The Village of Radium Hot Springs rests between the Purcell Mountains and the Rockies, and is the gateway to the majestic Kootenay National Park. After a scenic drive through the park (on Highway 93), visitors encounter the world-famous Radium Hot Springs Mineral Pools, moments before driving between the sheer cliff walls of Sinclair Canyon and into the village.
The mighty Columbia River flows along the edge of the village and is bordered by the Columbia River Wetlands, the longest continuous wetlands in North America. The sweeping views of the wetlands, snow-dusted mountains and winding river tributaries make for a spectacular setting.
Radium Hot Springs is a four-season holiday destination and home to nearly 1,000 year-round residents and numerous seasonal homeowners, who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle in a pristine environment.
Visitors flock to Radium Hot Springs from all over the world for fun and adventure. The village has 16 golf courses situated within a 45-minute drive, outdoor fitness equipment, hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, climbing, trail riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and water sports.
Radium has fine restaurants, pubs and shops, all within strolling distance of one another. Accommodations locally include the Crystal Springs and Chalet Europe motels, hotels, lodges, cabins, condos, bed and breakfasts, private rentals, the charming Village Country Inn and the luxurious Bighorn Meadows and Radium Resorts. There are several full-service campgrounds in the area and Canyon RV Resort is an RV lover’s paradise. Always call for reservations.
In every season the famed hot pools attract guests from far and wide with their reputed curative powers. These odourless mineral pools are surrounded by natural rock walls, and are both a marvel of nature and a soothing pastime. There’s nothing more pleasurable than relaxing at the adjacent Pleiades Massage and Spa, followed by a soak in the pools.
The countryside stretching for miles around Radium Hot Springs is a sightseer and wildlife watcher’s delight. In every direction, visitors can spot Bighorn Sheep, deer, elk, moose, black bears, rare bird species and even the occasional grizzly bear.
This delightful community is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to live in the Columbia Valley. Young couples find a safe, friendly and clean environment, while active retirees rave about the village’s walkable lifestyle and variety of leisure pursuits. There are terrific opportunities to invest in business and real estate and participate in community programs and events.
For more information try the Radium Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre on Main Street East, or visit www.RadiumHotSprings.com.
The Radium hot springs resulted from the unleashing of powerful forces that left their mark in heaving, tortured rocks. The earth’s crust cracked along a fault more than two kilometres deep, creating a shatter zone around it that lets groundwater seep close to the earth’s core.
Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, made the first recorded visit to the springs in 1841. In 1890, an Englishman named Roland Stuart purchased the springs for the bargain price of $160. The property was expropriated in 1922 and the springs became part of Kootenay National Park. Now the pools are managed by Parks Canada.
Today, the Radium Hot Springs complex contains a hot soaking pool and a cool swimming pool. The water enters the hot pool at a comfortable 39 degrees Celsius (103°F). For the hardy, there is a hot tub kept at a steamy 44 degrees Celsius (114°F).
The complex also houses the Pleiades Massage and Spa, a world-class day spa offering an array of massage and wellness treatments, a plunge pool and a steam room. A café with an outdoor patio is open in the summer months. The scenery around the complex is spectacular and the area is abundant with wildlife.
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