How To Visit Banff Upper Hot Springs

Banff Upper Hot Springs is located at 1 Mountain Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada.

Banff Upper Hot Springs is the only one of nine hot spring pools within the Banff Hot Springs Reserve that is open to the public for bathing. It is conveniently located about 3 miles from the town of Banff, Alberta. This is a perfect activity to fill up half a day to relax after a morning hike or as a “chill day” activity.

No reservations needed, so just make the short drive and walk on in!

How Much Does Banff Upper Hot Springs Cost?

Admission to Banff Upper Hot Springs as of 2023 costs $16.50 per adult and $14.25 for kids age 3-17 years old. Children under 3 years old enter for free. Swimsuits are required and you can rent a swimsuit and/or a towel for $2 each if you don’t bring your own. Advance admission and online tickets are not available, so just arrive in person and purchase entry.

How Hot Are The Banff Upper Hot Springs?

The hot springs temperature varies daily based on the amount of flow coming from the actual natural hot spring, and on our day the temperature was 104F. There are different depth levels built into the pool area so you can choose to alternate between the cooler shallow areas and the more toasty deeper areas as you wish.

What Is It Like To Visit Banff Upper Hot Springs?

The hot spring bathing area looks like a normal swimming pool and is chlorinated, with the sulfurous smell removed during processing of the water. I was expecting disappointment at the lack of “natural” factor, but the hot springs were surprisingly enjoyable! You enter the pool from a zero entry area to get used to the heat, and the depth gradually increases until close to 5 feet deep. It does get crowded so you have to hunt for a good time to get a photo as people move out of the way. The hot springs are located on the upper deck of the building with a good view of the mountains and trees. I think Banff Upper Hot Springs would be significantly more enjoyable in colder weather, but I’m glad I visited even on a 80F day in July!

Plus, Banff Upper Hot Springs offers something we had been craving for a few days as we were living in a converted rental camper van: a hot running shower.

Other Hot Springs Around Banff, Alberta

Visiting hot springs is a must-do item on everybody’s checklist when visiting Banff. There are many places to experience these natural beauties!

• Cave and Basin National Historic Site (<2 miles from Banff) – this is not a place you can swim in the hot springs, but come here to learn about both hot springs and the history of the National Park system in Canada. A walk through a tunnel leads to a sulfurous hot springs cavern.
• Banff Upper Hot Springs (3 miles from Banff) – The only one of nine thermal pools protected in the Banff Hot Springs Reserve that is open for public bathing. This is the hot spring we chose to visit during our time in Banff to get our bath on.
• Radium Hot Springs (85 miles from Banff) – the longer drive from Banff makes this hot spring a good option to visit if you have time to plan a day trip to the Kootenay National Park.
• Fairmont Hot Springs, Lussier Hot Springs, and Ram Creek Hot Springs are all located significantly further from Banff proper, but look beautiful if you have time to make the drive! Particularly, Lussier Hot Springs and Ram Creek Hot Springs are primitive hot springs that look more like a “natural rocky pool” rather than “urban swimming pool.” Lussier looks fancier (but is still free to visit!) and requires a 5 minute walk from a parking lot, in contrast to Ram Creek which requires a more significant hike to reach.