Review Visit: July 13th, 2015 During a 50+ hour drive, you naturally stop at gas stations and restaurants for a stretch of the legs and bathroom breaks. But a hot spring? Sure, why not! If you've been reading my last few blogs, you'll note that I went on a 50+ hour trip across America and Canada to reach Nakusp, British Columbia. Along the way, we made many stops at gas stations, restaurants and various odds and ends. When we were approaching the Banff National Park area, Laura asked us if we wanted to spend the afternoon taking a break from driving. All the adults immediately said yes and so did the kids. We set our new coordinates to Banff Upper Hot Springs and got excited in anticipation. As we pulled up, Laura had to hunt for a spot to park as the number of parking spots was rather limiting. After we waited for a spot to open up, everyone filed out of the van, gathered our swimming gear and headed in. The building that houses the business is beautifully built. I'm not expert on buildings but it felt like a mansion that was lifted out of the Swiss mountains. As we headed in, we got in line and read the signs and posters as the line slowly moved forward. When it came time to pay, I think it was around $10 or so per adult? Maybe a little more or little less? The website says under $10/adult but they may have seasonal pricing. Either way, it is a fairly cheap admission cost. After paying, the guys and girls split up and head to their respective locker room. Andy and I shared a locker since we weren't carrying much. After getting in our swimming trunks, it was hot springs time. Now, if you are thinking of a normal pool with screaming kids, parents lounging on chairs, a life guard with sunscreen on his nose and that one person doing cannonballs, you couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the hot spring was more of a relaxation experience. No noisy kids. No diving board. No nothing. Just relaxation. That first toe or foot in to the water was exciting. I believe the big pool were the majority of the people were had it's temperature around 100F/38C. It was comfortably hot and as you fully submerged in to the pool, you felt yourself melt and all your worries slowly dissolve. We spent about 30 minutes or so in the main pool and that is about your limit before the heat of the hot spring causes you to feel dehydrated and thirsty. During that 30 minutes, Andy and I decided to try the hotter springs behind the main pool. This is like the hot tub version of a hot spring. Smaller, more intimate and a solid 20F hotter than the main spring. I don't recall exactly how hot the hotter spring is but I know after 10 minutes, I had to cool off and go back in to the main spring. Laura told us that the indigenous people of the area would relax in hot springs to open the body's pores to let out negative/bad stuff and then they would jump in cold water to close everything back up. Here, they offered a cold shower in the corner walking area. Being the explorer that I am, I jumped out of the pool and took a deep breath before dumping a ton of cold water on me. Talk about shocking! As I stood there with cold water pouring over me, I couldn't help but stare at the mountains as my body cooled down and I wonder why I do the things I do. Did I mention the beautiful view from the pool? While your body gets to enjoy the benefits of relaxing in the hot water, your eyes get to enjoy a gorgeous view of the mountains and skyline. I tried to include photos of the view but they do far from serve it justice. I found myself just zoning out while staring at the landscape that poked up beyond the wall. All my worries and concerns just disappeared as I became attuned with nature and serenity. While I highly visit anyone and everyone to try a hot spring out at least once in their life, you should really just come and check out Banff National Park in general. It's one of the most gorgeous places I've ever visited. I am from Central Illinois, so the change in landscape from flat lands and corn fields to mountains and forests was a welcoming one. If you can't make it to Banff, just know there are a ton of hot springs in the world and if there is one within a feasible distance from you at any time, don't hesitate to go. Your mind, body and soul won't regret it. read more

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So disappointed!! Rude front desk staff, and just one big communal hot tub. These are not "springs" whatsoever. There was no shade and no seating along the pool. Also ridiculous that you don't even get a towel to use as part of your entry fee. And you only get one coin for the locker, therefore you can only lock it once. You'll have to pay more if you forget something in there and need it. Spend your money on literally any other activity. read more

The hot springs admission was included in the package we purchased with the Banff Gondola, though we had to pick up the hot springs tickets separately at the visitor center in town. The hot springs are just a short 7-minute walk from the gondola area. At check-in, you'll need to remove your shoes, but indoor slippers are allowed outside. Lockers were included with our tickets, though towels cost $2 CAD each. Once we got to the thermal pool, it was a bit underwhelming, there was only one pool, and it was quite crowded, especially with a lot of kids, which made it less relaxing. Honestly, it felt like something we could have experienced at our hotel's hot tub. We stayed for about 45 minutes before calling it a day. While I'd definitely recommend the gondola experience, I would skip the hot springs. read more

Great natural hot spring in Banff that is a wonderful place to come with family. We came as part of our tour to Banff and enjoyed an hour in the hot springs. There are showers that you use before and after using the natural hot springs and is day am hour is good enough. We came in July 2025 and had a wonderful time. Gift shop available and towels as well. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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We paid admission, took off our shoes and went into the dressing room. For $1.50 we each purchased a large full sized locker and put a towel and dry clothing inside. The dressing room was clean and well organized, there were showers, toilets, mirrors and an abundance of lockers and a machine to ring out my bathing suit. We walked out to the hot spring pool. The mineral water was 104° today and can accommodate 200 visitors. There were cold showers outside and shelves to put our towels and belongings on. We went into the geothermal pool for 10 minutes and came out for 10 minutes, it was hot. There was a bench around the pool to sit on. The pool depth went from 2 to 5 feet deep. There were children & signage about being respectful and not playing music, diving or bringing in toys. There were two lifeguards on duty. There was a gift shop, but nothing with creams or salts from the mineral bath. read more

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The idea of hot springs is great. The vibe of everyone sitting around a pool staring at each other, not really. I think if I came on a weekday on a less busy day I would have enjoyed the experience. It's not science, but I just don't think it was this grand thing I needed to do. read more

This one is something to pass on next time. Essentially a large heated pool. We had the same thing at our hotel but with jets and privacy. We were expecting a hot springs built into the land (next time we will visit the Radium Hot Springs). read more

If you're looking to have your relaxing hot springs experience completely ruined, just stop by and say hi to Faye--the front desk's official Minister of Misery. Faye greeted guests with all the warmth of a snowstorm in January. She was rude, short, and managed to pack a whole lot of condescension into just a few syllables. Last time I visited (when she wasn't there), it was peaceful and amazing. This time? Let's just say the only thing hotter than the springs was Faye's temper. She looked like she hated every second of her job--and when someone dared to ask a question, she turned the volume up to "angry GPS" mode. No apology, no chill, just straight-up chaos. When called out, she leveled up into full-blown Karen: Boss Battle Edition. We caught it all on video (plot twist: we weren't even trying to go viral). Long story short, we reported her to the supervisor--because relaxing in geothermal water shouldn't include surviving a boss fight at check-in. P.S. I'm about to call the company and follow-up to our initial complaint. read more

Visiting the Banff Upper Springs is a must for everyone who comes to the area. The natural healing hot waters are truly spectacular, and I was fortunate to experience it while it was lightly sprinkling--what a treat! Yes, they provide towels with admission, making the experience even more convenient. read more

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It's nothing too spectacular. It's just one average sized wading pool that gets VERY busy. The only selling point is that it's not too expensive and you get great views of the mountain. Since it's basically an oval and it gets very crowded, most people end up fighting for space on the walls to sit and relax. It ends up being a big mixer/social where everyone is looking at everyone and people watching awkwardly. You get views of the mountain only if you're lucky enough to get good spots but other than that you're going to just be watching other people read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Visited Banff last month and of course this was a must visit! We decided to stop by after me and my wife did the legacy trail and it was a great decision. Water was warm and relaxing and could tell it helped and could feel our bodies relaxing. Overall 5/5. Now the bad: People steal towels and don't shower before getting In springs, also get in fully clothed. Pro tip: lockers open when you put coin in and turn, you'll get a key to the locker...make sure you got all you need when you use it cause you'll need a coin everytime you lock it read more

It opens at 10am. As one cashier managed a long line up, it took a while to get in, but later I understood why. The pool can have 205 people maximum. So I guess the cashier needed to count how many inside. The water temperature was 39c and it was lukewarm water. The chemicals in the spring water are very mild. When I got this building, I could smell like egg but the waterwise, I didn't small at all. There is one life guard on poolside. As it was a sunny day, he suggested everybody(first batch group) got off from the water once and got a cold shower or drink water. Then back to hotspring. Glad he paid attention for the heat not only drowning. There is a shallow step but the centre part is 1.4m depth. Just be careful if you have a small child. The locker room had two sections. Regular locker room and private changing room. The locker token is only one time use. Please make sure all you got before you lock it. There is Thermal water pass that you can get discount if you go to Cave and Basin later. You don't need to go those two spots in a same day. Just keep the receipt when you purchase the ticket next time. This service is not listed on the price board. Ask it directly to the cashier. read more

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VERY RACIST supervisor Macy AND worker! We got kicked OUT for trying to ask a simple question! I had an extremely disappointing experience at Banff Upper Hot Springs on August 25, 2025. Two staff members, including the supervisor, Macy, and another staff member, Fay, were rude, dismissive, and made me and my girlfriend feel targeted. Before any issue even began, I politely asked the staff to be nice, and they continued yelling at us. When clarifying the "shoes off" policy (I was wearing sliders), I was treated as if I couldn't read a sign. Another guest was allowed ahead of me unfairly, and when I asked why, the supervisor told me to "zip it" and that I should either "be quiet and get in or get out." I was shocked that the supervisor acted this way and left me with no one above her to escalate to. This behavior felt discriminatory and ruined our short visit -- we only had two days in Banff, and it was extremely upsetting that staff treated us this way. I hope Parks Canada addresses this, as no visitor should experience such poor treatment. read more

It's more of a warm pool than what you would normally expect from a hot springs. The vibe was very much like a hotel pool. The key was it was cheap. I would skip this if you are short on time. read more

I would give zero stars if I could. For the price, I knew that it would be no frills and small, which I was fine with. But the cleanliness was sub par- the locker room was completed flooded with water on the floor, the showers sprayed everywhere. Worst of all, the pool was filled with detritus - bugs, leaves, who knows what- and very crowded. Also for somewhere so far up the mountain, there were very mid views from the pool. DO NOT GO AND WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE! read more

Really pretty views, close to town, reasonable price - we went 2 days in a row. I have to take a few stars off for the naked old guy that wouldn't stop lathering himself in the showers asking every boy how much they love bath time. Definitely stop by! read more

We made a quick stop at this hot spring pool to soak our sore muscles after hiking. There is limited parking in the lot, but we were fortunate to snag a spot. It was relatively inexpensive ($17/person): keep in mind you need to pay for lockers and towels. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Stopped in here for a soak during our day in Banff It's a beautiful area in the mountains Simple pool but great mineral water, the heath benefits are definitely noticeable I always feel better after being in a real mineral pool It's not as relaxing when certain inconsiderate people are there talking loudly or goofing around but its always worth a soak for me as my body feels looser and I have less pain afterwards. It's reasonable in price and not far from Banff's main drag. I'll definitely be back when in the area. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Pool after dark - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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The definition of hot spring...I thought it might be legit. I was disappointed. It felt like a public pool raised to 38C with mountain view. I understand there are filters used to remove the sulfur odor....but the overall experience...It really was not worth the value. When you purchase admission, comes with locker. Towels are extra. I would say this is just a heated pool experience. You've been warned! read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

It's just a-ok, not impressed. Came here on a complimentary entrance ticket so we didn't pay. It's really just a very large hot tub with a gazillion people in it. The view of the mountain from the hot tub is nice. The shower facilities is fairly clean and large shower stalls for use. There's also large area to change. We had a decent time here but probably wouldn't pay to go. read more

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There is only one man made pool here. There is no sulfur smell instead there's chlorine in the water. The lockers are large and clean. You have to take shoes off. Bring sandals so you're not barefoot. Bring towels so you don't have to pay. The lockers are free. The best part is the views driving up to get here. When you're in the pool the views are not as good as being out of the pool. read more

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Of all the hot springs I've been to this was probably the worst one. Just the fact that it was a man made pool made the experience mid. It was crowded (there's only one pool), and within half an hour of being there, we were ready to leave. The service wasn't exceptional. I would not go back here, nor recommend it to anyone. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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I'm not sure what I expected from hot springs lol. I kind of imagined sitting somewhere that did not look like a public pool but aside that, it was a different experience and relaxing to sit in hot water when it's freezing out. The views this hot springs provided was spectacular and probably my favorite part. read more

You know what's great after a whole day of carving up a cliffside over at Lake Louise Ski Resort? A nice hot soak here at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. I dont remember, but I think the fee comes with a locker rental. If you didnt bring a towel with you, that's also going to cost you a little extra. It does get a little crowded, but it's not hard to find a corner to park at. It's definitely a very relaxing joint to be in. If it gets too hot, the cold frigid winter season weather will definitely cool you down pretty good. The husband and i enjoyed this spot and would definitely love to come back and soak around again. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!! read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - (",) - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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I found this experience to be just okay. I went on a particularly cloudy day so I would come during a clear day to make the most of it. There is just one big pool that feels like a public pool - it was packed and felt like there could've been better crowd control. It's cool to be in there especially when it's cold out, with the mountain view but it's not somewhere you need to spend a lot of time. Also bring some indoor slippers if you don't want to walk around barefoot. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This place is ok, personally I think we should have skipped it. As you can see from the picture it's not big and since it's doesn't cost much to enter there are plenty of people here! The pool deepest side is about 1.4m I think, I'm 5.5 and it's goes up to around my shoulders. Although the pool does have a greats view it's hard to get a good picture of it while in the pool. So if u not really a fan of hot spring you can skip this. The Banff gondola has better view. read more

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While in Banff we wanted to try the Hot Springs as we could smell it, and wanted a nice little relaxing time. When we arrived we go inside take your shoes off and pay for your ticket, and get your coin for your locker. Once you get inside you are able to rent swimsuits or towels if you need, but highly recommend bringing your own as that's a lot more convenient. When you go inside it splits to a girls and boys bathroom. In the bathroom they still recommend no shoes, and there are showers, bathrooms, and lockers. Afterwards they have you shower and rinse before going into the hot springs and then you're able to go to the joint Hot Spring area which is outdoors. Overall was a really pretty view, large space to move around and a lifeguard in case of an emergency. Overall they recommend you staying there for only 20 minutes as you shouldn't be in the hot water too long, but you can get in and out and move around whenever you feel like. Overall was very surprising to have an experience like this out here in Banff. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We bought a seasons pass for over $400 for two. Now everytime we go they want us to pay for lockers. What's next a surcharge on the water we are using? Not happy read more

Bang for the money, great price and great view, just wish the staff could be nicer because I felt bad with the counter lady. But except the staff, super good! read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Did not go in. Walked up to the "hot springs" and literally came upon an undistinguished pool. You smell the sulphur but the pool was not appealing at all. We saw several people go up, look, and walk back down. You're literally using a pool with sulphur water pumped in. Skip!!! read more

It's ok for that price 17.50 CAD. The lady works at register who is not nice and not willing to help. It seems she doesn't like her job. When we reach close to the counter she pointed at the sign which set behind us and tell "read the sign before coming to the counter. It's so rude to greet customers with that tone. We will not come back this place. read more

Nice venue but shockingly bad staff. Folks travel from all around the world to be met by gruff, incredibly rude staff. The lady and gent on the front talked to several people right in front of me with a despicable contempt. Unhelpful and downright rude. Real shame because the place is nice. If any supervisors are reading this a review is called for of staff customer service - corrective training would be one option . read more

I was expecting it to be more than just like a community pool with a locker room. Granted entry was pretty cheap, but it just wasn't that accommodating compared to other hot springs I've been to. There were many lockers, you rinse off before you head into the pool, and the pool was pretty large as well. It was probably 4 feet at the deepest and then 1 feet at the shallowest. The water was definitely very hot, but not unbearable. Not much to do than just to sit and talk in the pool. There was also a very strong chlorine smell so it's definitely not a natural hot spring. The showers did have some soap for you to use but otherwise, it was very similar to just a community pool locker room. No blow dryers and everywhere was wet. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We went to the Hot Springs in July and the staff was very rude. What happened was their clock were not working and I asked one their staff for time and she was very rude. I mean from her behavior it seemed she perceived me to be creepy or something. Not good. I have been in USA for 20+ years and never experienced this kind of thing. I see from other reviews that the Staff was rude so hopefully there is no racism involved. read more

Less of a natural hot springs and more of a well maintained hotel pool with lifeguards. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - View from the hot springs. - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Fun stop on my tour of Banff, beautiful views but it's essentially a public hot tub. You can rent towels and lounge around in and out of the pool but that's pretty much all there is to do. I came in the summer so I'm sure it's more impressive in the winter with snow all around and the frigid air. No shoes in the locker room so bring shower shoes, the floors were pretty gross. If you pass on this you won't be missing much. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We loved the Hot Springs,,,, it.s the perfect way to end of day when traveling long distances and sightseeing! Yep the lines can be long on holiday weekends and the pool can be a bit crowded, but there was more than enough room for everyone! The way was very warm and relaxing and the views of mountains were magnificent! We enjoyed it so much we visited the hot springs twice! Definitely worth it! Banff is a swanky place! They have showers, bathrooms and you can rent swimsuits/towelk there is not sulfur smell, and they have reduced entry rates for seniors! read more

After a long drive to Banff, the first stop was the Banff Upper Hot Springs for a good soak. LOCATION: 5 minutes drive from Banff village and there are public buses (bus#1) that go up to the parking lot of the hot springs too. PRICE: $7.30/person and $1 for a coin locker. Bring your own towel (or your hotel towel) or else you'd have to rent one from the springs. OTHER THOUGHTS: I went in the beginning of May on a Tuesday ~7pm and it wasn't crowded at all, there was tons of space to swim around and sit. It was basically a swimming pool layout with hot spring water pumped into it. There's a kiddie pool area, deep-end, and lots of space for the normal depth. The view from the pool is stunning, you're basically surrounded by the Rocky Mountains while soaking in this hot spring. read more

Banff Upper Hot Springs - Day Spas Near Me - Banff, Alberta

1. Not allowed to wear shoes and have to walk on disgusting locker floor filled with dirt and hair. 2. Lady giving us towels and locker coins was extremely rude to my father. Snapped at him to get his shoes off the desk when we were just asked to take them off. 3. We had to wait 30 minutes shivering in the shower room while we waited for the lightning warning to be over and no one came to tell us what was happening and no towels were provided. 4. Lady yelled at my sister to get out of the pool as my sister was struggling to quickly leave the pool following me. 5. Due to the gross floor, I was washing my feet in the shower and a worker lady used a long mop to sweep sludge water filled with hair and dirt right at me and it got all over my feet. Then she proceeded to do it AGAIN. She clearly saw me and just didn't care. read more

When you think hot springs you do no expect this. Basically a pool with hot water lol. However, when coming to Banff you should give this spot a try. It is nice after a long day of snowboarding or skiing. We went here on a friday night and the place was busy. You have to pay an admission charge which isnt really that bad. Everything else like towels you need to pay for as well. However, when you get into the hot springs it is nice and relaxing. You can stay there as long as u want but definitely take breaks. Everyone is just there to relax. We went during the night so we did not see the surroundings as people described. Overall, yes a place to go to in you are in Banff. read more