Soaking your bones in a steamy pool surrounded by the Canadian Rocky Mountains may seem a luxury beyond measure. The Banff Upper Hot Springs have been a highlight for visitors to the area for years, while the newly opened Kananaskis Nordic Spa aims to bring an air of luxury to the outdoor bathing experience not yet seen in the wilds of Alberta (not far from downtown Calgary!).

Urban Guides Canada did the tough work of exploring both to bring you a look at the pros and cons of the decidedly lux Nordic Spa and the basic and budget-friendly Banff Upper Hot Springs. Spoiler alert: it’s mostly pros!

AMBIENCE 

The Canadian Rockies are a special kind of beautiful, and although Banff is more popular with tourists than Kananaskis, either spot is going to give you killer views and moments that make you stop and marvel at nature.

By comparison, the minute you cross the wooden bridge into the lodge of the Kananaskis Nordic Spa, you cannot deny you are in for a luxury experience. That particular sage infusion in the air is familiar to anyone who frequents spas (and I do, as often as I can!) The high-end touches continue downstairs in the change rooms with robes thoughtfully provided in the lockers and nice amenities in the showers.

Outside, the construction zone of phase two (set to open summer 2018) is separated from phase one (already operational) by tall wooden fencing. The sections that are now open are what is referred to as the “connection area” meaning quiet conversation is permitted. This is different from many Nordic spas that enforce a silence policy. In contrast, the Upper Hot Springs has no posted noise policy, but everyone was too relaxed to be very noisy anyway.

PRICE

The spa experience of the Kananaskis Nordic Spa will run you $70 ($55 for guests staying at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge) versus $8.30 at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. However, I can’t imagine staying at the hot springs for much longer than an hour, whereas the Nordic spa needs at least 3 hours to be fully appreciated following the “thermotherapy cycle” of repeatedly spending time in hot, cool, and relaxing phases.

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CONVENIENCE

If you don’t have a car, you are going to face a tough time getting to the Kananaskis Village and to the spa. It is about a half hour drive into the nearest town (Canmore) and if you want to stay close to the spa, your options are limited to the gorgeous-but-not-inexpensive Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Autograph Collection. You should also know that the spa is only for those over 18, so if you are travelling with children, you will need to make arrangements for childcare.

The Upper Hot Springs are a way up Sulphur Mountain, the distance from the Banff townsite means you need wheels to get there. If you don’t have your own car, you can take the public transit bus or a taxi from the townsite. There are tons of accommodation options for you in Banff, and kids are welcome at the Hot Springs, which makes it very convenient (but possibly less relaxing!)

CONCLUSION

Well you already know where this is going, don’t you? If you have the means (because of course you have the inclination!) you really should go to both, and try for yourself! 

Many thanks to Kananaskis Nordic Spa and to Parks Canada for hosting me. ~ JM