Summer Vacation Camping at Fairmont Hot Springs, BC

Whether you're looking for a fully serviced RV site or a peaceful riverside tenting site, there is something for all styles of camping at Fairmont Hot Springs in the sunny Columbia Valley. Two campgrounds provide services for both RV camping + tent camping, with convenient access to the hot spring pools at the main resort.

Summer is glorious at Fairmont Hot Springs in British Columbia

Introduction to the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is located in the Columbia Valley between the communities of Radium Hot Springs and Invermere to the north, and the City of Kimberley to the south. From Calgary, the drive is just over 3 hours depending on where you live. It's easy enough to reach Fairmont on a Friday after work, and the drive is doable for a short weekend, returning to the city Sunday afternoon.

Options for accommodations at the resort include:

• Lodge rooms in the main resort (some with lofts and kitchenettes) - they sleep 4-6 people
  
  
• Cabins and cottages - they sleep 4 -6 people and some are dog friendly 
  

• Family Villas - they sleep 4-6 people 
  
  
• RV sites at the adjoining campground next door to the main resort
  
  
• RV or tent campsites at the Spruce Grove campground  a short drive down the highway (open from the May long weekend through the September long weekend)

All stays at the hotel resort include access to the hot pools.

Guests staying at the RV resort get a discounted admission to the pools which gets you a day pass and unlimited access to the pools for the day.

Guests staying at the Spruce Grove Campground do not get discounted admission, but the campground is less expensive to stay at, so it evens out in the end.

There's lots of room to splash around in the warm swimming pool at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

Camping at the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort

The Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort is located next door to the regular hotel resort and we've camped here many times. The resort has 190 full service sites and guests get to enjoy all of the amenities of the main resort next door.

There are endless options for activities without leaving camp when you stay at the RV Resort.

We love camping here because there are many hiking paths that start right from the campground. We can go out for a walk, warm up in the hot pools, hang out at camp for a while, play a round of mini golf, and then go back to the pools. And to splurge, we can just walk over to the main resort for a decadent restaurant meal, Sunday brunch, or even afternoon appies and drinks at the family friendly pub.

You'll pay a $10 "resort experience" fee when you stay at the Fairmont Resort (including the RV Resort) but it includes many activities and amenities including:

• Discounted access to the hot springs for RV users (complimentary access for hotel guests)
  
  
• Complimentary mini golf on site (with both an 18 hole and 9 hole course)
  
  
• Daily family activities such as movie nights, scavenger hunts, crafts, and indoor / outdoor games
  
  
• Access to the gym inside the resort's main building
  
  
• Sports including tennis, bocce, and basketball (with equipment available to borrow)
  
  
• One bucket of balls per day (per person) for the driving range at the Riverside Golf Course across the highway - with clubs available to borrow
  
  
• Unlimited Wi-Fi at the resort and in the campground 
  

Read more about the RV Resort amenities here on the Fairmont Hot Springs website.

Camping at the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort (deluxe river view site)

View the Fairmont website to see the different kind of campsites available to book at the RV Resort. 

We usually book a standard site but the bar has been set higher now that we've tried a deluxe river view site (where it felt like we were camping on top of a mountain as we watched the sun set over the Columbia River each night.)

Many of the middle sites don't have "great" privacy when the campground is full, but if you have a smaller trailer/van, try to book one of the standard sites in the eastern part of the campground (sites 71-83,) or if you're camping early season we really like sites 108-115 in the upper part of the campground where it's very quiet.

See the resort map online when you go to book a site.

Superior mountain view sites at the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort

Note: You must have a certified RV or motorhome to reserve a site in the RV Resort. Trucks with truck caps, roof top tents or converted vans / buses that are not certified will not be allowed. 

If you don't meet the requirements to camp at the RV resort, the Spruce Grove Campground is located just down the road. This campground opens for the May long weekend each year and is a lovely campground for tenters with many non serviced sites. It also has several RV sites with full or partial hookups and its own swimming pool. (And you can still drive to access the hot springs.)

We usually camp at Spruce Grove later in the season (June through the September long weekend) because we like camping beside the Columbia River.

Also note There are no campfires permitted at the RV Resort. If you want a campfire at night you can either use a propane fire bowl, or you can camp at the Spruce Grove Campground which has fire pits at each site.

The hot spring pools are just a short walk from the RV Resort

Make a Reservation! 

Reservations can also be made online a year in advance and are super easy to make! Just select the type of campsite you want, and an availability map will show up with available sites.

And don't worry if you aren't a "book sites a year in advance" kind of person! There are always available campsites at Fairmont (and usually plenty of last minute sites throughout the summer.)

Free mini golf awaits you when you camp at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 

Camping at the Spruce Grove Campground

Riverside camping doesn't get much better than at the Spruce Grove Campground, affiliated with the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. When the river is low, there's also a beautiful sandy beach to play at.

From the website: "With 137 camping and tenting sites (some of which are fully serviced) and a free heated swimming pool, this scenic BC camping spot is particularly popular with group gatherings and families.

Situated on the banks of the sparkling Columbia River that wraps around the campground, Spruce Grove is just a short drive from the main Fairmont Hot Springs resort area. " 

Riverside Camping at the Spruce Grove Campground

Riverside camping 

If you're looking for riverside camping, check out the campground map when you go to book a site. There are four riverside sites with power + water (248-251,) and the rest (252-275) are non-serviced. Site 248 is directly beside the beach. Each site upwards gets further away from the sand (though you're still beside the river or the inner lagoon.)

You must have an RV or trailer to camp in one of the "pink" sites with services. You can't claim a prime serviced site and put up a tent on it. 

If you want a site with full hookups (water + electric + sewer) you can't camp beside the river, but there are a few nice sites across from it (240-243.)

And while not exactly "beside" the river, these unserviced sites, (277-280,) are worth mentioning for their quiet private location.  Camp here in the spring and you might be all alone in the back.

We love camping beside the river at the Spruce Grove Campground

Beach camping 

I've had people express shock when they see my photos of the campground with an actual beach, because it disappears when the water is high. When the campground opens May long weekend, there is definitely a big sandy area beside the river.  After that, it varies year to year. 

In late June through mid July you likely won't see much sand, but then it slowly comes back by August.

Beach access: Note, accessing the beach is a bit tricky unless you've secured one of the sites that backs on to the beach There is no pathway to the beach, and easy access is blocked by the riverside campsites (as seen in the photo above.)

Please do not walk through occupied campsites to access the beach or the river. (We've camped in front of the beach and had people walk through the middle of our campsite without asking permission, while dragging kids, chairs, dogs, wagons etc.)

If you really want to make sure you get a site in front of the beach, you can book a riverside site up to a year in advance and then you'll get a beautiful campsite with your own private beach. Otherwise, be prepared to crawl through the fence beside the beach or ask very politely to pass through somebody's site.

Also note: the beach is not an off leash dog park. Dogs are supposed to be on leash in the campground at all times.

Beach side sites can be booked a year in advance!

Other perks of camping at the Spruce Grove Campground:

• You can camp in a mixed group with tents and RVs (great for family get togethers)
  
  
• You still get access to the Fairmont Hot Springs pools as a public day user (there are no restrictions at the moment preventing the public to access the pools.)
  
  
• There is a free swimming pool at Spruce Grove
  
  
• You can fish in the river right from the campground (don't forget to buy a BC fishing license)
  
  
• Riverside access for those who like kayaking, canoeing, or stand up paddleboarding. (more information below)
  
  
• No resort experience fees (Campers at Spruce Grove do not pay the nightly $10 resort fee that you pay when staying at the RV Resort)
  
  
• A natural camping experience. (Expect grass, gravel roads, and lots of trees.)

This campground is only open between the May long and September long weekends. For early or late season camping, make a reservation at the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort. - no tents.

Fishing in the Columbia River early season (note no beach)

There are many pretty sites around the lagoon in the Spruce Grove Campground

Spruce Grove is a hot-weather Camping Paradise!

When it's hot outside, you'll see everybody at camp hanging out by the river, swimming, paddling around the lagoon, floating down the river in tubes, and cooling off.

The river "swimming pool" is chilly but refreshing on a hot day!

Hanging out at the beach is a great way to spend a relaxed day at camp and kids love playing in the sand!

Kids love the beach at Spruce Grove!

Paddling and Tubing from the Spruce Grove Campground

If you like kayaking, canoeing, or stand up paddleboarding, this is a great campground. It's a short paddle from the boat launch on Columbia River Road back to camp, and a quick one-hour trip. (Google maps is a bit weird with this one, but I promise if you follow this road, you'll come to a good put in spot beside the river that's fairly obvious.)

Alternately, start at camp, paddle down stream through the Riverside golf course, and take out at the boat launch below the golf course on River Drive (near Wilder Memorial Park.) This takes a couple of hours at most.

And if tubing is more your speed, bring inflatable tubes with you and float either the section above camp or spend an afternoon floating down river through the golf course.

Evening paddling on the Columbia River

My husband often drives me up to the put in above camp so that I can SUP my way back to camp in the evening. As a family we like to do the longer paddle down river, but we have to figure out the shuttle part which gets tricky (unless camping with friends.)

Note the river is only high enough to use paddleboards early season. By mid July it gets to shallow and you're guaranteed to hit rocks.

Paddling down the Columbia River from the Spruce Grove campground 

Make a Reservation! 

Read more about the Spruce Grove Campground on the Fairmont website where you'll see a description for each site category and find a map of the resort. 

Reservations can also be made online a year in advance and are super easy to make! Just select the type of campsite you want, and an availability map will show up with available sites.

And even if you decide to make a spontaneous last minute decision to go camping, there are usually sites available.

Summer tubing on the Columbia River near the Spruce Grove campground

Other Activities to Enjoy While Camping at Fairmont 

Soaking in Natural Hot Spring Pools

I love soaking in the Indigenous pools up by the old bath house at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. It's a short walk up the hill above the zipline parking lot and you're almost guaranteed to have the pools to yourself. There's even an old stone bathtub carved into the rock that you can soak in!

Soaking in the Indigenous Bath Pools at Fairmont Hot Springs

I've been known to spend hours soaking in the larger pool up on this hill overlooking the Columbia Valley, and it's especially beautiful as the sun is setting over the river. 

Note the pools dry up in spring but are usually full of water by mid summer. There is no fee to use the pools, but make sure you show up prepared for a natural experience without amenities. There are no change facilities or bathrooms and you must pack out all garbage with you.

Using these pools is a great activity while camping at the RV Resort because you can walk over in your swim suit. Bring a large towel or bath robe for the walk back.

Peaceful soaking in the Indigenous Baths

Biking around Fairmont

Some of our favourite family-friendly mountain bike trails are located near Fairmont. The Spirit Trail is a fav. bike ride of ours and it's a short drive from the resort.

Mountain biking is one of our fav. family activities at Fairmont

There's also a brand new paved bike trail that starts near Invermere and ends at Fairmont. The Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail is 25 km long (one way) and has easy, intermediate, and advanced sections.

Read more about the trails around Fairmont here in my bike guide:

Read: The Best Family Bike Trails in the Columbia Valley 

Paved Biking on The Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail 

Hiking around the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 

For hiking around the campground, we like the Owl Loop and the Geary Lookout Trail. 

You can view all area trails on the All Trails app or website. 

And for a fun walking challenge, check out the Hot Spring Heist Scavenger Hunt. The game is free for resort guests with a special code that staff can give you.

There are also several geocaches hidden around the resort that we've had fun looking for.

There are many great walking trails around the resort 

Adventure with the Mineral Mountain Ziplines

Located on the resort property, this zipline adventure is one of the best we've tried in BC. Soar across the valley on 6 different lines as you fly high above the resort on this amazing family-friendly adventure.

Visit the Mineral Mountain Ziplines website for more information and to make a reservation. The zipline adventure opens mid May each year and is open through September.

Soar high above Fairmont Hot Springs Resort on a zipline adventure

Other activities to try include:

• Tennis and volleyball courts (on site at the main resort)
  
  
• ATV tours (nearby)
  
  
• Horseback riding at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort stables (along with pony rides for the younger kids)
  
  
• River rafting tours (nearby) - Read: Rafting the Kootenay River in Radium Hot Springs
  
  
• Golf (there are 3 golf courses at Fairmont Hot Springs)
  
  
• Complimentary Mini Golf at the main resort (Pick your clubs and balls up inside the main lodge beside the check-in desk.)

The mini golf course is one of the best in the valley!

Note there are additional charges for most of the activities above and some of them are not guided by the resort. The Activity Centre will connect you with your tour operator though and make reservations for you. 

For more information, follow this link to Things to Do at Fairmont Hot Springs.

Join a rafting tour while camping at Fairmont Hot Springs in the summer!

Recommended Reading

For more inspiration, check out my large guide to the entire Columbia Valley:

Read: The Best of the Columbia Valley (Radium Hot Springs to Invermere - and beyond!) 

Disclaimer: We have been hosted at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort many times. All opinions are my own.

Hot Springs and Cross-Country Skiing - The Ultimate Winter Getaway

We love visiting Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for what we call "48 hours in Mexico!" It doesn't matter what the weather is doing outside because once you step into the therapeutic hot spring pools, you can close your eyes and pretend to be anywhere you'd like to be (with no flights or jetlag!)

Recently we hopped over to British Columbia for a combined wellness escape + ski getaway weekend. We spent our days skiing and our afternoons/evenings relaxing in the hot pools. It was pure perfection!

Cross country skiing near Fairmont Hot Springs 

"48 hours in Mexico" at Fairmont Hot Springs

Staying at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 

Fairmont Hot Springs is located in the Columbia Valley of British Columbia between the communities of Radium Hot Springs and Invermere to the north, and the City of Kimberley to the south. From Calgary, the drive is just over 3 hours depending on where you live. It's easy enough to reach Fairmont on a Friday after work, and the drive is doable for a short weekend, returning to the city Sunday afternoon.

There are many hotels and resorts around the Columbia Valley, and we've stayed at other properties in the Fairmont area, but if you want to use the Fairmont hot spring pools, you'll want to stay at the actual Fairmont Hot Springs Resort property where admission is included with your stay.

Guests staying at the resort get unlimited access to the hot pools, and children will love the warm swimming pool located beside the large hot pool. The pools are a short walk from the main lodge building and you'll be given warm plush bath robes for the run over.

Guests not wanting to run over to the large pools will also find a smaller hot pool just outside the building (connected by a warm tunnel.)

Magical Fairmont Hot Springs

Running over from the lodge to the hot springs

Lodging Choices at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 

We personally love staying in the Mountain View Cabins for a winter glamping experience (though I'm not sure you can really compare it to camping when you have a full kitchen with microwave.) The cabins are very close to the hot pools and I appreciate the privacy you get when you're away from the main lodge. (No neighbors, nobody running down the hallways...)

I also like having two separate bedrooms in the cabins so that you can put the kids to bed earlier in their own room. The kids' room also has bunk beds which is fun!

The cabins are on the pricier side, but you get a fully equipped kitchen so you can save money by not having to eat out as much. If you plan to eat at the resort restaurants most of the time, consider staying in one of the lodge rooms where you'll be able to stay inside without having to walk between your cabin and the main building.

If you want to do a combination of eating out (I always like to eat dinner at the Bear's Paw Bar and Grill) and eating in your room, consider getting a lodge room with a kitchenette. That way you can make simple breakfasts in your room and you'll have a fridge to store lunch and snack items. 

You can view all lodging options here on the FHSR website. 

Mountain View Cabins at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 

An inside look at one of the Mountain View Cabins 

Where to Cross-country Ski near the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

There are several options for skiers of all abilities near the resort, and renting equipment is easy if you visit one of the Nordic Centres. 

From south to north, below are the following options for skiing: 

Skiing at the Kimberley Nordic Club 

Kimberley is approximately an hour south of Fairmont and it's a great place to go early or late season when there's not a lot of snow in the Columbia Valley. There are trails for all abilities and we really liked the easy single track trails that were very beginner-friendly. This would be one of your best choices for skate skiing in the Columbia Valley as well.

We had great fun this winter exploring the trails in Kimberley!

"Kimberley is a first class facility consisting of a variety of snowcat groomed trails complete with primary trails that allow skate and classic skiing. There are also narrower single track trails ideal for classic skiers who are looking for more solitude. These trails are of varying degrees of difficulty and length to accommodate all levels of nordic skiers. 

The modern facility includes a comfortable lodge with washrooms, 30 km of groomed double track trails, a 3.3 kilometre lit loop for night skiing, a 1.0 km lit sprint loop and 6.5 km of single track trails. The facility also has some trails specifically constructed to be Paralympic skiing friendly." - Kimberley Nordic Club 

 

There are trail fees in effect to ski at the Kimberley Nordic Club but you can pay when you arrive to ski. You can also rent skis if you need for the day.

We enjoyed a snow globe kind of day when we visited Kimberley to ski

Skiing at the Panorama Nordic Centre

Panorama Mountain Resort is a 40 minute drive from Fairmont and you'll find parking outside the Nordic Centre at the Grey Wolf Golf Course. Inside the clubhouse you can pay your trail fees, get a map, and stock up on anything you might need from new gloves to ski wax. You can also rent skis and equipment.

Skiing to the Hale Hut at Panorama Mountain Resort

Starting from the golf course we like to ski up to the Hale Hut and back, an intermediate ski which visits two huts in approx. 7 km round trip. The Hale Hut is heated and makes for a great lunch spot. If you want to go further, we skied the full Placer/Great Scott Trail out and back for 17-18 km total distance.

"The Panorama Nordic Centre at Greywolf offers more than 20+ km of regularly groomed trails dedicated to cross-country skiing. Through forest and alongside Toby Creek, the cross-country specific trails provide an uncrowded experience in spectacular mountain scenery." - Panorama Nordic Centre

 

Skiing along Toby Creek at the Panorama Nordic Centre

The trails are groomed daily and are great for both classic and skate skiing. Dogs are also allowed on some of the trails but you'll need to purchase a special $5 pooch pass if you want to ski with your pup. (Honestly if you have a dog though, you'll want to go to Nipika to ski - keep reading below.)

There are also separate trails for hiking and fat biking (with fat bike and snowshoe rentals on site if you have non skiers with you.)

Perfect grooming at Panorama 

You don't see perfect fresh grooming like this every day!

Skiing on the Lake Lillian Whiteway and Junior Johnson Trail, Invermere

Invermere is 20 minutes from Fairmont Hot Springs and there are a few options for skiing here.

The Toby Creek Nordic Club grooms and track sets several trails around the Columbia Valley including a loop on Lake Lillian outside Invermere and a loop on the Junior Johnson, a double track beginner mountain bike trail across the road from the lake.

Each loop is approximately 3 km in distance and you can ski both from the same parking lot. The Lake Lillian loop is 100% flat and great for novice skiers. The Junior Johnson Trail has a few easy hills as the trail winds its way through the forest. 

The Junior Johnson loop is groomed and trackset for cross country skiing, and there is also a groomed loop for fat biking and hiking (without tracks.) We skied both loops when we were there for a total of about 5 km. 

Users are requested to pay a $5 day use fee payable online here or in the cash box on the welcome sign.

There are no rentals available so bring your own equipment.

Note: Always check the current trail report in the Toby Creek Facebook group before heading out here because the Columbia Valley often has warm spells in the winter, forcing the ski club to close access to the lake loop due to unsafe conditions. The Junior Johnson is also only groomed and trackset when there is enough snow.

The Panorama Nordic Centre is the place to ski when it's been too warm to safely ski on a lake.

Easy skiing on the Junior Johnson Loop outside Invermere

Easy family skiing on the Lake Lillian Whiteway

Skiing on the Lake Windermere Whiteway, Invermere

The Toby Creek Nordic Club grooms and track sets a large loop around Lake Windermere as well. It's another easy option for beginner skiers and the loop is 100% flat. The same trail fees apply as above, $5 per day, and dogs are allowed to join you while you ski. 

"In 2014 the Lake Windermere Whiteway was named the world’s longest skating trail by Guinness World Records. At over 30km in length, this multi-use trail offers ice-skating as well as groomed skate and classic cross-country ski trails.

The Whiteway provides winter sports enthusiasts an incredible facility, adding to the already abundant list of winter activities available in the stunning Columbia Valley. It offers 2 access points: one at Kinsmen beach in Invermere and one at Windermere Beach." - Toby Creek Nordic Club

I've personally never skied on this lake but I've ice skated the loop many times. Access to the lake is either from Kinsman Beach in Invermere or from the public beach in Windermere.

The Lake Windermere Whiteway offers ice skating and cross-country skiing in winter

Skiing at Nipika Mountain Resort

Nipika Mountain Resort is an hour north of Fairmont and we like to ski here on our drive back to Calgary. If you have a dog, this is THE number one place you'll want to ski. The resort is very dog-friendly and they are allowed off leash on all trails.

And if you don't have a dog, you'll still LOVE skiing here. Nipika is one of the best Nordic Centres we've skied at, and the trails are incredibly beautiful. We love skiing the north trails to the Natural Bridge, over to the Confluence Bridge, and back in a 12 km loop.

Skiing over the Natural Bridge at Nipika Mountain Resort 

"Nipika Mountain Resort is a cross country ski mecca with 50km of groomed trails. They are professionally groomed on a regular basis for both classic and skate skiing. The terrain ranges from beginner to expert and flows through treed areas, open spaces with mountain views, and alongside the Kootenay and Cross Rivers." - Nipika Mountain Resort

Trail fees apply to ski here and you can pay them when you arrive inside the main lodge. You can also rent skis, fat bikes, or snowshoes - and the resort maintains an extensive trail system with separate trails for all user groups. (And their fat bike trails are amazing if you want to try a new sport.)

You'll also find three warming huts on the trail system which are very appreciated on cold days! 

One of the warming huts at Nipika where you can start a fire and have lunch or snacks

The Confluence Bridge at the Kootenay and Cross Rivers

Skiing along the Cross River at Nipika Mountain Resort

Read more about Winter Adventures in the Columbia Valley

Winter Guide to the Columbia Valley (Golden, Radium Hot Springs, Invermere - and beyond!)

Disclaimer: Our recent stay at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort was hosted by the resort. As always, all words and opinions are my own. 

Jump into Spring at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

My family has spent a lot of time at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort over the years and it's always been one of our favourite places to spend a weekend while exploring in the East Kootenay Rockies of British Columbia.

Spring is especially glorious when there's already green grass and dry trails in April. Add hot pools to soak in, and it's a pretty sweet place for a family getaway.

Spring at Fairmont Hot Springs is pretty glorious!

Move over Mexico, Hello Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

On our last visit to the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, I actually felt like we were on an all inclusive getaway in Mexico. We didn't bring any groceries with us but allowed ourselves to eat out the entire time. We made use of the restaurants at the resort and enjoyed a decadent weekend with no cooking! No sandwiches for lunch, no packed lunches in backpacks, but simply walking into one of the restaurants every time we were hungry.

Add hot pools where you can spend hours lounging in the sun, and it definitely felt like we'd left Canada.

Hands up if you'd like to spend a day here soaking in hot water and basking in spring sunshine!

Relaxing at its finest at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in the Columbia Valley 

Fairmont Hot Springs is located in the Columbia Valley between the communities of Radium Hot Springs and Invermere to the north, and the City of Kimberley to the south. From Calgary, the drive is just over 3 hours depending on where you live. It's easy enough to reach Fairmont on a Friday after work, and the drive is doable for a short weekend, returning to the city Sunday afternoon.

For a more relaxed visit, plan a trip out to Fairmont over a long weekend or reserve one of the deluxe cabins for a week this coming summer. (It's a great vacation spot!)

This is April at Fairmont Hot Springs!

Everything you need to know about the Fairmont Hot Springs Pools 

It's no secret in our family that I love the Fairmont Hot Springs pools and that we will be visiting the resort (no matter where we stay in the Columbia Valley) for at least an afternoon.

The hot soaking pool and the warm swimming pool are side by side so I can spend my time happily soaking in the hotter pool while my son is playing with his dad in the other pool - and I can keep an eye on the fun, so I don't feel like I've abandoned my boys.

In previous years there has been a dive tank for the summer months with two diving boards. New regulations for pools have closed the diving boards and ongoing post-pandemic challenges have kept the dive tank closed due to staffing shortages.

Visit the Fairmont Hot Springs website for current updates on the hot pools and public access. The pools have been restricted to resort guests only off and on over the past few years.

Working on my summer tan (in April!)

You can spend the whole day here at the hot pools. You'll find a large grassy area with lawn chairs, poolside cabana rentals in the summer season, a cabana restaurant (where you can purchase drinks or snacks to enjoy beside the pool) and with your day pass you're allowed to come and go through the day (which is great if you're staying at the RV resort next door.) Resort guests already get unlimited access to the pools.

There's also a snack bar next door where you can purchase items to go (to enjoy beside the pool.)

Side by side hot soaking and warm swimming pools at Fairmont Hot Springs

The resort guest-exclusive hot springs pool is a magical place to relax

Accommodations for all Comfort Levels, Family Needs, and Budgets

On our most recent trip to Fairmont Hot Springs we had a loft room with kitchenette in the main lodge. It worked well for us, and our son could go to sleep upstairs while my husband and I stayed downstairs to quietly read or play a game of crib.

Our room had two queen sized beds on the main floor with two single beds upstairs in the loft (perfect for a moms' weekend getaway with a few girlfriends once restrictions are lifted!)

Our cozy loft room with kitchenette at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

And while we didn't do any cooking in our room, we did have a basic kitchenette that would have worked well for breakfast and lunch (honestly for dinner you want to eat out at one of the resort restaurants.)

Staying in the lodge is convenient if you want to run downstairs to grab a coffee in the morning or you want to go out for a meal at one of the restaurants without having to put on a jacket. (Heck, you could wear slippers to breakfast. - which I actually saw.) 

Our cozy upstairs loft room (pretty palatial for one child!)

On a previous trip we got to try one of the new deluxe cabins (open year round,) located beside the resort in the campground. 

Read about our previous cabin stay below: 

Lest you think you'll be "camping," these cabins are pretty comfortable. Each cabin has a kitchen with a full sized fridge, a dishwasher, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, stove and oven, and everything you'll need for your family's needs. There's also a barbecue located on the deck of each cabin. Going one step further, the TV also has Netflix on it so you can hang out on the balcony with your glass of wine while the kids are happily entertained.

The cabins sleep four people and have two bedrooms, one with a queen sized bed for the parents, and the other with bunk beds for the kids. I loved the separate bedrooms because it meant I didn't have to go to bed at 8pm with my son. (The kids went to bed, and us adults could stay up and hang out in the living room.) It also worked out well when my son was awake at 6am the next morning - and needed a place to read books and eat his cheerios (without disturbing this mom's beauty sleep.)

Deluxe cabins at Fairmont Hot Springs

Spend a few nights in one of these comfortable cabins and wake up to deer grazing outside your door. Start your day with a short walk over to the main lodge for a cup of coffee from Steamers Cafe or enjoy weekend brunch at the Antler's Restaurant. After that, you'll enjoy your proximity to the hot pools which you can easily reach in your bathrobe (adult robes provided in each room.) - bring your own bathrobes for the children.

And when you get tired of cooking, there's a great family-friendly lounge, the Bear's Paw Bar and Grill, in the main lodge. The pizza is incredible so I highly recommend at least one meal here.

Cabin to hot springs!

Other accommodations at Fairmont Hot Springs include:

Lodge rooms (some with lofts and kitchenettes) - they sleep 4-6 people

Summer duplex-style cabins - they sleep up to 4 people and are dog friendly

Summer cottages - they sleep up to 6 people

Juniper Lodge rooms (with kitchenettes) - they sleep up to 4 people and some are dog friendly. 

* All stays include access to the hot pools during your visit including a private hot pool for resort guests only.

** Many of the cabins and cottages work very well for groups or family reunions. Book a bunch of rooms or cabins side by side, bring your lawn chairs, and you can hang out on the lawn visiting while the kids run around and play.

For more information, please visit the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort website.

Not a bad place to spend a spring weekend!

Camping at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

The Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort is next door to the regular resort and we've stayed here several times for long weekends. While the hot springs are not included with RV stays, you do get discounted admission and you'll be able to purchase day passes allowing you unlimited access to the pools per day.

We love camping here because there are many hiking and biking paths that start right from the campground. We can go out for a walk, warm up in the hot pools, hang out at camp for a while, go for a bike ride, and then go back to the pools. And to splurge, the resort is a short walk away for a decadent restaurant meal or even afternoon appies and drinks at the family friendly pub.

We also love that every site has full hook ups so we don't have to fill our water tank before setting up camp. (And we don't have to empty the tanks when leaving!) I can use my coffee maker, the toaster, and the microwave (we don't camp simply,) and cable TV hook ups are available on some sites.

And should you fancy some early season camping, the RV Resort is already open.

Read more: Plan a Spring Camping Trip at Fairmont Hot Springs

Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort

For more information on the campground follow this link to the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort

Note that the RV resort does not allow tents. You must have a trailer, RV, or van set up for camping.

However, tents are allowed just down the road at the Spruce Grove Campground. This campground opens for the May long weekend each year and is a lovely campground for tenters with many non serviced sites. It also has several RV sites with hookups and its own swimming pool. 

Note at Spruce Grove you do not get discounts for the hot springs. You can still use them however as a member of the public.

Beachside camping at Spruce Grove

Follow this link to make an online booking for the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort. 

You can also make an online booking for the Spruce Grove Campground here. 

Mountain biking on one of the trails from the Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort

Bike, Hike, and Soak from April through October!

Spring comes very early to the Columbia Valley and you can be mountain biking on dry trails by mid to late April! There's even green grass by that time. We also come out for Thanksgiving in October because it's definitely still warm and we can even camp.

For hiking around the campground, we like the Owl Loop and the Geary Lookout Trail. For biking, my boys like the Montezuma's Revenge loop and we also liked biking to the Geary Lookout.

Visit the All Trails website or app to view all area trails.

Some of our favourite family-friendly mountain bike trails are located near Fairmont so we always come out here in the spring and fall when it's not quite as hot.

Spring mountain biking near Fairmont Hot Springs

There's also a brand new paved bike trail that starts near Invermere and ends at Fairmont. The Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail is 25 km long (one way) and has easy, intermediate, and advanced sections. Check out the map at the link above to choose a section that would be right for your family.

Strong riders could do the entire thing one way if you set up a vehicle shuttle for your family or if an adult rode back to the beginning. (If you were to do this, I'd ride one way from Invermere to Fairmont so you can bike back to the resort while one adult bikes back for the car.) - Although know that you'll have to climb to get back up to the resort from the highway.

My family usually does short segments out and back.

Biking towards Fairmont on the new Westside Legacy Trail

Read more about mountain biking in the Columbia Valley here: 

Read: The Best Family Bike Trails in the Columbia Valley 

Read more about hiking in the Columbia Valley here: 

Read: The Best of the Columbia Valley (Radium Hot Springs to Invermere - and beyond!) 

Spring hiking near Fairmont Hot Springs

Soak in Natural Hot Springs at Fairmont

One of our favourite things to do when we're at Fairmont Hot Springs is to soak in natural mineral pools that don't have chlorine or chemicals added to them. The water isn't always as "hot" or as comfortable for soaking in as the main commercial pools at the resort, but it's a fun experience (especially on a warm day.)

Soaking in the Indigenous Baths at Fairmont Hot Springs

There are two options for natural soaking near the resort:

1. The Indigenous Baths at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

From the overflow parking lot hike up to the top of the little knoll where you'll see an old stone house. This is the historic Indigenous Bath House. It is closed to entry but there are pools outside the bath house that have warm water in them. 

These pools are very small so I recommend visiting them early morning or in the evening when they might be quieter. Be prepared to wait if others are using them or to return later. We've had good luck going early morning.

There is nowhere to change at the site so wear your swim suit under your clothes and bring a towel for the return to your hotel room or campsite.

The Indigenous Baths at Fairmont Hot Springs

2. Lussier Hot Springs, nearby

These are the best known natural hot springs near Fairmont.

Know that this area is very busy. Don't expect to have the pools to yourself at any time of the day. Also be prepared for a rough drive on a gravel road that may scare some people afraid of heights.

From the parking area, it is a short walk down a steep but well maintained trail to the pools by the river. There is an outhouse on site but it's easier if you wear your swimsuit and then you only have to change before driving home.

Lussier Hot Springs near Fairmont

Disclaimer: Use the natural hot springs and mineral pools at Fairmont Hot Springs at your own risk.

Please obey all closures and respect the areas you are visiting. Pack out all garbage, do not bring glass bottles to the pools, and swim suits must be worn in all public areas.

Soaking in the Indigenous Baths at Fairmont Hot Springs

Explore Fairmont Hot Springs from the River

Lake Windermere is just a short drive away if you want a beach day in May or June, and the Columbia River flows through the valley for great paddling.

We spent a great day paddling down the Columbia River through Fairmont Hot Springs on our stand up paddleboards last spring. We timed our visit for a warm day in May and the river was high enough for our boards. (Later in the summer the water gets too shallow and is better enjoyed in tubes.)

Recommended activities:

Sign up for a family tubing adventure on the Columbia River (in summer) - transportation not included.

May on the Columbia River near Fairmont Hot Springs 

Alternately, you can bring your own stand up paddleboards or boats and head out for a lazy float down the Columbia River through Fairmont. You'll need your own equipment and will have to set up your own shuttle. We used bikes for this.

If you want to float the river on your own, this is where you'll put in. (And I know it looks like you're walking to the put in, but I assure you Columbia River Road continues past where it ends on Google Maps. The put in is right on Columbia River Road so just follow this road until you see the obvious boat launch beside the river.)

And this is where you'll take out. There's a lovely little boat launch on the other side of the highway from the resort beside the river.

Paddling down the Columbia River upstream of Fairmont Hot Springs

Note, previous experience is highly recommended!! There are several tight corners on this stretch of river, the water can be cold early season, and there are some fast sections. There is also one bridge that was a bit tricky to get under last time we went (with rocks to dodge.)

Paddling through the golf course in Fairmont Hot Springs

Explore the Resort on a Mystery Scavenger Hunt 

Kids LOVE scavenger hunts but it’s hard to create an exciting set of clues from scratch and you can’t exactly leave pieces of paper scattered all over the place in public with directions or answers on them.

My family was looking for fun activities to do with friends this spring so we tried a  Clue Solvers mystery hunt in downtown Calgary.  We had so much fun, we then moved on to try the "Smugglers Blues" game in Canmore and finally, for our third game, we tried the "Hot Springs Heist" at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

If you’re staying at the resort, just go to the activities building where they’ll get you set up with the code to start this fun adventure using your smart phone (no cost involved.) If you’re not staying at the resort you can visit the Clue Solvers website to register (fees apply.)

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Best of all for this mystery hunt:

• You can choose the family-friendly version or the challenging version. (We chose challenging which was perfect with a teenager.)
  
  
• You can choose a short version (roughly 60 minutes to play) or a longer version (which took us about 90 minutes.)
  
  
• There are breaks built into the game and there’s a shortcut option near the end if you’re getting tired and want to cut out two clues involving extra distance to walk. (I confess we took the shortcut path.)

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Along the hunt you’ll explore the beautiful Fairmont Hot Springs resort property, walking trails, and the historical Indigenous Baths while solving easy clues to finish the puzzle and find the final key.

We've had fun solving mysteries with the Clue Solvers games

Other Recommended Spring Activities at Fairmont Hot Springs

My family doesn't golf, but golfing would be the big draw for many adults (and families with older youth) for a spring trip to the Columbia Valley.

Golf courses at Fairmont Hot Springs open as early as March 26th for the season! (That's way earlier than Calgary.)

You can get all the details on golf courses at Fairmont Hot Springs here. (And there are options for easy family-friendly par 3 courses.)

There are golf specials as well, and kids 12 and under golf for free.

There is also complimentary mini golf for Fairmont Hot Springs resort guests. (And it's a great mini golf course!)

There are golf courses for all abilities at Fairmont (including mini golf for the non-golfer)

Still not convinced your family will be entertained at Fairmont Hot Springs?

How about a zipline adventure! My family tried the Mineral Mountain Ziplines Course and it was a blast! The course is located right at the resort so you don't have to drive anywhere. (And it's the real deal! - we were thoroughly impressed.)

The ziplines will open mid to late May for the season.

Flying above the Columbia Valley at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

Add to all of that, the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort also has a full activity program run by the "Activity and Experience Centre" which includes kids' day camps.

Other activities to try include:

• Mini golf (on site with a cost)
  
  
• Tennis and volleyball courts (on site)
  
  
• ATV tours (nearby)
  
  
• Geocaching (on site)
  
  
• Horseback riding at the stables right at Fairmont Hot Springs (along with pony rides for the younger kids)
  
  
• River rafting tours (nearby) 
  
  
• Fishing (nearby) 

Note there are additional charges for most of the activities above and some of them are not guided by the resort. The Activity Centre will connect you with your tour operator though and make reservations for you. 

For more information, follow this link to Things to Do at Fairmont Hot Springs 

Fishing on the Columbia River near Fairmont Hot Springs

Additional Recommended Reading

Plan a Spring Camping Trip at Fairmont Hot Springs

The Best of the Columbia Valley (Radium Hot Springs to Invermere - and beyond!) 

Five Reasons you Need to Visit Fairmont Hot Springs Resort with your Family

Autumn Family Fun at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (with more information on the zipline tour)

Mountain biking near Fairmont Hot Springs 

Disclaimer: My family has been hosted on recent visits to the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Also please note that we have not tried all of the activities mentioned in this story (yet.) It's an ongoing mission of ours to explore every corner of the valley but it's going to take us a few years yet to try everything. As always, all words and opinions are my own.