The Village of Radium Hot Springs Is the Mountain Vacation Destination You’ve Dreamed of.
Bordered by the upper Columbia River on the west and Kootenay National Park on the east, its scenery, everywhere you look, is absolutely breath-taking.
It is a story of First Nations and mountaineers, of hard labor by men and horses as they cleared the forests and carved the road, literally out of the sides of the mountains.
Its official opening on June 30, 1923 marked the beginning of the tourism industry in the Columbia Valley and for that reason alone, the history of this road is a tale worth noting. The final descent into the Columbia Valley and Radium Hot Springs BC is through the spectacular Sinclair Canyon. This narrow passageway was widened with pick axes, shovels and dynamite. A wooden bridge was built over the creek with a single lane created for vehicles.
The Village
The sidewalks in the Village of Radium Hot Springs are quite, pleasant and easy to walk. The light posts are adorned with flowers and flags and based in landscaped stones. It doesn’t take long to get from one end to the other but the outside market provides a good distraction. Local artisans proudly display their works while live music fill the streets.
The Radium Hot Springs are located just inside the gates of Kootenay National Park as you enter into the Village of Radium. The name ‘Radium Hot Springs’ came from the discovery, in 1913, that the water in the now world-famous open-air, odorless, natural mineral pools contained radium. Thousands come annually to bathe in the warm waters, surrounded by the magnificent rock walls where you can often view Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain wildlife. There’s no place better to relax your tired muscles at the end of a busy day while enjoying the natural surroundings.
Tourist accommodation in Radium Hot Springs is plentiful, with Bighorn Meadows Resort being a favorite, along with several motels and hotels, campgrounds, cabins, timeshares or B & B’s. There’s nothing better than a Radium Hot Springs vacation.
In autumn, hundreds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep descend from the higher elevations into the village where they make their winter homes. You will see them wandering across the roads and dining on the lawns of the residents. Drivers are urged to be ever alert for the animals.
In Kootenay National Park, you may come across other Rocky Mountain wildlife such as goats, bears, white-tailed deer, moose, wolves, coyotes, and other species.
You can enjoy a variety of dining experiences in Radium Hot Springs, everything from a freshly-brewed cup of locally roasted coffee in a quaint café, to a delicious pizza, a great burger or authentic European cuisine. If you decide to eat in, everything you need can be found at the Mountainside Market.
Every outdoor recreational activity is available in Radium Hot Springs and area; snowmobiling, skiing, nordic adventures, skating the world’s longest skating trail known as The Whiteway are just a few ideas for Winter Activities. Summer Activities include golf and plenty of recreational sites for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, canoeing, ATVing and more! Experience Valley Zipline Adventures or Scootin Kootenay Tours to do some exploring via Segways and don’t forget to bring your camera!