Banff Upper Hot Springs vs Radium Hot Springs
Banff or Radium hot springs? Compare drive time, pool size, vibe, and price between the two Rocky Mountain mineral pools — and which one suits your trip.
Two of the Canadian Rockies’ best-loved soaks sit a mountain range apart: the Banff Upper Hot Springs on Sulphur Mountain, and Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. The water in both is kept at the same comfortable 37–40°C — so the real difference isn’t the heat, it’s the day out. This guide sorts out which one fits your trip. For the nuts and bolts of visiting Banff’s pool, see how to visit the Banff Upper Hot Springs.
The Short Answer
If you’re based in Banff and want a quick, scenic soak, the Upper Hot Springs is unbeatable for convenience — it’s six minutes from town. If you want a bigger pool, more room to spread out, and a cool-down pool too — and you don’t mind a scenic drive over the Continental Divide — Radium is the more relaxed soak. Many people do Radium only when they’re already heading that way.
Side by Side
| Banff Upper Hot Springs | Radium Hot Springs | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Sulphur Mountain, Banff NP (AB) | Sinclair Canyon, Kootenay NP (BC) |
| Drive from Banff | ~6–10 min (4 km) | ~1.5–2 hr (~137 km) |
| Water temp | 37–40°C | 37–40°C |
| Pools | One hot pool | Large hot pool + a cool pool |
| Setting | High mountain terrace, big peak views | Tucked into a narrow red-rock canyon |
| Size / crowds | Smaller; fills fast at peak | Larger; more room |
| Park pass needed | Yes (Banff NP) | Yes (Kootenay NP) |
Banff Upper Hot Springs: Convenience & the View
The big draw is how easy it is: a short drive or a Roam-bus ride from downtown Banff, with sweeping views of Mount Rundle and the Bow Valley from Canada’s highest hot pool. The trade-off is size — there’s one pool, and at peak times (weekends, and roughly 3–5 PM) it fills up and the edge seating goes early. Go off-peak and it’s a genuinely lovely, fuss-free soak with the best mountain panorama of the two.
Radium Hot Springs: Space & the Canyon
Radium sits dramatically in Sinclair Canyon, where the highway squeezes between sheer red cliffs. The pools are bigger than Banff’s, and crucially there’s a separate cool pool to swim in alongside the hot one — better for families and for cooling off. The catch is the distance: about 1.5 to 2 hours from Banff, over the Continental Divide on Highway 93 (a gorgeous drive in its own right, often with bighorn sheep near the village). Few people drive there just for the pool — but if you’re road-tripping the Kootenay/Icefields loop, it’s a perfect stop.
How to Decide
- Choose Banff if you’re staying in or near Banff, want a soak without a big drive, and care about the mountain view. Best paired with the gondola next door.
- Choose Radium if you want more space and a cool-down pool, you’re travelling through Kootenay or BC anyway, or you’d enjoy the Sinclair Canyon drive as part of the day.
- Do both if you’re touring the Rockies for several days — they’re different enough to be worth it.
If your plan is Banff-based, the simplest way to fit a soak into a packed sightseeing day is a guided tour that includes a hot-springs stop — and you can read what that combo day looks like before you book.
Ready to Book?
A top-rated small-group Banff tour with a hot-springs stop pairs the Upper Hot Springs with the Banff Gondola and the Rockies’ marquee lakes, with transport and your park pass included and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check availability and plan your soak.
See Banff — and Soak in the Hot Springs — the Easy Way
Skip the planning. This top-rated guided tour pairs the Banff Gondola, three alpine lakes, and a stop at the Upper Hot Springs, with round-trip transport and your park pass included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Availability & Book