{"id":56896,"date":"2025-06-02T06:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T13:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=56896"},"modified":"2025-06-04T09:36:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:36:24","slug":"hot-springs-and-cold-beers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/hot-springs-and-cold-beers\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Springs and Cold Beers in the Kootenays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published October 9, 2024 – brewery menus subject to change since publication<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n

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An adventure in the Kootenays along the BC Ale Trail with hot springs and cold beer<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of my favourite B.C. pastimes is a good long soak in a hot spring. Summer or winter, the hot, mineral-rich water is refreshing and invigorating, especially after a day in the mountains, whether it\u2019s spent hiking, skiing, or even just driving around a car full of screaming children.<\/p>\n

The Kootenays are home to six hot spring resorts and dozens more backcountry hot springs accessible only by 4×4 or hiking in. The tectonic activity that resulted in the stunning mountain vistas that stretch skyward on all sides is also responsible for the abundance of geothermal activity in the area.<\/p>\n

Last summer, my wife and I decided to explore what the Kootenays have to offer in terms of liquid refreshment\u2014be it liquid one soaks in or liquid one drinks\u2014roughly following the provincial Hot Springs Route<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, this route is also home to a plethora of delicious craft breweries. The BC Ale Trail provides prospective pursuants of primo pilsners and pale ales with the Kootenay Rockies East<\/span><\/a> and Kootenay Rockies West<\/span><\/a> ale trails, covering dozens of award-winning breweries in the area.<\/p>\n

As we were to discover, the only thing more refreshing than a delicious locally brewed craft beer is one you\u2019ve had after a refreshing hot spring soak.<\/p>\n

\"the
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in the Columbia Valley, BC (photo: Rob Mangelsdorf)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canyon Hot Springs \/ Whitetooth Brewing Co.<\/b><\/h3>\n

Since we had our two small children in tow, we opted to focus on the hot spring resorts for this trip. Our first stop was Canyon Hot Springs<\/a>, roughly in the middle of nowhere between Revelstoke and Golden, yet highly accessible given its location just off the Trans-Canada Highway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We pulled into the expansive RV park and resort in the early evening as the sun was setting after a long but mercifully uneventful drive up from the coast. With the children starting to get restless in the back seat, a pool break was the perfect opportunity for everyone to stretch their legs and get their sillies out.<\/p>\n

In fact, given its location roughly halfway between Vancouver and Calgary, anyone road-tripping over the Continental Divide would be well advised to stop off at Canyon Hot Springs for an hour or two to rest and recharge.<\/p>\n

\"Rob<\/a>
Canyon Hot Springs (photo: Rob Mangelsdorf)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The resort itself features more than 100 RV and campsites, as well as dozens of cabins. But we were just here for the hot springs, and like at all of BC\u2019s hot springs resorts, pool passes are available for those not staying overnight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The pool facilities at Canyon Hot Springs feature a 55,000-litre hot pool for soaking up all that mineral goodness, and a much larger, 225,000-litre swimming pool for when it\u2019s time to cool off. The water itself is sourced from a natural hot spring three kilometres away in Albert Canyon and piped into the resort at a piping hot 40\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

We watched the sun set behind the Monashee Mountains to the west and with the greasy film of a long day\u2019s drive sufficiently washed away, we continued on down the road to Golden, home of the award-winning Whitetooth Brewing Co<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our hotel for the night was conveniently located directly behind the brewery, so the next day after checking out, and after a short jaunt around the picturesque mountain town\u2019s many riverside walking trails, we sidled up to Whitetooth\u2019s sunny and expansive outdoor patio for some wood fired pizza and some ice cold beer.<\/p>\n

The Icefields Pale Ale went down a treat, with its sturdy off-sweet malt profile of cracker and toast, classic West Coast hop character, and moderate bitterness complemented by fruity ester notes. As we sat in awe of the sunbathed mountains surrounding us, it was hard to imagine a more delicious and refreshing start to the day.<\/p>\n