(Last updated October 2022.)
I have been told that the water is no longer running off from the pool which means these pools won't exsist.
Fairmont Hot Springs is located in South-Eastern BC. This area is well known for the resort with access to the pool, a RV campground, spa and golf. However what most miss is the natural pools 500 metres from the resort that are completely FREE.
The developed hot springs aren’t really an attraction for me personally; I guess I’ve been spoiled with too many natural ones. I’ve seen these springs on a few posts on Instagram and always wanted to go here. if you aren’t on the BC Hot Springs Forum on Facebook you should be. Access it from here. This gives you helpful tips, some drama and locations of all the Hot Springs in BC.
I read quite a few other blogs to find these ones, so in return I’m making one for you. I have attached a map below to where you will want to go or punch into your GPS.
Tip: go on a week-day, we did and there was only two people when we got there. They left shortly after. I imagine this place could get pretty busy if it wasn’t for that.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From the resort parking lot its only a short walk, hooray! Park in the free parking area, which will be past the RV booth for check-in. This is same place you would park for the developed pools. Head right towards the gravel road to the RV park. There’s a fork pretty quick, there will be signs saying “Grizzly in Area” “Do not Enter.” Proceed right and pass this, I’m sure this is just so people won’t go down here. But still use caution and try to be discreet.
You will head towards the river and go under the pedestrian foot bridge above you, keep going until you see a small path leading down to the river. Again there will be signs saying do not enter. Ignore this and zig zag your way over to the other side of the river. Please use caution as this part is a little washed out. You should be able to hear the waterfall. The waterfall flow will be dependent on how much water from the pools they let out. We went in a October and it was raging.
There is no change rooms as it’s the natural part, which means no bathrooms either. Make sure you change before and do your business prior. Or if you decide to go nude by all means go for it.
The pools are definitely not the hottest springs I’ve been too, but regardless they were pretty warm on a cold day. The warmest one will be right by the waterfall; the deepest will be the biggest infinity type one. I couldn’t believe how blue and clear this water was. Most hot spring water is murky and questionable. Must be because they are a run off from a pool.
We soaked for a couple hours, and listened to the falls floating above the water. Make sure to get a back massage from the falls, that was intense.
Before you leave:
Make sure to pack-in and pack-out of what you brought with you, please don’t bring glass here. Let’s keep this place magical and clean. Leave No Trace. Bonus points if you pack out something that wasn’t yours.