Ainsworth Hot Springs
Wade through a 46-metre horseshoe cave of steaming water above Kootenay Lake.
Ainsworth Hot Springs is unlike anywhere else in BC: its signature feature is a horseshoe-shaped cave, roughly 46 metres long, where you wade through chest-deep steaming water beneath dripping stalactites. Outside, the main pool sits at a comfortable ~35°C with a panoramic view over Kootenay Lake, and a glacial cold plunge waits for the brave.
The resort is owned and operated by the Yaqan Nukiy (Lower Kootenay Band), whose ancestors used these waters — known as nupika wu’u, or ‘spirit water’ — for generations. Public day passes run Wednesday–Sunday 10am–7:30pm (last entry 6pm) and Monday 10am–3pm, closed Tuesdays; resort guests get extended hours.
Quick facts
| Location | Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, Hwy 31 on Kootenay Lake, 18 km N of Balfour |
|---|---|
| Operated by | Owned by Yaqan Nukiy (Lower Kootenay Band) |
| Water temperature | Main pool ~35°C, horseshoe cave ~40°C+, cold plunge |
| Hours | Public day passes Wed–Sun 10am–7:30pm (last entry 6pm), Mon 10am–3pm, closed Tuesdays; resort guests Wed–Sun 8am–9:30pm |
| Good to know | Famous 46-m horseshoe-shaped cave you can wade through |
Getting there
On Hwy 31 on the west shore of Kootenay Lake, 18 km north of Balfour and about 45 minutes from Nelson.
Check current conditions ↗
Fees, hours and closures change — confirm with the official source before you travel.
More springs in Kootenay Rockies
- Lussier Hot Springs Open
- Radium Hot Springs Open
- Fairmont Hot Springs Open
- Halcyon Hot Springs Open