Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort sits above Kootenay Lake in the West Kootenays, built around a set of historic mineral hot springs that have been drawing soakers for generations. The property combines a thermal pool complex, a small hotel, a restaurant and a spa under one roof, with a layout meant for a slower, overnight visit rather than a quick stop.

The pools run on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday through Monday, with Tuesdays closed entirely. Hotel guests get the longest window, with pool access from 8am to 9pm and until 10am on checkout day. Walk-in visitors can pick up a day pass for the public pool hours of 10am–7:30pm (last entry 6pm) Wednesday through Sunday, and 10am–3pm on Monday.

Inside, the Spirit Water Spa offers massage and other treatments styled around traditional, Indigenous-inspired elements, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Next door, the Ktunaxa Grill serves lakeside dining built on a similar nod to local Indigenous culture, running Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 8:30pm, with a continental breakfast set aside for overnight guests each morning.

Taken together, this reads as a resort built for couples' getaways and relaxed overnight stays rather than an urban day-spa stop: outdoor baths, a restaurant, and rooms are all part of the same ticket, and the whole operation sits in the moderate price tier.