The Ainsworth Hot Springs are located near the community of Ainsworth Hot Springs, located on Highway 31 on the western shore of Kootenay Lake, 11 miles (17 km) north of Balfour and 12 miles (20 km) south of Kaslo. Ainsworth Hot Springs lies in the heart of the Kootenay wilderness.  is the community of Ainsworth Hot Springs.

It overlooks the vast expanse of Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains and is home to three odorless pools, a unique 150-foot horseshoe-shaped cave, main lounging pool, and stream-fed cold plunge. The main attraction is the horseshoe cave, where the darkness, the mineral deposits, and the humidity all combine to offer an exhilarating experience.
You can have a rejuvenating natural steam bath in the hot steamy, odorless shower of mineralized water which falls from the cave’s roof and forms a waist-deep pool.
Gallons of hot mineral water flows through the pools, changing the water naturally about six times per day. The temperature of the water varies between 40-42°C (104-114°F) in the Cave, 35-38°C (96-101°F) in the Pool, and 4-10°C (40-50°F) for the Cold Plunge. The origin of the springs is in the Cody Caves area, which is directly above and to the west of Ainsworth Hot Springs. The water flows down through porous rock to a depth of 1-1/2 to 2 km.
The caves are old mine tunnels which were carved out by miners who attempted to increase the flow of hot water from the springs. You can explore the cave’s tunnels and stalactites, relax on a hot ledge, bathe in the natural hot shower, or have a natural sauna.
Ainsworth is open year-round, and is visited by families and local residents who like to be refreshed in the soothing waters and play in this exhilarating wilderness pools. The pools provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay’s splendid scenery – the Purcell Mountains and Kootenay Lake.
Any time is a good time to visit Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, but the cool, crisp air in winter provides a delightful contrast to the warmth and humidity in the caves.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 8:43 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.