Right on Arrow Lake in between Revelstoke and Nakusp, you will find the Halcyon Hot Springs!
Since it’s quite a famous hot spring in BC, we’ve heard a lot about it so when we went to Revelstoke recently, we figured we’d go check out if it was worth the hype… and it was!
The water in the hot springs runs from the West Kootenay Mountains and straight to Halcyon. So even though they are commercialized hot springs, they are still natural hot springs (not just heated pools) which is awesome.
The location is also pretty amazing. Surrounded by mountains, Arrow Lake, and one of the most peaceful parts of Canada you just can’t beat these views.
The Kootenay Rockies is one of the most beautiful parts of BC and these hot springs are right in the heart of them.
Everything you need to know about visiting Halcyon Hot Springs
To visit Halcyon Hot Springs we went on a day trip from Revelstoke.
It takes just over an hour to get there as you drive down Highway 23, take the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry across the water, and then continue on Highway 23 until you reach the hot springs.
To give you an idea of what you can expect, imagine pine trees all around, mountains in every direction, and 4 different pools to choose from while enjoying the beautiful view of the lake and some nice peace and quiet time in nature.
A lot of people also choose to spend the night at Halcyon Resort since the hot springs are connected to it and the rooms and chalets look great!
Halcyon Hot Springs hours and price
If you just come for the day, there are two types of passes you can get for the Halcyon Hot Springs.
There is the day pass that goes from 9 am to 5 pm and then the night pass that goes from 5 pm to 9 pm (from 8 pm to 9 pm is adults only).
The price of either pass is $30 + GST per person. You get a towel with your access pass so you don’t need to bring your own.
Make sure you bring a toonie for the lockers as you will have to pay to store your items in the changing rooms.
The different pools at Halcyon Hot Springs
There are 4 different pools at the hot springs. These four pools are all different sizes and different temperatures.
Ranking from biggest to smallest, these are the 4 different pools:
- Seasonal Mineral Swimming Pool – 30C / 86F
- Warm Pool – 37C / 99F
- Hot Pool – 40C / 104F
- Cold Plunge – 14C / 58F
The seasonal mineral swimming pool is actually located separately from the other pools. If you walk down the staircase where the three main pools are you’ll get to the fourth one (which is also the largest).
The three other pools (warm, hot, and cold) are all right next to each other which makes it easy to hop between them all.
We found that most people just hung out in the warm pool and then dipped in and out between the hot and cold! Maybe during the winter months, you won’t last too long in the cold one!
Why the spring water is so famous
The water here near Halcyon Resort has been famous for a long time dating back all the way to 1890.
The First Nations (predominantly Sinixt First Nations) whose land these hot springs are on called it the “great medicine water”.
The water comes from deep underground and has a bunch of minerals such as calcium, lithium, magnesium, and strontium. By the First Nations, it was believed that this water had healing powers.
A fun fact about the mineral water here is that since it’s so highly concentrated with these minerals (lithium in specific) it has been sent all the way to London, England!
Even after our experience at the hot springs, we felt so fresh and rejuvenated. I don’t know if it was a placebo effect or the water working its wonders but it sure did the trick!
Staying the night at Halcyon Resort
Halcyon Resort is known for its hot springs and there’s a good reason why. Plenty of people stop by as day trips from Revelstoke or Naskup.
However, it’s also a great place to spend the night! There are a bunch of chalets and cottages that you can stay at and enjoy the whole experience (with breakfast included).
There’s even a restaurant at the resort so you can hop between the cozy chalets and hot springs, and then end the night off with a yummy dinner and glass of wine before heading back to the chalet for the night.
It’s a remote area of BC that has everything you need for a relaxing night or two all while enjoying some incredible hot springs!
👉🏼 Check out Halcyon Resort’s prices & availability here 👈🏼
Our experience at the hot springs
We had an awesome time at Halcyon. Our lives are usually quite busy so it was really nice to get off our phones for a few hours and just enjoy the moment.
It felt like the time just flew by in the hot springs as we relaxed and hopped between the 4 pools all while chatting to the other guests that were there.
The pools weren’t crowded but we also went on a Tuesday in September when the season is a bit more quiet in this part of BC.
I think the only thing we would have done differently is either stay the night or at least try out the restaurant as it looked really good.
We already had our accommodation booked in Revelstoke but if we had the chance to stay the night we would have!
The facilities were great and clean, the hot springs were super nice, the staff was friendly, and the views of the Monashees were obviously stunning so, all in all, we really enjoyed our time there!
How to get to the Halcyon Hot Springs
The Halcyon Hot Springs are located on the east side of Arrow Lakes along Highway 23.
If you drive down from Revelstoke, it’s about 70 kilometers along Highway 23 and across Upper Arrow Lake with the ferry which goes from Shelter Bay to Galena Bay.
The ferry is free and runs once an hour at the top of the hour from Shelter Bay (and 30 minutes from Galena back to Shelter Bay).
You can see the full ferry schedule here.
To get to the ferry from Revelstoke is about 40 minutes so you can time it by leaving 15 minutes past the top of the hour. The trip across the lake takes 20 minutes, and from Galena Bay, it takes about 10 minutes to drive to Halcyon Hot Springs.
You can find the directions from Revelstoke to Halcyon Hot Springs here.
If you’re coming from the other side and driving north from Nakusp (or somewhere else south) then it’s an even shorter drive.
You simply just take the same highway (Highway 23 going north) until you reach the hot springs. There is no ferry crossing if you’re coming from this side!
You can find the directions from Nakusp to Halcyon Hot Springs here.
Other related questions about Halcyon Hot Springs Resort
How much does it cost to stay at Halcyon Hot Springs?
Rooms cost anywhere between $250-$450 CAD a night to stay at Halcyon Hot Springs. This also gives you access to the hot springs whenever you want!
If you only want to access the hot springs (without staying the night), the price is $30 + GST (locals discount available) for either a day pass (9 am to 5 pm) or a night pass (5 pm to 9 pm).
Can you drink mineral water from hot springs?
It’s always best to ask the staff at the resort if it’s good to drink the mineral water but, in general, there are only benefits from drinking hot spring water as there are plenty of minerals in this type of water.
I’m not sure if I would go ahead and drink it straight from the hot springs you’re swimming in though…
Should I shower after bathing in mineral water?
It’s best to not shower right after the hot springs as you want the minerals to soak up in your body. Give it at least a few hours to soak in before you shower after going to the hot springs.
What to do after hot springs?
As long as your skin is not easily irritated then it’s best to not shower after the hot springs and rest and drink lots of water.
The healing benefits from the hot springs are best when the minerals have time to soak into your body.
If possible try not to shower for at least a few hours after the hot springs and just drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
Staying in a calm and relaxing environment is the best thing you can do for your body after the hot springs!
You may also like…
- An Unforgettable Scenic Flight Over Lake Revelstoke & Mountains
- 6 of The Best Hikes to Do in Revelstoke
- 13 Delicious Cafes and Restaurants in Revelstoke
- 7 Fun Activities to Do on Revelstoke Mountain Resort
- How to Hike to Begbie Falls Near Revelstoke
Recap of visiting the hot springs at Halcyon Resort
Visiting the Halcyon Hot Springs is a great afternoon or day trip from Revelstoke!
There are tons of hot springs near Revelstoke that we still want to explore but if you’re up for taking the ferry across Arrow Lakes (the ferry was honestly an awesome experience on its own) to these beautiful hot springs, we highly recommend it.
If you have questions about how to get to the hot springs from Revelstoke, restaurants in Revelstoke, or anything else related then feel free to DM us on Instagram or leave a comment below!
We hope you have the most relaxing time here like we did and make the most of your trip out to this paradise!
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