Nakusp Hot Springs – Canada, British Columbia

Book Your Stay in Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

• Nakusp Hot Springs is the only community-owned hot spring in British Columbia
• Features hot and warm pools

Nakusp Hot Springs is a small commercial hot springs located 8.7 miles (14 km) north of Nakusp. This is a rustic developed and easily accessible site that is very popular among local residents. The hot springs is open year-round.

The circular pool is 26 feet in diameter and a cement walkway across divides it into two pool sections. The smaller part of the pool is hotter is kept at 107°F (41°C) in the winter and 103°F(38°C) in the summer while the larger part is warm at 100°F(38°C) in the winter and 97°F(36°) in the summer. Both parts of the pool are less than 5 feet (1.5 m) deep. The smaller section of the pool has sitting ledges allowing you to enjoy the hot mineral water and the surrounding nature.

All developments on-site including pools, buildings, and change rooms are wheelchair accessible. Change rooms are kept clean by staff and have hot showers, soap, lockers, and blow dryers. The area has plenty of motels, Bed &Breakfast in the village of Nakusp. Accommodations on-site include cedar chalets, RV and campground.

Hot mineral water comes from a few sources located along Kuskanax Creek. The water has several minerals with calcium, sodium, and sulfate being the most present. It has a mild sulfur odor, but otherwise tasteless and colorless, coming out of the source at about 136°F (58°C). Hot spring water is piped into a few cement boxes, filtered, cooled down and lightly chlorinated. Nakusp Hot Springs features the flow-through water system which ensures constant water replacement in the pools.

There is a 20-minute hike to the spring source which allows to you enjoy the local area and developments which have been done around the pool. On your way, you can see older pools and structures of previous site developments. Be aware of poison ivy which is plentiful in this area.

In the 1890s Nakusp was settled by prospectors attracted by the mining rush. Later, when other areas such as Slocan Lake took bigger attention for prospecting, Nakusp became more of the farming, logging, and saw-milling community.

For a while, Nakusp Hot Springs was in private ownership which caused strong protests of Nakusp town residents and lead the local government to establish Nakusp Hot Springs Park Reserve in 1925 in order to ensure fair access for everyone.

In 1928 the few mineral claims left and the surrounding area including hot springs was bought by the Leary family. In 1955 the family donated it to the park.

In 1974, current facilities were open at the location you can see nowadays, versus original rough constructions built by the source of the pool.

The unique fact about the Nakusp is that it is the only community-owned hot spring in British Columbia.