Halcyon Hot Springs Resort is located in central British Columbia, Canada.
I fell in love with hot springs when I stayed at an onsen resort in Japan’s Hokkaido region. So when I had the chance to check out a Canadian hot springs hotel in my home province of British Columbia, it took me about five seconds to say “yes.” On a road trip through the mountains and along the lakes of B.C.’s Kootenay-Rockies region, I made a short detour to Halcyon Hot Springs Resort.
Here’s the scoop:
Halcyon Hot Springs Resort
From the mountain adventure town of Revelstoke, I drove about 35 minutes south to Shelter Bay, where I took the free 20-minute ferry across Upper Arrow Lake to Galena Bay. From there, it’s only 15 minutes farther to Halcyon Hot Springs Resort.
Located on Arrow Lake, Halcyon Hot Springs opened as a hotel and “sanitarium” back in 1894. While the region’s First Nations people had known of these mineral-rich waters for centuries, it was a European settler, Robert Sanderson, who was constructing and operating steamships along the area’s lakes who developed the springs’ commercial potential. Halcyon became known for its health-giving properties throughout the first half of the 20th century.
Fire destroyed the original hotel in 1955, and it wasn’t until the late 1990s that the resort was rebuilt and reopened.
The resort has several different types of accommodations.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
Today, Halcyon Hot Springs Resort has a dozen different types of cottages, chalets, and guest rooms set in the forest above the lake. From small studio units to expansive loft chalets, the hotel can accommodate everything from a solo wellness getaway to a couple’s retreat to a family holiday.
The region’s remote location means that there’s no cell service, but Wi-fi is available if you must get online.
The “King Cottages” looks modest on the outside…
I stayed in one of the “King Cottages,” which appear quite modest from the exterior, especially compared with the grander-looking chalets, but the interior of these units has been updated in a contemporary style. Designed for couples, these cottages have a king bed set opposite a fireplace, comfy lounge chairs, and a kitchenette with a coffeemaker and mini-fridge.
The spacious modern bathroom featured a washlet-style toilet and a large walk-in shower.
…but inside, these cottages are quite contemporary.
Resort Activities
Depending on the season, there are plenty of things to do at the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort. Walking trails wend through the woods and along the lakeshore. The property has a scenic if pebbly, beach right on Arrow Lake, where you can swim or paddleboard.
If you prefer a guided experience, you can book a SUP tour from spring through fall. The resort also offers private yoga classes by reservation and has a full-service spa.
Halcyon Hot Springs Resort sits on British Columbia’s Arrow Lake.
The Mineral Pools
A highlight of any visit to Halcyon Hot Springs is a soak in the outdoor mineral pools, which are open year-round to resort guests as well as day visitors. The waters include a hot pool (104F/40C), a warm pool (99F/37C), and, for the brave, a small cold plunge pool (~58F/14C).
In the warmer months, you can swim in an outdoor mineral pool on the lower deck, below the main soaking pools.
Enjoying an evening soak in the mineral pools at Halcyon Hot Springs.
Hotel guests have unlimited use of the pools between 9 in the morning and 10 at night, with the last hour reserved for adults-only soaking. Day visitors can purchase either a daytime (9am-5pm) or night pass (5pm-10pm) to the springs.
I slid into the mineral pools after a leisurely dinner overlooking the lake at the resort’s Chanterelle Restaurant. While it didn’t quite transport me to Japan, it was a soothing detour on my Western Canada road trip.
And how lovely it was to have these relaxing pools so much closer to home.
Rates
Room rates at Halcyon Hot Springs Resort start at CAD$236 (USD$164) per night, based on a two-night stay, including complimentary access to the mineral pools.
Check rates online at Expedia or Hotels.com.
Looking for more wellness-based lodging in British Columbia? See our review of the Indigenous-run Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Kootenay-Rockies Tourism arranged my stay at Halcyon Hot Springs Resort while I was road-tripping across British Columbia, researching a new edition of my guidebook, Moon Vancouver & Canadian Rockies Road Trip.
