Hot Springs Adventure
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Route - 1245 km / 774 mi
| Day | Location | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Calgary to Banff | 132 km / 82 mi | Approx. 1 hour 25 minutes |
| 02 | Banff | ||
| 03 | Banff to Lake Louise | 61 km / 38 mi | Approx. 40 minutes |
| 04 | Lake Louise to Revelstoke | 231 km / 144 mi | Approx. 3 hours 25 minutes |
| 05 | Revelstoke to Kaslo | 198 km / 123 mi | Approx. 3 hours |
| 06 | Kaslo to Kimberley | 256 km / 159 mi | Approx. 4 hours 10 minutes |
| 07 | Kimberley to Radium Hot Springs | 132 km / 82 mi | Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes |
| 08 | Radium Hot Springs to Johnston Canyon | 112 km / 70 mi | Approx. 1 hour 25 minutes |
| 09 | Johnston Canyon to Kananaskis Country | 139 km / 86 mi | Approx. 1 hour |
| 10 | Kananaskis Country to Calgary | 85 km / 53 mi | Approx. 1 hour |
Calgary to Banff
Banff
Banff to Lake Louise
Lake Louise to Revelstoke
Revelstoke to Kaslo
Kaslo to Kimberley
Kimberley to Radium Hot Springs
Radium Hot Springs to Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon to Kananaskis Country
Kananaskis Country to Calgary
Trip Details
Get ready to hit the road for your hot springs adventure. Today’s drive is an easy one, just an hour and a half to the town of Banff. The main campground is operated by Parks Canada. As you may be arriving here towards evening, we’d recommend you make advance bookings for July and August arrivals.
Plan to spend a minimum of two nights in Banff to take in the atmosphere and see everything the town has to offer.
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Banff National Park is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Canada's National Park system. Established in 1885, it is Canada's oldest National Park and one of the most visited parks in North America.
It’s nearly impossible to squeeze absolutely everything there is to do in Banff in just a couple of days. So be in the spirit of adventure and take in what you can. We recommend visiting the Cave and Basin Hot Springs and taking in Sulphur Mountain by riding the Banff Gondola. You’ll get sweeping panoramic views of the mountains and valleys. A truly stunning sight.
Relax at Banff Upper Hot Springs, a rich-in-minerals outdoor swimming pool that is open year-round. See discounts available on the CanaDream app for many of these experiences and attractions.
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We’re recommending only a short drive today, less than an hour to the stunning Lake Louise. If you haven’t made advance reservations at the Lake Louise campground, plan to arrive by 11:00am to get your site then head out exploring.
Instead of your first stop being in Lake Louise, we suggest you head at least part way up the Icefields Parkway. While you don’t have time on this tour to travel the complete length of the highway, travelling as far as Bow Summit will provide you with a taste of the scenery and wildlife in the area. Get a glimpse of Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and visit the lookout to see the aqua blue waters of Peyto Lake.
On arrival back at the Lake Louise village, take the short steep road up Lake Louise Drive to Chateau Lake Louise and the lake itself. And, on your way back down to Lake Louise Village, you’ll notice a road heading off to the right. This road will take you to Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
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If you enjoy taking photographs and getting up early, there's no place better to be than back at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake for the sunrise.
As you hit the road for Revelstoke, you’ll continue west on the Trans Canada Highway crossing the Alberta/British Columbia border into Yoho National Park. If you’re travelling between June and the end of September, visit Takkakkaw Falls, where a short hiking trail leads to the base of the magnificent Falls. Also along the way is Emerald Lake, the largest of Yoho’s 61 lakes and ponds.
Continue along Highway 1 to Golden, a town situated at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. Revelstoke is reached by crossing the Roger's Pass, one of BC’s great mountain crossings. While today’s destination is officially Revelstoke, you may decide to end your day at Canyon Hot Springs and soak in one of the two natural mineral hot pools there. Set in the Columbia Mountains between Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks, Canyon Hot Springs also has an excellent RV Park. From Canyon Hot Springs, it's a mere 25-minute drive into Revelstoke.
CanaDream Club partners:
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
- Lake Louise Sightseeing Lift and Gondola
- Canyon Hot Springs RV Park
- Wild Water Adventures
- Glacier Raft Company
- Golden Municipal Campground
- Golden Golf Club & RV Resort
- Campers Haven Rv & Tent Park
- Kootenay River Runners
- Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort
- Williamson Lake Campground
- Revelstoke Mountain Resort
- Wild Blue Yonder Rafting Adventures
- Apex Rafting Company
Before leaving Revelstoke, take a walk through this alpine city to see some 60 restored period buildings and, if you’re a train enthusiast, stop in to visit the Revelstoke Railway Museum.
Your journey today will have you skirting numerous lakes and passing through many small towns. Highway 23 crosses the water at Shelter Bay where you board a free ferry to Galena. More hot springs await on the other side of the lake at Halcyon and Nakusp. Halcyon Resort features four mineral-rich pools and plenty of adventure opportunities.
New Denver and Silverton sit on the eastern shore of Slocan Lake, where you’ll find museums, artisan studios and plenty of outdoor activity options. Follow Highway 31A to Kaslo, where you’ll stay for the night.
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Continue south along Highway 31 to Ainsworth Hot Springs to sink into more soothing mineral waters. This unique hot spring has a horseshoe-shaped cave lined with stalagmites and stalactites. Explore the cave or relax in the main pool overlooking picturesque Kootenay Lake.
From Ainsworth Hot Springs take the short drive to Balfour to await the ferry for your crossing to Kootenay Bay and onto Creston, well known for its orchards and its brewery, which produces Kokanee beer. From Creston, travel east on Highway 3 to Cranbrook, which has transformed from a thriving railway town to become the largest city in the Kootenay Rockies.
Take Highway 93 to Fort Steele Heritage Town a restored Northwest Mounted Police Fort before heading north along Hwy 95A to Kimberley. This Bavarian themed community has a four-season alpine resort and is home to Canada’s largest free-standing cuckoo clock. Check out the Kimberley Riverside Campground for your overnight stay.
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Head north on Highway 93/95 to Fairmont Hot Springs today. Fairmont’s year-round, crystal-clear hot spring pools beckon travellers into their steamy, mineral-rich waters. The resort also offers golfing, skiing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and spa services.
Continue on to Invermere and Windermere Lake, a great summer destination with various activities and things to do, including visiting nearby Panorama Mountain Village. Panorama is a four-season resort that offers many outdoor pursuits, including hiking, biking, rafting, golfing, skiing, heli-skiing, snowmobiling and more.
Tonight’s destination is Radium Hot Springs, located in Kootenay National Park. This is one of the largest hot spring mineral pools in Canada. Soak away your day on the road while gazing up at the red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon. Keep watch for bighorn sheep, which have long been local residents of the community. Be sure to visit the CanaDream app to receive a discount off your admission or other activities you take in today.
CanaDream Club Partners
- Toby Creek Adventures - Panorama Mountain Village
- Canadian Rockies Hot Springs – Radium Hot Springs
- Spruce Grove RV Park & Campground
Your route today takes you over the Banff-Windermere Parkway (Highway 93) through Kootenay National Park. The road passes through spectacular mountain scenery west of the continental divide and follows the valleys of the Vermilion and Kootenay rivers. The Parkway meets Highway 1 at Castle Junction where you’ll take the overpass and join the Bow Valley Parkway heading south to Johnston Canyon.
Walk across the road to Johnston Canyon and take a hike to the Lower and/or Upper Falls. This is Banff National Park’s most popular hiking destination. The path takes you into the depths of a canyon along catwalks and amongst spectacular waterfalls.
If you’re still looking for something to do after hiking to the falls, consider a trip northbound on the Bow Valley Parkway (you’ll be doing the southbound trip tomorrow). The Bow Valley Parkway offers exciting opportunities for wildlife viewing and is a beautiful scenic drive.
Overnight at Johnston Canyon Campground. If this campground is closed or full, the closest campground open will most likely be at Castle Mountain or in Banff (Tunnel Mountain). Check the Parks Canada website for more information.
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Head south today on the Bow Valley Parkway, admiring the scenery as you leisurely take in the beauty.
The road joins Highway 1 just west of Banff. If you didn’t visit Lake Minnewanka during your stay in Banff, take the turn-off to the Lake and follow the Minnewanka Loop trail. Stop at Cascade Ponds, a beautiful recreational area with picnic tables beside a large pond. From Minnewanka, the loop continues on to Two Jack Lake, a sheltered lake with facilities for picnickers. Further on, a road branching off the loop runs to Johnson Lake, another day-use area centered on a shallow lake ringed with trails.
Return to Highway 1 and continue on until you reach the junction of this highway and Highway 40 into Kananaskis Country. South of the junction on Highway 40, you’ll come to an area called Canoe Meadows. This is a popular place for kayakers and white water rafting. If water adventure isn’t your thing, there are plenty of hikes and trails to enjoy in this gemstone area of Alberta.
Don’t forget to check out your CanaDream app to scope out places to stay and discounts available. Advance reservations for camping are recommended, particularly during July and August.
CanaDream Club Partners
As your journey comes to an end, we have two suggestions for your return trip to Calgary, depending upon the time of year you are travelling.
If you’re travelling between June 15 and December 15, you can take Highway 40 south through Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to Longview. Once at Longview, explore the area and search out the towns of Millarville (famous for its farmers market held on Saturdays throughout the Summer), Turner Valley (it was here, in 1914, that Canada’s first major crude-oil discovery was made) and Black Diamond. These towns are all part of Diamond Valley – the heart of the Cowboy Trail.
There's a great golf course in Bragg Creek if you've time to hit a few balls around. Or, visit Cochrane, located only 18km west of the Calgary city limits on Highway 1A. McKays Icecream Store here often has people lining up around the block for their famous icecream!
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