Quick FactsOverview
About Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs, Canada is the highest-elevation outdoor hot spring in the country, situated at 1,585 metres above sea level on Sulphur Mountain within Banff National Park. The facility is operated by Parks Canada and consists of a single outdoor mineral pool maintained at 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, with views of Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain from the pool deck. The water is drawn from the Sulphur Mountain thrust fault and is rich in sulphate, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, and sodium. In periods of low natural flow, typically in winter, municipal water is used to supplement the pool while maintaining the same temperature range.
The springs have drawn visitors to this location since their discovery by Canadian Pacific Railway workers in 1883. That discovery, along with the Cave and Basin springs lower on the mountain, directly prompted the Canadian government to protect the area in 1885, making it the foundation of Canada's first national park. The stone bathhouse on site was originally constructed in 1932 and was restored and reopened in 1996 as a federal heritage building. It now houses interpretive exhibits tracing the history of the springs and the development of Banff National Park, a café on the upper level, a gift shop, and change rooms including gender-neutral accessible facilities. Historic swimsuits from the early twentieth century are available for rent or purchase as a visitor attraction.
The facility is among the most visited hot springs in Canada and has been a feature of the hot springs near Banff since the founding of the national park. Note that as of September 2025, the Banff Upper Hot Springs is closed for maintenance and facility upgrades. The official Parks Canada website states the facility is expected to reopen in early 2026. Visitors should check the Parks Canada website before travelling to confirm current status.
Location & Access
Getting to Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs is located at 1 Mountain Avenue, 4 kilometres south of the Town of Banff. From downtown Banff, cross the Bow River bridge on Banff Avenue and turn left onto Mountain Avenue at the last set of traffic lights. Follow Mountain Avenue for 3.6 kilometres to the hot springs parking lot at the end of the road. The site is 128 kilometres west of Calgary and 25 kilometres east of Castle Mountain Junction on the Trans-Canada Highway. Parking at the site is limited and fills quickly during peak season.
Public transit is the most reliable option from central Banff. Roam Transit Route 1, the Sulphur Mountain route, runs directly to the hot springs from downtown Banff every 20 minutes during normal operating hours, making it the easiest way to visit without worrying about parking. The bus stop is a short walk from the pool entrance. Taxis and rideshares are also available from the Banff town centre. Banff Upper Hot Springs does not offer advance or online ticket sales; admission is first-come, first-served and purchased in person at reception on the day of visit.
A valid Parks Canada national park pass is required in addition to paying the hot springs pool admission fee. Day passes and the Parks Canada Discovery Pass are both accepted. The pool is open daily year-round, typically from 10:00 to 22:00, subject to weather and maintenance closures. During temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius, the pool may close; check the Parks Canada phone line at 1-800-767-1611 or the official website before visiting in extreme cold. As noted above, the facility is currently closed from September 2025 for upgrades and is expected to reopen in early 2026.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Can Visit Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs is suitable for all ages and abilities. Children under three years of age are admitted free; children aged three and under who are incontinent are required to wear swim diapers. Youth aged three to seventeen are admitted at a discounted rate. The pool and bathhouse have full wheelchair accessibility: accessible parking and drop-off areas, accessible change rooms and washrooms, an elevator in the bathhouse, ramps throughout, and aquatic wheelchairs available to borrow on request from the reception desk. Caregivers accompanying a paying visitor with a disability who requires assistance may enter at no charge; swimsuit and towel rental costs still apply to the caregiver if needed.
The facility is explicitly inclusive and welcoming to all visitors regardless of race, gender, orientation, or ability. Gender-neutral accessible change rooms are available alongside standard men's and women's facilities. Certified service dogs are permitted throughout the building and on the pool deck while on duty, though not in the pool water itself under Alberta pool regulations. The pool deck includes an outdoor terrace with mountain views and a picnic area, so non-swimming visitors can accompany groups and enjoy the setting from outside the water.
For families, the accessible hot springs setting in Canada's most iconic national park makes Banff Upper Hot Springs a distinctive experience. The elevation, the mountain backdrop, and the heritage bathhouse set it apart from other public pools. Visitors combining a visit with the Banff Gondola, which departs from nearby on Sulphur Mountain, can complete both experiences as part of a half-day outing. The Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the original discovery location of the Banff hot springs, is approximately 5 kilometres away and provides historical context for the site's role in creating Banff National Park.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Etiquette at Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs is generally safe as a fully staffed, Parks Canada-operated facility. Lifeguards are on duty during all opening hours. The pool temperature of 37 to 40 degrees Celsius is within the standard comfortable soaking range for most healthy adults. Parks Canada advises all visitors to take breaks of at least 10 minutes outside the water to cool down, drink water frequently, and avoid soaking continuously for more than 20 minutes, with shorter limits recommended for children. Prolonged immersion at these temperatures can cause overheating and dehydration even in cold weather, which is a common underestimated risk.
A mandatory shower using soap is required before entering the pool. All visitors must wear appropriate swimwear, including swimwear bottoms at minimum; street clothes and underwear alone are not permitted. No food or drinks may be brought onto the pool deck or into the change rooms, with the exception of water in an unbreakable, resealable container. Water fountains are available on site. Glass items are strictly prohibited throughout the bathhouse and pool deck. Street shoes must be removed beyond the reception desk and stored in lockers. The locker token is included in the single-entry admission cost.
Persons with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea in the previous two weeks, open wounds, or any illness that may affect others are not permitted in the pool until fully recovered. This is a public health standard applied at all Parks Canada hot springs. No alcohol is permitted. Smoking and vaping are not allowed on the site. The facility operates under the Canada National Parks Act; non-compliance can result in fines of up to CA$25,000. The Banff Upper Hot Springs is within Banff National Park and surrounded by wildlife habitat; respect all posted wildlife advisories and do not approach animals in the parking lot or on the approach road, where bighorn sheep are occasionally present.
