Fairmont Hot Springs Resort - Hot Springs in Canada

In 2023, Canada's largest natural hot spring resort was acquired by the Aldesta Hotel Group.

It's also an ideal base for exploring the wild hot springs within walking distance.

Massive Resort Facility

Fairmont Hot Springs in British Columbia is a 3.5-hour drive from Calgary, Alberta, and a 2-hour drive from Banff.

From the United States, it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Bonner's Ferry, Idaho.

The largest and virtually only employer in Fairmont Hot Springs, which lends its name to the community, is naturally the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

This massive commercial complex encompasses a lodge with 151 guest rooms as well as cottages, a 190-site RV park, seven food and beverage outlets, three golf courses, a ski hill, and every other imaginable facility.

Beginning operations as the Fairmont Hotel Springs in the early 1900s, it has changed ownership multiple times and continues to operate today.

In 2023, it became part of the Vancouver-based Aldesta Hotels & Resorts.

Aldesta is also the owner of Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, also located in British Columbia.

Having chosen an adjacent lodge with a simple kitchen, I promptly began exploring the resort.

Alpaca

That's to save on food expenses.

You don't have to say it.

Capybara

In a corner of the main lodge, I discovered indoor pools reserved exclusively for guests.

The pools next to the fitness center were small and enclosed by walls on all sides, creating a sense of confinement.

To put it nicely, it might be a part that evokes a sense of history.

There was also one outdoor pool exclusively for guests.

During business hours from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, you can freely access the pool area by inserting your card key.

The water temp was at 102 degrees F.

With few other soakers, I was able to relax in the pool under the shade of the trees.

Walk-in Pool with Excellent Views

The walk-in facility is located on the same grounds, but the access routes are separate from those for lodge guests.

It was designed to efficiently handle the large number of day-trippers walking in from the parking lot.

The three-part pool was entirely outdoors and completely visible from the outside.

In other words, it is located in a place with excellent views.

Light meals were also available for purchase at the counter.

The interior of the gender-separated changing rooms had been renovated with a chic atmosphere and was spacious and clean.

The pool was located at the southern edge of the lodge grounds, and with one side facing a deep valley, it offered a sense of openness.

The water temp of the swimming pool on the changing room side was 90 degrees F, while that of the diving pool on the opposite side was 86 degrees F.

The inverted L-shaped pool in between was for soaking.

For some reason, a natural rock mountain-like “island” was located in the central area.

The water temp was at 100 degrees F.

Though faint, there was a chlorine smell, and since it was packed with people during the day, I didn't stay long.

Within walking distance of this facility, there are two wild hot spring spots, which I'll cover in separate articles.

Summary

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