Hot Springs not Cold Winters

Winter is here on Prince Edward Island. There is nothing more refreshing then bundling up with a warm coffee enjoying the ever changing winter landscape. Mornings include fog rolling in, a light dusting of snow on the ground and every once in awhile a moment of peek-a-boo sunshine. I love it.

The air is crisper. My breath floats away in a cloud. I wake up to birds chirping in the harbour, boats rolling in and out of the bay before the ice freeze and me on my keyboard rolling over phrases one after another as I spend most of my winter hibernation building EH Tourism online and enjoying some winter adventures.

Viewing deck at hot springs

For us here, winter and writing, is a time of reflection. Often as we build on our travel and tourism websites, we sneak outdoors for a winter adventure and often, out of the blue, adventures of the past float in and out of our thoughts.

The snow and colder temperatures sometimes remind us of  destinations we would love to visit after the snow has fallen. A destination we experienced in the summer but have yet to experience in the winter ..  one such memorable destination is the Liard Hot Springs.

In British Columbia, Canada there are many hot spring destinations, too many to list, especially in the Kootenays region.  Most of the hot springs in British Columbia are well developed commercial enterprises with concrete pools, gift shops and accommodations.  There is only one which sticks out in our mind that is easily accessible and has been left in its natural setting surrounded by a forest of trees.  There are others but they require backpacking   trips into the back country to access.

Boardwalk trail leading to hot springs.

The Liard Hot Springs located  a few hours before you cross the Yukon border from British Columbia is housed in a campground park in the middle of nowhere in the Liard Valley on the Alaska Highway.

The only commercial enterprise in the area is a small gas station, restaurant and accommodation combo across the highway from the hot springs campground entrance. But as for the hot springs themselves, they are naturally preserved and isolated in the thick of a wilderness forest.

To access the hot springs one must walk a boardwalk trail leading into the forest, first passing through a wetland bog (great for birdwatching) before reaching the first natural hot spring (called the Alpha Pool).  The hot spring is majestic and is rich with history dating back to a time  when the First Nation and early settlers first found the hot spring.  It feels that natural and that untouched. There is little development – a changing station and a poolside walking deck.

Continue up the trail from the first pool and there is a second, smaller hot spring which is more personal (called the Beta Pool). On our visits it has always been closed down due to bear sightings. I can understand that..  they were here first… and it is always wise to show nature some respect.

Hot springs poolside manner.

For anyone who appreciates nature and enjoys camping with many outdoor activities in the immediate area, the Liard Hot Springs is the ticket.

After a day of researching the hiking and wilderness trails in the area and taking pictures of wildlife, we would end the day with a walk through the forest and spending some quality time soaking in the hot springs.

Bro, liked the mornings too .. as he would have the whole hot spring to himself on many occasions.

So the snow is falling outside, seasonal carols are bouncing around in my head and we know the winter wonderland is around the corner… and what happens… we think of  hot springs. Funny how that is?

But we are not thinking of any hot spring nor are we thinking summer activity.. oh no… we are just asking ourselves how cool it would be to be sitting in an outdoor hot spring in the wilderness forest at this time with close friends, a hot drink, with snow falling around us.

Rain or shine, cold or hot.. if ever  traveling the Alaska Highway stop in at the Liard Hot Springs. Bring a camera, some swimming trucks –  it is that special.