Ainsworth Hot Springs: hours, prices and the cave
Ainsworth Hot Springs, on the North Shore of Kootenay Lake, publishes its own hours, day pass prices and cave temperature. This page states each figure with the resort's own page it came from and the date it was checked.
Updated Pacific Time.
Hours today and this week
The resort states its current pool hours as: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 7:30 pm (last entry 6 pm); Monday 10 am to 3 pm. Closed Tuesday. The resort publishes its own hours on its site; hours shown here are what it stated today and can change.
Verified on 2026-09-22 against the resort’s pools page.
How much does it cost?
Ainsworth Hot Springs prices a day pass by age, using its own band names. An adult pass runs $18.00, and a family pass covering two adults or seniors plus two children or youth runs $50.00 (2 adult or senior + 2 child or youth).
| Alevin, ages 0–2 | Free |
|---|---|
| Fry, ages 3–12 | $12.00 |
| Smolt, ages 13–17 | $14.00 |
| Adult, ages 18–64 | $18.00 |
| Spawner, ages 65+ | $17.00 |
| Family (2 adult/senior + 2 child/youth) | $50.00 (2 adult or senior + 2 child or youth) |
Verified on 2026-09-22 against the resort’s pools page.
The horseshoe cave
The resort’s own site gives the cave’s water temperature as 104°-110°, quoted here exactly as the resort publishes it, with no unit letter attached. The main pool is stated separately as 35°C (96°F); the resort's own cave figure carries no F/C unit letter, quoted here exactly as published.
Verified on 2026-09-22 against the resort’s pools page.
Do you need a reservation?
Pools are first come, first served — no reservation needed for a day pass. The Spirit Water Spa and the Ktunaxa Grill do require reservations.
Verified on 2026-09-22 against the resort’s own site.
Is Ainsworth Hot Springs open to the public?
Yes. Ainsworth Hot Springs is a commercial resort at 3609 Balfour-Kaslo-Galena Bay Hwy, Ainsworth Hot Springs, BC V0G 1A0, Canada, open to any paying visitor on the hours stated above; it is not a members-only or reservation-only facility for a day pass.
Call 1-800-668-1171 to reach the resort directly. Verified on 2026-09-22 against the resort’s own site.
Getting there from Nelson, Kaslo and the ferry
Ainsworth Hot Springs sits on Highway 31 on the North Shore of Kootenay Lake, about 20 km from Kaslo and about 13 km from the Balfour ferry terminal, the way in from Nelson and the West Arm. Straight-line from Nelson itself, the distance is about 38 km; the practical route runs through Balfour and the ferry landing rather than as the crow flies.
These are straight-line distances between this site’s own BC Geographic Names coordinates for each place, not a drive-time estimate. See the ferry schedule for sailing times from Balfour.
Highway 31 cameras
5 min agoCoffee Creek
Highway 31 about 45 km north of Nelson and 25 km south of Kaslo, looking north.
DriveBC.ca
Cooper Creek
Highway 31 at Duncan Lake Road about 35 km north of Kaslo, looking south.
DriveBC.ca
Kaslo - N
Highway 31 at Highway 31A Junction in Kaslo, looking northbound.
DriveBC.ca
Kaslo - W
Highway 31 at Highway 31A Junction in Kaslo, looking westbound.
DriveBC.ca
Kaslo - S
Highway 31 at Highway 31A Junction in Kaslo, looking southbound.
DriveBC.ca
Camera images and ferry status from DriveBC.ca, BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
Where to stay nearby
Woodbury Resort & Marina, at woodburyresort.com, sits right in Ainsworth Hot Springs. RV, tent, motel and cabin accommodation at 4112 BC-31, Ainsworth Hot Springs, with a full-service marina, boat rentals and fuel dock. Call 250-353-7717 or see the operator’s own site for current availability. Verified on 2026-09-22.
This site’s data file covers campgrounds, RV parks and marinas, not hotels or motels, so a hotel room right at the resort is not part of this page’s data. See the resort’s own site for its own on-site accommodation, if it offers any.
Current conditions near Ainsworth
6 min ago24.4°C
- Wind
- 9 km/h NE
- Humidity
- 49%
- Dew point
- 13°C
- Snow depth
- 0 cm
Measured at NELSON CS, 536 m.
Weather data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, used under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Ainsworth Hot Springs has no Environment Canada station of its own; this reading comes from the Nelson station. See Kaslo weather for the nearest place this site forecasts.
Common questions
Are the hot springs clothing optional?
Should I shower after?
Can you dip your head in?
kootenaylake.org is an independent guide published by Delcaro Media in Kitchener, BC. It is not affiliated with Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, the Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, Western Pacific Marine, BC Parks or any business listed on it.