.
Practical information
Operated by Parks Canada; towels, lockers and heritage swimsuit rentals are available on site. Capacity is limited and queues are common on winter weekends and holidays.
- Things to do nearby
- Explore nearby activities on GetYourGuide
Getting there
About 10 minutes by road from Banff townsite up Mountain Avenue, or roughly 90 minutes by car from Calgary. A local bus serves the springs in season.
Location
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