The Banff Upper Hot Springs is a lovely place to slow down after a day in the mountains. Settle into the warm water, give your legs a rest and take in the views of Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain. At 1,585 metres, it’s Canada’s highest outdoor pool, and people have been making their way up here for a soak since 1886.
⚠️ The pools are closed for fall maintenance. They closed on October 13, 2026, and Parks Canada expects to reopen them in early November. Once they’re back, they’re open every day from 10 am to 10 pm.
If you’re planning a visit, here’s what a soak costs, what to bring and a few things worth knowing before you go.
Quick facts
- Admission: $19.75 for adults, $17.25 for seniors and youth (3 to 17), $64.25 for a family of four. Kids under 3 are free.
- Hours: 10 am to 10 pm daily, last entry 9:30 pm
- Fall closure: the pools close for a few weeks each fall for annual maintenance, so check the dates before you go
- Tickets: pay at reception, no reservations
- Getting there: Roam’s Route 1 bus from downtown Banff
- Park pass: needed on top of admission
As of October 2026
Is the Banff Upper Hot Springs Open Right Now?
Not just yet. The hot springs closed on October 13 for their yearly fall maintenance, giving Parks Canada time to make repairs and improvements. They’re due to reopen in early November 2026, but there’s no exact date yet. Check the Parks Canada hours page before making the trip up.
Regular hours are 10 am to 10 pm daily, with last entry at 9:30 pm. The pools also open on Canadian holidays, so you can fit in a soak on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.
The weather can sometimes interrupt a visit. The pool may close at short notice if there’s thunder or lightning, or if the water gets too cold. When the air drops below -30°C, Parks Canada keeps a close eye on the water temperature and may close the pool.
How Much Does It Cost?
Adult admission costs $19.75, while seniors and youth pay $17.25. Children over 2 need a ticket too, so remember to include them when planning your visit.
| Ticket | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 to 64) | $19.75 |
| Senior (65+) | $17.25 |
| Youth (3 to 17) | $17.25 |
| Child (under 3) | Free |
| Family (4 people, up to 2 adults) | $64.25 |
| Extra youth with a family ticket | $9.75 |
If you’re visiting with kids, free youth entry to the national park doesn’t cover the hot springs. Pool admission is a separate cost.
For a family of four, the family ticket saves a little. Two adults and two kids aged 3 to 17 pay $64.25, compared with $74 for separate tickets. All four visitors must be from the same family.
Single-entry admission includes one locker token. You’ll buy your tickets at reception when you arrive, as there’s no online booking.
A caregiver helping a paying visitor with a disability may be able to enter free. Swimsuit and towel rentals still cost extra.
If you live nearby or plan to visit often, an annual pass is worth a look. It costs $254.50 for an adult, $216.50 for a senior or youth, and $753.75 for a family. You’ll need to pay for locker tokens separately.
Towels, Swimsuits and Lockers
Forgot to pack a swimsuit or towel? You can rent a swimsuit for $5 and a towel for $3, so you can still enjoy a soak.
Extra locker tokens cost $2 each. They only work once, so having a spare is useful if you need to open your locker and lock it again during your visit. Oversized bags, coolers and skis aren’t allowed in the lockers, so leave those in the car.
Bring clean flip-flops or water socks for the change rooms and pool deck. Outdoor shoes aren’t allowed in those areas.
What It’s Like in the Pool
You’ll be soaking outside, with Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain in view. The water stays between 37 and 40°C, which feels hot after a while. Take a short break to cool off every 10 minutes, and keep some drinking water nearby.
The bathhouse dates back to 1932. It was restored to its original look in the 1990s and is now a federal heritage building. There are exhibits about the springs inside if you want to learn a little about the place before getting changed.
You’ll need to shower with soap before entering the pool. Wear clean swimwear, separate from the clothes you arrived in. Bottoms are required, tops are optional, and underwear doesn’t count as swimwear.
The pool isn’t filled entirely by the natural spring at the moment. The flow is too low, so heated town water is being added until it picks up again in spring.
Set aside an hour or two for your visit. There’s no time limit during regular hours. If you’ve brought food, save it for the café upstairs or the Upper Terrace picnic area before or after your soak.
When’s the Best Time to Go?
One traveller arrived around noon to find the parking lot full and recommended coming earlier or later.
Weekends, holidays and school breaks tend to bring longer waits. Staff limit the number of people in the pool to what the lifeguards can safely watch. When it’s full, you’ll have to wait for someone to leave before you can go in.
Apart from the fall maintenance closure, the springs open every day, year-round. You can also leave your visit until the evening if you’re spending the day elsewhere in Banff.
Getting to the Hot Springs
Roam’s Route 1 “Sulphur Mountain” bus runs from downtown Banff to the springs. It costs $2 for an adult single ride or $5 for a day pass. Children 12 and under ride free.
If you’re paying cash on board, bring the exact fare. Drivers don’t give change. Have a look at the Route 1 timetable before leaving, including the buses back into town.
Driving takes you about 4 km south of Banff. Follow Banff Avenue over the Bow River, turn left at the last set of traffic lights, then follow the signs for 3.6 km to the end of Mountain Avenue.
The main parking lot is below the bathhouse, so there’s still a walk of about 200 metres uphill once you park. Spaces are limited and fill quickly. This year, paid parking ran daily from May 15 to October 12, between 9 am and 9 pm, at $17.50 per vehicle per day. Check the posted rules if you’re visiting outside those dates.
Pair It With the Banff Gondola
The gondola is one stop further along Route 1. You can ride up Sulphur Mountain first, spend some time at the summit, then stop at the springs on the way back.
The gondola closes at 9 pm through November 19 and at 10 pm from November 20. Its last ride up is 90 minutes before closing. If you’re doing both, keep the hot springs’ 9:30 pm last entry in mind.
Bringing Kids to the Hot Springs
Children are welcome, but leave the pool toys at home. Noodles, inflatables, snorkels and fins aren’t allowed.
Children under 3 need a swim diaper. That rule also applies to anyone who is or may be incontinent. It’s a provincial public health rule.
Children under 8 and anyone who can’t swim must stay within arm’s reach of an adult. Kids 13 and under need a parent or guardian with them, while teens aged 14 to 17 can come on their own.
Park the stroller before you reach the change rooms, since strollers can’t go there or on the pool deck.
Pool Rules
Visits are sober only, and the whole site is smoke-free. That means no alcohol, smoking, vaping or cannabis, including on the decks, walkways and day-use areas.
You can take a few photos of the scenery and your own group from the deck or the pool. Keep cameras away in the change rooms and washrooms, and skip underwater shots, pictures of other visitors, selfie sticks and tripods.
Keep things gentle in the water too. Diving, jumping, running, pushing, rough play, screaming and portable speakers aren’t allowed in the pools. Bathing in the waterfall feature and climbing the hillside around it aren’t allowed. Drones aren’t allowed at any Parks Canada place, and camping in the parking lot isn’t permitted either.
Glass isn’t allowed on the deck or in the bathhouse, including glass baby bottles and water bottles. Waterproof sunscreen works if you put it on at least 30 minutes before you get in. Aerosol sunscreen isn’t allowed in the change rooms or on the deck.
Certified service dogs are welcome throughout the facility while on duty. Pets and emotional support animals need to stay behind.
If you’re pregnant or have a condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, Parks Canada suggests checking with your doctor before you visit. Anyone with open sores or wounds, or diarrhea in the past two weeks, must not use the hot springs.
How It Compares With Miette and Radium
Banff has two Parks Canada neighbours in the Rockies, and each one runs on a different calendar.
| Hot spring | Where | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Banff Upper Hot Springs | Mountain Avenue, about 4 km south of Banff | Year-round, apart from the fall maintenance closure |
| Miette Hot Springs (Jasper) | End of the 17 km Miette Road, which leaves Highway 16 44 km east of Jasper | Seasonal: closed from October 13, 2026, reopening May 2027 |
| Radium Hot Springs (Kootenay) | 3 km east of the Highway 93/95 junction | Year-round. From October 13, 2026 to May 2027, the hot pool opens daily and the cool pool closes Monday to Thursday |
If your winter trip takes you through Radium, check the hot springs’ hours before heading over. Miette is one to save for summer if you’re staying in Jasper. Our guide to places to stay in Jasper National Park includes options near Miette Road.
You don’t have to travel far for more hot springs history, though. The Cave and Basin National Historic Site is a short drive away and makes a good stop before your soak.
Is It Wheelchair Accessible?
Yes. There’s a push-button door at the entrance and an elevator to all three floors. That lets you avoid the 20 stairs down to reception. Some larger motorized wheelchairs may not fit in the elevator, so check ahead if that could affect your visit.
The bathhouse has two accessible change rooms, separate from the main change rooms. There are also three accessible parking spaces beside the building, so you can park at the top of the hill instead of walking up from the main lot. You’ll need to display a provincial or federal accessible parking permit, or your car may be towed.
For the pool itself, ask at reception for the aquatic wheelchair. Personal wheelchairs aren’t allowed in the spring water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to book ahead?
There’s no booking system. You buy your ticket at reception when you arrive, and entry is first come, first served. If the pool is full, you’ll need to wait.
Some day tours include a stop here, but pool entry still goes through reception.
Do you need a park pass for the hot springs?
Yes. A Parks Canada day pass or Discovery Pass covers your entry to the park. You’ll pay separately to use the hot springs.
The Discovery Pass is worth looking at if you have more park visits planned. It covers over 80 Parks Canada destinations for 12 months.
What happens if a storm rolls in while you’re soaking?
If the pool closes and it’s been 30 minutes or less since you paid, you’ll receive a rain check. You can use it for another visit within a year.
Refunds aren’t offered, so hold on to that rain check if you’ll be back in Banff.
Fitting a Soak Into Your Banff Trip
The hot springs fit into almost any Banff day. Fit them in around a hike, or save them for the evening when your legs have earned it. They also make a good backup when cloud hides the peaks and a summit view is off the table.
That’s how our three-day Banff itinerary uses them, as a cloudy-afternoon plan. In the cold months, our Banff in winter page has more ideas for a stormy day in town.
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