Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs is a village of about 800 people (2016) in the East Kootenays. It is famous for its hot pools.

For visitor information you can visit:

Understand
The village is named for the hot springs located in the nearby Kootenay National Park. The hot springs were named after the radioactive element when an analysis of the water showed that it contained small traces of radon which is a decay product of radium. The radiation dosage from bathing in the pools is inconsequential; approximately 0.13 millirems (1.3 μSv) from the water for a half-hour bathing, around ten times average background levels. The air concentration of radon is about 23 picocuries (0.85 Bq) per litre which is higher than the level (4 picocuries per litre) at which mitigation is necessary at residences; but is also inconsequential (about 0.7 mrem or 7.0 μSv for a half-hour bathing) from a dose impact perspective.

Get in
Radium is at the entrance to Kootenay National Park, at the intersection of Highways 93 and 95. It is 3 hours from Calgary, and 3 hours north of the American border. It is 9 hours east of Vancouver.

Go next

 * Visit one of the nearby ski resorts: Panorama (Invermere), Fairmont (Fairmont Hot Springs) or Kicking Horse (Golden).
 * Head along Highway 93 into Kootenay National Park and continue along Highway 1, entering Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. Make it a day trip and circle back along Highway 95.
 * Go south and visit Fort Steele near Cranbrook