Frequently asked questions

No. Entry is first come, first served. Reservations and pre-booked tickets are not available.

Yes. All visitors require a park pass (day pass or Parks Canada Discovery Pass) when stopping to use amenities, services, and facilities within a national park. A National Park Pass is required to visit Radium Hot Springs, which is located within the Kootenay National Park boundary.

Admission to Radium Hot Springs is charged based on a per-entry fee. Within regular business hours, there is no maximum time limit per visit, however we recommend limiting your visit to one to two hours. Patrons should consume plenty of water and take frequent breaks from the hot pool to avoid overheating.

To avoid dehydration and overheating, we recommend all bathers take breaks to cool off every 10 minutes and drink water while soaking. Water must be kept in an unbreakable drink container. Water fountains are available to refill water bottles at each site.

Yes, but reservations and pre-bookings are not available. If the facility is at capacity upon arrival, large groups will need to wait in line.

Larger groups may need to stagger their entry to minimize wait times.

Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Annual and day pass holders will be asked to wait in line to enter and re-enter the facility. Wait times are not guaranteed and tend to be longer on weekends, statutory holidays, and during school breaks.

Unbreakable drink containers containing water and personal items such as cameras, sunglasses and towels are permitted on deck.

Street shoes, street clothes, winter coats, other belongings and bags must be stored in a locker.

A locker token is included in single entry and day passes. Annual pass holders must purchase the token upon their arrival. Additional locker tokens are available for purchase for those who need to access their locker more than once.

Individuals who ignore warnings from lifeguards, or who choose to behave in an unsafe or inappropriate manner will be asked to leave.

Parks Canada is committed to providing an aquatic environment where individuals from all backgrounds are welcome. Radium Hot Springs is a family-friendly facility. You must wear appropriate swimwear while in the hot springs.

More information about swimwear.

Towels are available for rent. Patrons are welcome to bring their own towels.

Outdoor shoes are not allowed beyond the dry hall (benches outside of the change rooms) at Radium Hot Springs.

Visitors are welcome to carry in an additional pair of clean shoes (flip flops or water socks) to wear in the change rooms and onto the pool deck.

No. Radium Hot Springs is a smoke-free, alcohol-free facility.

All visitors must be sober while on site. Consuming alcohol, smoking cannabis, or using any intoxicating substances is not permitted anywhere at Radium Hot Springs. Smoking or vaping tobacco is only allowed within the parking lots.

For everyone’s safety, individuals who appear intoxicated will not be allowed to enter. Anyone who becomes visibly impaired while in the pools will be asked to leave.

Water in reusable bottles is the only beverage allowed on the pool deck – and it’s encouraged!

Food, alcohol, and glass containers are not permitted in the pool building or on the pool deck.

Radium Hot Springs are open on all Canadian holidays. Canadian holidays include:

• New Year’s Day
• Family Day (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Canada Day (July 1)
• Civic Holiday (first Monday in August)
• Labour Day (first Monday in September)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
• Thanksgiving (second Monday in October)
• Remembrance Day (November 11)
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

More information about hours of operation

Hours of operation are subject to change. Before your visit call 1-800-767-1611 for updates and important notices.

The hot springs may need to be closed for unplanned maintenance, weather, safety, or emergency situations. When closures occur, patrons will be directed to leave the pool immediately.

Visitors who have been in the pool for 30 minutes or less will receive a rain check if asked to leave due to a safety issue. Rain checks are valid for one year.

Sulphate (302 ppm)
Calcium (135 ppm)
Bicarbonate (100.8 ppm)
Silica (31.8 ppm)
Magnesium (31.6 ppm)
Sodium (18.4 mg/l)
Chloride (0.17 mg/l)
Flouride (0.37 mg/l)
Nitrate (0.6 mg/l)
Aluminum and Iron Oxide (3.6 mg/l)

Public health regulations require that the mineral water at Radium Hot Springs be chlorinated, tested hourly, and constantly refreshed to ensure the highest standards of quality and cleanliness.

Staff regularly check and clean the change rooms throughout the day. Change rooms, wet halls, dry halls and lobby areas are deep cleaned each evening after the facility closes to the public.

Lane swimming will be offered, when possible, but availability is not guaranteed. When lane ropes are removed from the cool pool, water spills onto the pool deck. As temperatures drop, this water freezes creating a slip hazard for both patrons and staff.

De-icing agents, including salt, can damage the pool deck. To protect the facility and ensure visitor safety, lane ropes will not be placed in the cool pool during the winter season.

Lane swimmers are welcome to continue swimming by following the guides along the bottom of the pool. We encourage swimmers to use the two outer lanes to help reduce interruptions from recreational users.

Yes, Radium Hot Springs are wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking, drop off areas, change rooms and washrooms are available.

Personal wheelchairs are not allowed in the water. Aquatic wheelchairs can be borrowed based on availability at the reception desk.

Find more details about how Radium Hot Springs is accessible. 

Yes, everyone is welcome at Radium Hot Springs regardless of race, gender, orientation or ability. Find more details about how Radium Hot Springs is accessible. 

Caregivers accompanying a paying individual with a disability who requires assistance using the hot springs may enter free of charge. Swimsuit and towel rental fees will still apply to the caregiver if these items are required. Caregivers are welcome to bring their own swimsuit and towel.

If the caregiver and individual who requires assistance are travelling as part of the group, regular entry fees will apply to all other group members. Radium Hot Springs does not formally participate in the Access2 card program, however, the above policy offers comparable access to caregivers.

Certified service dogs are permitted throughout Radium Hot Springs. Pets and emotional support animals are not included under the B.C. Guide Dog and Service Dog Act and are not permitted in the Radium Hot Springs facility. More information.

Yes, you may wear an adult swim diaper in the pools if you require. Adults who are incontinent must wear a swim diaper while enjoying the hot springs. Patrons with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea over the previous two weeks, or individuals with open sores or wounds must not use the hot springs.

Water at Radium Hot Springs is kept between 37° C and 40 °C. Individuals who are pregnant should consult with their physician prior to visiting.

People with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea over the previous two weeks, or individuals with open wounds or who are feeling ill are not permitted in the hot springs until they have recovered. Individuals with heart conditions, diabetes or other chronic health concerns or conditions should consult with their physician prior to visiting.

Admission for youth to national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada is free. However, the fee to access the hot springs is separate from the national park entrance fee.

Youth fees rates apply to additional activities and services such as guided hikes and soaking in the hot springs.

Children under 3 can visit free of charge.

The family rate is available in the following combinations of four family members (maximum 2 people aged 18 or older):

• two adults and two youths
• one adult and three youths
• two seniors and two youths
• one senior, one adult and two youths
• four youths (in the same family)

For example:

• a family consisting of one parent and three youth between the ages of 3 and 17 will be charged the family rate.
• a family consisting of more than four people – such as one adult and four children or two adults and three children – will be charged the family rate plus the extra youth rate for each additional youth.

Extended families with more than two adults and families with adult children (18+) will be charged per person entry rates.

Youth 8-17 are welcome to visit Radium Hot Springs without an adult.

Youth 7 and under must be accompanied by a person aged 12 or older.

Unaccompanied youth behaving in an unsafe or inappropriate manner will be asked to sit in the facility’s lobby until their parents can pick them up.

Non-swimmers and children five and under must be kept within arm’s reach of their parent or guardian at all times.

Youth aged 8 and older who wish to use the deep end of the cool pool at Radium Hot Springs without their parent or guardian present must complete a swim test consisting of a:

• swim the width of the pool without stopping or resting, using any style of stroke
• jump (feet first) into deep water
• recover and tread water for 30 seconds, keeping their mouth and nose above water at all times

Life jackets are available free of charge based on availability.

Babies and toddlers are allowed in the hot springs.

Children aged 3 and under and those who are incontinent are required to wear swim diapers while in the pools.

Children’s swim diapers may be available for purchase.

No, all passes are not transferrable amongst users.

No. Day passes are only valid at the facility where they were purchased.

A locker token is included in the price of day passes and single-entry passes. However, annual pass holders need to purchase a locker token upon arrival.

Day passes are valid during business hours on the day the pass is purchased. During this time, the pass holder may re-enter the facility multiple times by showing their wristband.

Yes. Wristbands must be worn by day pass holders.

As of January 1, 2026, discounts and offers such as group rates, punch cards, gift cards, pre-paid group vouchers, and “Book of 10” booklets will no longer be available at Radium Hot Springs.

Parks Canada is streamlining entry fees at Radium Hot Springs to make pricing simpler and more consistent. To support a smooth transition, Parks Canada will honour existing incentives purchased until expiry, as well as entries without an expiration date.

Rental fees for swimsuits and towels are set individually for each location based on a cost recovery model. This model considers replacement costs, staff time, and visitor volume— fees may differ between hot springs in Kootenay, Banff and Jasper national parks.

Revenue collected through hot springs admission, fees and park passes goes into the overall management of Kootenay National Park. A portion of this funding does support the Radium Hot Springs pools, which is a historic facility with high operating and maintenance needs. This includes:

• Staffing and operating the pools,
• Regular cleaning and routine maintenance,
• Major capital repairs and upgrades required to keep the facility safe and functional.

Maintaining a historic aquatic facility like Radium Hot Springs is costly. The mineral-rich spring water, while wonderful for soaking, accelerates wear and tear on infrastructure. Fees help ensure the hot springs — and the park that surrounds them — remain safe, well-maintained, and accessible for visitors now and in the future.

The best way to save is with the Radium Hot Springs annual pass. The pass offers unlimited visits for one full year from the date of purchase and pays for itself after approximately 14 visits.

As a federal agency, Parks Canada is accountable to all Canadians and ensures that access and pricing are fair and consistent—regardless of where visitors live or the size of their group.