Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Radium Hot Springs is a small village at the western entrance to Kootenay National Park, set in the Columbia Valley of southeastern British Columbia. It takes its name from the hot springs that flow through nearby Sinclair Canyon, which have drawn bathers for generations. Framed by the Rockies on one side and the Purcells on the other, the village offers a relaxed base for exploring both ranges.
The Radium Hot Springs pools, run by Parks Canada, sit just inside the park beneath the red rock walls of Sinclair Canyon, and the drive through the canyon is memorable in its own right. Heading into Kootenay National Park, a series of short walks reveals its highlights: the Paint Pots, where iron-rich springs stain the ground ochre; Marble Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by rushing water; Numa Falls; and the calm waters of Olive Lake. Closer to the village, Redstreak Mountain trails offer forest hikes and viewpoints. Bighorn sheep are often seen wandering through the village itself, along with other wildlife in the surrounding area. Farther afield, Bugaboo Provincial Park is known for its towering granite spires, a magnet for climbers and hikers.
Radium suits road-trippers moving between the Rockies and the Columbia Valley, families and anyone looking for a soak after a hike.
WiserMap travel guideSoak in the Hot Pools of Radium Hot Springs British ColumbiaPlan Radium Hot Springs with its hot pools, Sinclair Canyon, Kootenay National Park, Paint Pots and Marble Canyon, plus food, stays and a three day plan.Read the guide
Odourless mineral hot pools run by Parks Canada at the foot of Sinclair Canyon, with a hot pool for soaking and a cooler pool for swimming, surrounded by steep red cliffs. They are open all year. Visit on a winter evening for steam and snow, and bring a lock or rent one for your things.
A narrow gorge with towering red rock walls at the west entrance of Kootenay National Park, where Highway 93 squeezes through a gap called the Iron Gates. A short trail follows Sinclair Creek above the canyon. Drive through slowly for the view, and use pullouts rather than stopping on the road.
A small, clear green lake at Sinclair Pass in Kootenay National Park with a short boardwalk, a picnic area and views of trout swimming in the shallows. It is an easy, short stop on Highway 93 about 15 km from the village. Bring a picnic, and look for birds and squirrels along the shore.
A forest trail near Redstreak Campground above the village, with links down to the hot springs and to the Juniper Trail and Sinclair Canyon. It offers views over the Columbia Valley. It is a good way to walk to the pools from the campground, and bighorn sheep are often seen along the route.
A historic wagon route turned easy walking and biking trail between Radium and Dry Gulch, with gentle slopes and views of the Columbia Valley wetlands and the Purcell Mountains. It is quiet and family friendly. Bring water and sun protection on summer days, as the trail is open and warm.
A trail of about 3 km linking the village with Sinclair Canyon near the park gate, climbing through dry Douglas fir and juniper forest to viewpoints over the canyon and the Columbia Valley. It has some steep sections. Hike it in the morning and finish with a soak at the hot springs pools.
A herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep often grazes in the village, on lawns, roadsides and the park entrance, especially in fall and winter. They are wild animals, so watch from a distance and never feed them. Drive carefully through town, as they often cross the main roads.
A remote park in the Purcell Mountains west of Brisco, famous for its tall granite spires, glaciers and alpine rock climbing, with a hiking trail to the Conrad Kain Hut. The gravel access road is long. Wrap your car in chicken wire at the trailhead, as porcupines chew on tires and hoses.
A small park in a dry, sheltered gully just south of Radium Hot Springs, with a quiet campground among Douglas firs and access to the Old Coach Trail. It is a calm alternative to busier campgrounds in summer. Watch for bighorn sheep and deer, and book campsites in advance for summer weekends.
A small waterfall on Sinclair Creek reached by a short trail from across the highway near the hot springs pools, tumbling through a mossy, shaded gorge. It takes only a few minutes to reach. Pair it with a soak at the pools, and wear shoes with grip, as the path can be wet and slippery.
A scenic golf course on a bench above the Columbia River at Radium Hot Springs, with fairways framed by the Purcell and Rocky mountains and frequent visits from bighorn sheep and deer. It is open from spring to fall. Book tee times ahead in summer, and play early to avoid the afternoon heat.
No reviews yet. Been to Radium Hot Springs? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Radium Hot Springs? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: mmmmngai@rogers.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Harmon, Byron: Photography, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Qyd, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo gallery, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JZ85, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Gerry Thomasen from Nanaimo, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Pmc at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: PatInver, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Royalbroil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jürgen Regel, Marian…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: User:Matthias Süßen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel from Glasgow, United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: dave_7, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: daveynin from United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Sir-Mister-Horse, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Matthias Süßen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Matthias Süßen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: User:LeeA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Shane Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Heaton , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tim Heaton , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Peter McDermott , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bill Boaden , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Humphrey Bolton , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: regina mcilvain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Vinay Kum Gupta, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Douglaspperkins, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
