Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort

We used a day pass. For a reasonable price you get access to the hot springs, including a locker. The changing rooms were clean. The hot springs include a larger pool and a smaller, warmer area that goes into a cave. Truly beautiful and relaxing. There's also a cold plunge which I didn't try. The views are gorgeous.

We stayed in the three feathers suite, which was beautiful. The hot springs don't have sulfur so they don't have the typical rotten egg smell that most hot springs have. Of course the caves are one of a kind, such a nice feature that you don't get at many hot springs. The restaurant was also incredible. We will definitely be back for a longer stay! ❤️

Overall I enjoyed my stay. However, I feel the room rate is too expensive. The room was clean and well put together, but very basic. Yes you get robes and access to the hot springs for extended hours, but that still doesn't explain the high price tag in my opinion. They could at least include the breakfast with that instead of charging another $15 per adult. My friends stayed in the newer section and I feel it's even less worth the extra money. I'm glad I booked in the main building I didn't have the breakfast, but had dinner at the grill and it was delicious and our server was great! Would definitely recommend eating there. I would probably visit here again for the hot springs and dinner at the grill, but I definitely wouldn't spend the night on property again

My husband and I frequently come to Ainsworth to stay for a fews days for some rest, relaxation and therapy in the water. The hotel and front desk has always been fantastic, clean rooms, no complaints. However, when it comes to the Pool,,,,, I feel that the day pass people have more Privileges than the highly paying guests that stay there. There is only a short time in the morning and a short time in the evening for hotel guests only to swim. Otherwise you're forced to be like sardines in a pool with a bunch of day pass people shoulder to shoulder. Ugh. As far as kids go, some are great, and others are unruly, but what I find unacceptable is kids in diapers and not bathroom, trained! This morning, we were forced to swim around with particles floating in the water from kids in diapers!! PARKING, after we arrived back to the hotel from having a nice meal in Kaslo because the hotel restaurant does not offer a decent continental breakfast, there was no parking for guests. The public day, past people seem to have more rights used up all the parking spots for the guest. We were forced to walk from way above to get back to our room suites. The showers and bathrooms need cleaning and monitoring more frequently. People should be asked to shower before they enter the pool, it should Not be treated as a bathtub.We've noticed many many people entering the pool that not have not showered. It would be great to have more time in the pool for just hotel guests, and possibly a short time for just adults only

Ainsworth is located on beautiful Kootney lake. Natural Hotspring fed pool and caves. The staff were friendly and professional. Rooms adjacent to parking lot were well appointed and clean. However there needs to be a better sound barrier between the upper units and lower. The foot traffic noise was loud. There needs attention put to making sure the rooms are stocked with shampoo and conditioner since it is offered. Softer pillows as an option . Continental breakfast for 15 dollars was a joke. Over salted potato cubes, cold bacon and eggs Stale muffins. I have had better breakfast at a Holiday Inn and it was included in room rate. Dinner at the restaurant was yummy. Hot and tasty. Steak was cooked to perfection. Restaurant is clean and staff were so attentive. The pools were overrun with children. In total I was underwhelmed with the whole experience. Not worth the 6 hour drive from home.

I’ve been coming to Ainsworth Hot Springs my entire life. Some of my most treasured memories are tied to these pools. I remember the excitement of getting my driver’s license, and how my best friend and I would sneak off by ourselves after dinner for a late soak. It felt like magic, a quiet, warm, safe place where time slowed down. It was genuinely special. Over the years, though, each visit has chipped away at that feeling. The springs that once felt soothing and restorative have become progressively disappointing. On my most recent visit, the water was noticeably cold, and while I believe the circulation system may now include chlorine, I can’t say that with certainty, only that the smell reminded me of it. The peaceful warmth I used to rely on just wasn’t there. The caves, once the heart of the experience for me, were especially hard to enjoy. The first alcove, where a hot stream meets a quiet place to sit while staying warm, was so loud from an industrial fan that it made it almost unbearable. The noise completely overpowered the natural ambience. Instead of feeling relaxing, it felt chaotic and uncomfortable. I’m truly disappointed and won't be returning. Ainsworth has always held such a deep place in my heart, and realizing that this was our last visit genuinely makes me sad. I hope the operators consider investing back into the experience that made these springs unforgettable for so many of us. Right now, it feels like that original magic has been lost.

Love the caves. Can be quite busy. Better in the am for solitude Only wish that they enforced the noise rule especially in the cave as it should be a relaxing space. Have not stayed at the hotel. Would be nice to have loungers in the summer.

We didnt stay at the hotel, just went to check out the water. The hot springs was awesome! The cave area is really nice, dark, and a sensory experience. The outer hot springs are decorated nicely with plants and seating options. The pool itself is large and has lots of seating options. The change rooms are large and clean. The entry comes with a free locker to use and I forgot my hair tie but they also had me covered there. The cold plunge was a nice touch too! The cave pools are truly HOT. I enjoyed my time there with my hubby and we both can’t wait to go back in the wintertime if they’re open. The staff seemed friendly and ready to help anyone who needed it.

The hot springs were an incredible vibe! Even though we didn't stay at the resort, we decided to check it out before our dinner reservations. Note: Bring your own towel; it's not provided for non-staying guests. The staff seemed to cater more toward those staying at the resort, which made things a bit challenging. However, the hot springs themselves speak volumes--absolutely amazing! The caves are a unique touch, creating a perfect setting for a romantic getaway. My partner and I explored the caves, providing an opportunity to connect and have deep conversations. Inside, there are spots for back massages, and as you venture deeper, you find dark pockets--perfect for talking without seeing. It's a bit dark, but building trust in that setting was quite special. We discovered a natural sauna pocket as we climbed higher; the heat increased, making it a must-go experience. I also tried the cold plunge, and since then, my circulation and blood flow have noticeably improved. Overall, a transformative experience that strengthened our relationship.

Wow! What an awesome little stay. Extremely Clean spacious rooms with ultra accommodating and friendly staff. Wonderful restaurant and cute little pool with a pool store that has suits, if you forgot yours. Great place to stay for exploring Kokanee glacier provincial park nearby. Didn't even get to use the caves/spring as we didn't stay for too long but that didn't deter us. The area and scenery alone would make this stop worth it even if the accommodations weren't top notch.

Resort: a place designed to provide recreation, entertainment, and accommodation especially to vacationers. Why do I define? Read on... Ainsworth Hot Springs is in a fabulous location in South Western British Columbia. It is beautiful and the motel fully takes advantage of the hot springs with a set of pools (hot with cave - yes, cave; medium; and cold plunge). The area is clean and well kept. There is a full shop of swim needs if a desire is new swim gear, clothing, or other nicknacks. Drink machines - sure! Definitely a unique place to visit although quite a challenge to get to from the East requiring a majestic lake crossing Kootenay Bay ferry (longest free ferry ride apparently). Ainsworth is also reachable through Nelson BC on the West side Rooms are clean and modern. Restaurant on site. Here is what is missed: there are no comfortable places to sit down and enjoy the views. There is a second floor reserved for the staff that appears to go largely unused. There is a deck off the restaurant - but alas the staff insists on using it for the restaurant (understandable) Did someone jump off at one point? Do the owners have a beef with BC chair manufacturers? Do the owners just want people to stand or swim? I don't get it. This area is extraordinarily beautiful. As a visitor and seeing human, I'd like to savor the extraordinary, but not briefly. The clientele don't appear to be ruffians but a mixture of retirees, families, and couples. And this is Canada for god-sakes, stereotypically a friendly lot. Let's get some lounging areas to enjoy Supernatural British Columbia.

The hot springs were very disappointing. It was basically a semi-large swimming pool that was way too crowded. We came late March, and expected it to be fairly warm (lots of snow on the ground so figured it would feel even warmer in the hot springs) but the water temp was basically a warm bath. The cave, which is much warmer, was packed with people and it was nearly impossible to get in. We ate at the grill and had an awful experience with the service, as we were ignored our entire visit. 10/10 would NOT recommend the restaurant or hot springs. There are much larger, much nicer hot springs around that are worth the money. We only spent $18/person for the hot springs which is cheap, but even that wasn't worth it.

Incredible two nights and three days at the resort. Perfect room and food. Excellent customer service. The soak and the cave and even the cold dip were amazing. Nice drive to both Kaslo and Nelson for shopping and treats.

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Worth the trip. Small town vibe, very relaxing and friendly town!! Epic experience and highly recommend it.

GRILL ONLY REVIEW! Reasonably enjoyable experience and meal here. Very much trying to be considered a high-end restaurant with prices to match. We attempted to make a reservation when we arrived but when the front desk phoned up to the staff, we were informed that the earliest available time was 7:30. This is later than our usual preference for dinner timing so we passed. Even though we were told the options in the area during our time there were limited. So we hit the hot springs and enjoyed our afternoon. As 5:30pm rolled around we knew we were getting hungry. Thinking that maybe the restaurant would have a bar with possibly a happy hour or room to dine in the bar we headed up to the fourth floor. Upon arrival we found no bar but the hostess gladly ushered us to a table by the window with a view of the lake and the hot spring area. Very pretty. The menu was not vast, keeping with some local vendors and products to create a nice meat, fish, and vegetable selection. Kudos for noting dishes that were or could be made as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. The front desk staff member we worked with upon check-in highly praised the appetizer available now made with locally foraged mushrooms and served on toast. So we certainly were ready to try this dish when we arrived but I'm not sure we were ready for it once it was served. The menu describes it as Mushrooms, spruce tips, and parmesan cream with pesto served on locally baked sourdough toast. Sounded distinctly unique. When placed on the table, it looked like a small bit of mushrooms masking any bread, some green sauce-spruce tips? pesto?-on top and sitting next o a sprig greens and a mound a white foam. This turned out to be the "parmesan cream" (really an emulsion IMO) and was truly flavorless. Topped with a small shaving of fresh parm and black pepper and sitting in an pool of herb pesto. The mushrooms themselves, when you could grab a bit not covered with other flavors, were truly delicious. Unctuous and fresh. The dish appeared to have been plated a good bit ahead as the "toast" was just a flavorless mushy piece of bread. Having this be fresh and crisply toasted, and a bit larger, would have done much more justice to the bread I'm sure. And complimented the other ingredients better. The overwhelming flavor profile when eaten together was of pesto. Very strong over all other ingredients. We think a different preparation for those mushrooms would suit them better. My entrée choice for the evening was the server recommended special-7oz portion of BC Halibut served over roasted potatoes, asparagus and crispy prosciutto, overlaid on a pool of pesto. All topped by roasted cherry tomatoes. Fish was excellent, exceedingly fresh, if cooked a little rare in the center to my taste. The asparagus was clearly very fresh (local?) and the potatoes cooked perfectly and wonderfully seasoned. But, here again, if you included the herb pesto in your bite of the dish, it really overpowered everything else. The wife's 10oz strip loin steak was served over mashed potatoes with roasted beets, asparagus and carrots. Complimented by a nice sage reduction. It was cooked a bit rarer than requested but was delicious. It was a bit on the peppery side for her taste but didn't keep the whole thing from disappearing. The potatoes and vegetables were truly cooked perfectly. Our service was nicely attentive and personable up until the end portion of the meal when it became a bit too much of a wait on dessert choices, bill presentation, and bill payment. possibly because the server was spread over an increasing number of tables. While we experienced some missteps, I'm almost certain it's the best meal available in the area. Recommended.

This place was shockingly disappointing. Several people I spoke with who had been there 'through the years' had said it was 'so nice'... Is there another Ainsworth, BC? The hotel is old and rundown- add covid closure to the mix and its downright dreary. The front desk staff was friendly- but there was nowhere in the small lobby to sit of put luggage down. There were stains on the linens. I was excited to see the caves- which were neat to see- but very small- hot- muggy and dank. I would not want to hang out in them. The pool is warm (soupy) so in hot weather there is nowhere to cool off and enjoy. The rooms are basic and drab- fine as we were only passing through and staying for one night. All the rooms face out to the lake and hills- so if you don't see views like that very often it would be quite nice. The restaurant food was disappointing. The first bite we took of our beet salad has these hard ribs in the beets we couldn't even bite through (likely from being old and kept from last year?) We had a sourdough pasta dish which tasted alright-very saucy chicken and some (again) tough kale. The front desk told us to "make a reso as the restaurant fills up quickly" and that there are no other places in town-- it was nowhere close to even being half full. The server was friendly and efficient and we were just glad to have some food and get to bed. Both my friend and my stomach really hurt that night-- both of us had bad stomach cramping-- we are not sure- but thought likely poor meat quality. Ugh. BY FAR the worst experience here was our 'massage' and 'spa treatment' at the "Water Spirit Spa".. ie: an empty hotel room on the 3rd floor. Seriously- $120+ covid surcharges (each) to lay in a dank hotel room and get the worst 'treatment' I could possibly imagine. We had requested a salt scrub + clay wrap + massage. We had harsh salt ran up and down our limbs- a thin clay water slathered on our limbs and wrapped in a wet salty blanket. It was so uncomfortable we both wanted to get up and leave several times. The practitioner was really nice- which made it even sadder. I felt bad but it was so hokey it was almost funny (except it was so uncomfortable and costly). We had hoped that the saving grace would be some kind of relaxing massage but there was no pressure and no comprehension of human anatomy. Seriously-- not one relaxing pressure point was touched. I don't require a RMT for hotel 'spa' services-- but this was beyond bad. At one point I actually wished I could have just massaged myself instead of wasting 1+ hours enduring this. It was an incredibly low point in my friend and my long awaited Mama's Getaway (now that the travel restrictions had been lifted). Luckily after processing how awful it was we were able to have some seriously good laughs about it. We decided to contact the hotel and ask why they would claim a dreary hotel room is a spa? And why they would misrepresent the treatments that were to be provided? We got a response that they had never had a complaint about the 'spa' or services and that only the highest quality of products are used. (Ok!! if harsh giant cutting salts and watery green-grey clay are the highest quality.. I'll take your word for it;) They did say they were working on another location for the spa. (I don't envy the guests who end up there.) Their response shucked responsibility and seemed unprofessional. IM surprised no-one else has complained- but know when something is THIS bad often we jsut want to put it behind us and not have to revisit it. I just felt a duty to not have other guests endure this and also have their money taken for something that they should not be paying for. When I think of other stays like at Harrison Hot Springs resort or Scandinave Spa Whistler (which are both nice- but not mind-blowing), Ainsworth makes these places seem like Shangrila. I hope that this review will prevent the massive disappointment we experienced. We wish we would have stayed another night in Nelson- but live and learn! The whole stay felt like a scam. Im shocked this place is still in business and that people's reviews are positive about this place. Perhaps its the only thing around and people have way lower standards? I would never ever suggest this place to anyone (not even people I don't like. lol! kidding:) I have friends travelling that way this summer who just a cancelled their reso- thank god they didn't waste $300/night. We have had multiple spa treatments and diverse massages all over the world-- this was shockingly inadequate. I hope that the hotel steps up and stops providing this subpar accommodation, misleading 'treatments' by unqualified practitioners and questionable food to its guests.

This review is for the Hot Spring Pools only, spent about three hours soaking, did not stay at the hotel or eat anything on the premises. The cost of the pass for pool action only was like $12, which grants you access to a change room and a 'storage bag' for your stuff. The main pool is relatively large, outdoors and has plenty of seating around the walled edges and section dividers. The temperature is like warm bath water, which is nice enough at night because of the cool mountain air. You can drink around the pool area but it looked mostly like capped bottles, not the sweet sweet booze service you would want to be enjoying. The real magic of the Hot Spring is the 'natural cave system' that is off to the side in a much hotter (by temperature) pool. The cave is basically a horseshoe shaped tunnel that is relatively narrow but has some nooks and crannies to hang out in. The lighting is dim and the echo is loud, but if you can a sweet spot to pal around in, it is awesome. I was expecting a cave that was way cavernous by the descriptions I read but you need to duck to walk through and the water is thigh deep at best. There is cold, spa like pool that you can dunk yourself into outside the caves, if you want that crazy Nordic icy water therapy (basic insanity) feeling. The staff we pleasant enough. My complaints are subjective but I will leave them here anyway: 1) It is busy in the pool, even at 9 PM, especially lots of younger kids running around having fun. The resort must be advertised as family fun because its probably pissy-pool central. 2) There are webcams for the pools and tunnels on their website. Weird? Pervy? Right? 3) Generally not relaxing because of the amount of people, it is loud and crowded. I would go back for sure, but it is definitely not a MUST DO for the area.

This review is for the hotel only. Nice room. Clean and comfortable. We ate at the hotel restaurant. Service was nice, even when they were a server down. When you stay as a guest, you get complimentary lockers, bath robes and passes for the hot springs. We were able to use the hot springs earlier than the general public, and since we came on Monday, crowds weren't bad. A couple of suggestions for the hotel. For the price, I wish there was complimentary breakfast. Spending $15 a plate for breakfast seems a little high. Also, I didn't like how there wasn't a coffee station for guest use. Unless you pay for breakfast, you are forced to use the coffee provided in your room, and it's horrible. For a morning coffee drinker, it sucked. If you pay to stay at the hotel, be prepared to pay high prices for everything else (besides hot spring access). Also keep in mind, you are miles away from Nelson or other eating options.

Absolutely amazing food. I've been staying here for the last 2 days and love it. The restaurant closes after 9 though just a warning it opens up at 7 a.m. the staff is super friendly the food is amazing and the view is pretty cool.

Our stay was perfect. Fantastic food, awesome hot water cave and pool to soak in, comfortable beds, and getting a massage and energy work with Sage and Tristan was incredible. Definitely recommend booking a spa experience with them!! All in all a relaxing, healing trip. We came back rested and rejuvenated.

The hot springs was such a cool beans experience. The child pool gave me brain freeze my second time in it. The caves was such a neat thing to experience. The water was nice and toasty. Made my way up to the Ktunaxa grill. Super friendly staff and the food was good. I like the take they have will the grill/ pub food. Didn't stay there though.

We were not impressed. Upon arriving, we immediately went to the restaruant for our reservation. Our waiter immediately was up-selling us on everything we request to the point where it was annoying. We tried a glass of red wine, and wanted to get a bottle. After being ignored for 30 minutes, I went to the front counter and ordered the bottle to our table. 5 minutes later, he arrives with a bottle of white wine - not red. The food was good. After dinner we went to check out the hot springs. It was full of screaming children, the children to adult ratio being about 50/50. They were doing cannon balls and splashing us and running around yelling and kicking snow in the pool; as there was no lifeguard- the rules were not being followed. It was packed and busy and this was at 6pm on a Thursday. Getting back to the hotel room, it is nice and clean - however the shower spills everywhere as there is only half a door. And can hear children running in the halls when we turn the Tv off - it's 9:55PM. Will not be choosing these hot springs to come back to for a relaxing stay. After staying at Halcyon Hot Springs last week for only a small price more , this has been a huge disappointment.

We love coming here before we head back to the states. Great place for a quick hot spa must have.

Went here at the end of our anniversary road trip! It was perfect! The water felt amazing after hiking and the restaurant was delicious!!!! I look forward to going there again (hopefully) soon!

Warm water, comfortable room - nice stay. We (two seniors and daughter) stayed one day and night at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort -- we arrived in the morning, had a wonderful day and evening in the hot spring pools and caves, and a great, sound sleep that night in a very comfortable room. Our room was located on the 3'rd floor (adult floor), had a lake view, and direct floor connection to the outside pools. Two very comfortable queen-sized beds, nice view, and handy to all the outside amenities. We loved our times in the pools and caves -- warm, and the waters sure did their thing to relax us from all the car travel of our trip. The hottest water was to be found in the upper pool and within the caves. The caves were a touch intimidating upon first entry, but once over the initial 'shock' of the darkness and warmth (warm water and high humidity), we all spent several brief periods in them. The lower, large pool was the least warm, and we spent long times in that pool, chatting amongst ourselves and with other guests, and at the same time, soaking in the views of the property, lake, and mountains. After all that 'relaxation', sleep came easily, and the comfortable beds in our room helped in that regard as well.We dined in their dining room in the late-afternoon, just in time to order from their lunch menu. I had a good clubhouse sandwich, and the other two enjoyed fish & chips. The preparation were just fine, and we thought the prices very reasonable for the offerings provided. The desk and spa staff were very friendly, and accommodating -- really adding to the total pleasure of our stay. The ladies at the front desk when we arrived (and that was quite early in the morning), were charming, and did everything they could to accommodate us, and make us feel so welcome to be there!! We had a great time at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, and look forward to a re-visit some time - just hope that is not too far away!!

The hot spring caves are a neat experience. Located right next to the main pool, it's a combination of hot water therapy with a sauna feel to it. The resort has a very nice restaurant that caters to all tastes, including some vegetarian and Indian dishes. Rooms are great and the spa is located between two quaint towns of Nelson and Kalso, which are great to shop around in. If you're in for exploring, drive out to New Denver for a more mountainous driving adventure. One star less for not much to do locally. Otherwise a great experience.

I couldn't have asked for a better time at Ainsworth! The 1.5 hour drive from Trail to was well worth it to relax and unwind; from the caves to the lounging pool, it's so relaxing. Between the dining, caves and lounge I spent about 4 hours in the hot springs. We arrived around lunch time so we ate first at the resorts restaurant before going into the hot springs. The service was great and servers were friendly and attentive. I ordered the grilled salmon mushroom burger and it was actually so good! Prices were very reasonable too. I also loved how clean they kept their bathrooms, i was quite impressed!! The cave has the hottest water at 42 degrees and when you first enter the cave there is very minimal lighting so its quite a shock to your eyes at first making it a bit difficult to see but once your eyes adjust, it's much easier to see everything. What I loved about the cave is that right after you enter you can see the water flowing out from the side of the cave wall and when you go further back into the cave there is another area where the hot springs water is flowing into the cave. After chilling in the cave for a while it is so relaxing just to sit in the warm pool at the entrance and exit to the caves. There is also the cold plunge pool next to the warm pool at the caves which is so refreshing to have a quick dip in to cool off then go right back into the warm pool; you can sure feel that through your whole body! The warm pool is quite small though so seating can be limited and you might get stuck standing. There is also the Lounging pool which is about 35 degrees. I spent a lot of time in this pool. It's very big with plenty of space so it's not really crowded which i liked because even if it's busy it won't feel too packed and its also easy to carry out a conversation with somebody because you aren't really close to people like you are in the cave pool. It was just nice to sit and relax and admire the beauty of the surrounding Kootenay Lake and enjoy the feeing of the cool winter air. My only complaint is that the change rooms are a little bit on the small side so if it gets busy and lots of people are changing it can get quite tight. Ainsworth is well worth the drive to just have a day to relax and get away or to just hang out with friends or family in a relaxing environment . It will definitely make it a point to go on every visit to the Kotenays.

We just went for the hot springs and honestly, I was not that impressed. It was crowded and just seemed hokey. I am glad I did it but have no need for a return trip. The caves were fine. Nothing to write home about sadly.

I have been coming to Ainsworth for many years and am getting at the end of my rope with this establishment! 1) The owners have no clue about getting with the times ie: expansion. 2) they have all this space, time for more pools and a family pool so you're not getting splashed and stepped on by children with non attentive parents!! 3) More selection of temperatures of pools! Halcyon has five different temperatures for pools! With this place getting busier each year, I don't understand why the owners won't spruce this place up and spend some money for crying out loud! They keep putting the price up! It's time to give us what we deserve, really!!

If you can get Halcyon I recommend before here. We have been here twice. Both times we were unfortunate to have an older male server who was rather sour in attitude, very unfriendly to deal with both times. The female server we had the night before took so long to bring us our bill we got cut short of being able to enjoy our evening soak, however when they insist on closing the pools at the ridiculously early time of 9:30 not too surprising. The management would be wise to look into making some changes, especially a later hour adult only soak and possibly increasing the bar/restaurant hours, Halcyon keeps much later hours I.e. open until at least 1 a.m. on new years and even offered a free champagne toast.

Guys, its basically human chowder. The caves themselves are an amazing natural wonder and something everyone should probably see once, but there are soooo many bodies. Wish they would limit the amout of visitors, but I guess you gotta make dat money, eh?

Star breakdown...Hot Spring Pools/Caves, 4 stars...Hotel facilities 1 star. One of the highlights is the gorgeous drive along Kootenay Lake to the resort! Enjoy the drive. The pool areas are fun enough with lake views, relaxing hot spring water, & interesting little U-shaped cave . Access is limited to resort guests 8:30am-10am. After that the pools can get really crowded. We rented a studio room with a 2 burner electric hot plate & sink so we could prepare our own meals. It was small, scantily supplied with utensils, & had no decor I noticed. Worst of all the indoor/outdoor carpet smelled like mildew. Probably caused by bathers coming in from the pool. The whole hotel needed a complete re-model 20 years ago. The staff were friendly, & tried to help. The hot pools are fun but...in its present condition I would not stay in the hotel again!

The room was great. The caves were really cool. The food was horrible. Not much else to say. We enjoyed our time there. But next time we go, we'll definitely bring our own meal.

it took me 2 weeks to decide how to review this resort as i dislike being negative but there is no other way around this. for 3 nights and 4 days at the price charged i would expect AT LEAST A 4 OR 5 STAR RESORT. this was not the case at best this resort is a 2 we stayed in unit 110. at night the sound coming from the upstairs heater/shower or possibly fan was so loud that even shutting our door and being in front of the tv we had to turn it up to twice the volume. 2nd the coffee missing cups on the second day only one sugar and cream for 2 plus the coffee pot was never cleaned or emptied missing towels had to ask for cups on 3rd day and towels like i say 1-2 star at best. for 1/2 the price stay in or near nelson and do the drive restuarant was good not exceptional the springs were good

Very very crowded hot springs. If you stretched out your arm, you bumped into at least two people. Literally, it was standing room only in the pool. Even though the resort knew that we were from the US, there was never a mention that they charged at par. Meaning, the restaurant and the motel did not give you any exchange rate for american money. We drove to the next town to get our money exchanged so that we saved 30%. The rooms were nice and the staff was great, but I won't return because of the excessive crowding in the pool.

Food- yummy but PRICEY. Waitstaff good. Hot springs- deliciously bubbly and lovely. Hotel- old school, not in the good way. Can't figure out why they don't update. It seems like with a resource like that, some marketing, and some sprucing up, they could be pimping it year round! The view- spectacular. The lounge- needs serious work. It looked and felt like a cruise ship, again, not in a good way. Tasty pear cider though :) Rooms- comfortable and sufficient, but hella 70s/80s.

Did not stay at resort, just used pool. VERY crowded for cold, sloppy March in the middle of nowhere. Lots of babies and kids, who you know are peeing in the pool. We were railroaded into buy one of their overpriced plastic bags. Cashier made it sound mandatory. It's not. They do NOT do US $ exchange. You can pay with US cash at par or use a credit card to get the actual exchange rate for your money. The cave is really cool, the water felt good, but the whole thing was not super relaxing, but rather chaotic. I think they are using the retail predator model of business, so watch your transactions there very closely or they will nickel and dime you to death.

Had a nice soak overall, but the change rooms are not very nice. The ladies have change stalls so small, one can hardly turn around, and that bit of bench is silly small. However, the men don't have any privacy at all, and I was not comfortable with my young son in there alone.

My boyfriend and I have been here a couple of times to visit the Hot Springs (between 2010 and 2011), but have never stayed in the hotel, nor eaten on location, just came to simply soak in the pool and walk through the cave. We usually come to Ainsworth after visiting the Halcyon Hot Springs which isn't too far away. There are a total of 3 pools available: -main pool where you can relax and take in an amazing view of the lake -the cold plunger pool, about 2 metres by 2 metres, where one person at a time can walk in and do a quick stand under the water fall and feel their skin instantly tighten ....and my favourite of all... -the cave which is pretty humid but really neat and relaxing We typically spend a total of 2-3 hours here just relaxing in the pool and soaking in the sites - still need to try this out in the winter as I think that would be pretty neat. Only thing that is somewhat annoying to me is that children are allowed into the pool, perhaps they should rethink this, or at least make the pool area a non-screaming zone. I would like to think that the Hot Springs was made for relaxation and kids playing kind of offsets this. Other things: -plenty of free parking -small onsite gift shop -vending machine outside of fence for cold drinks, you'll need it -when you pay to get in you're given a bag to store your things and it's kept behind the counter in cubby holes - this is safe I am looking forward to my next visit!

Overall, I did not think that the hot springs themselves were very interesting, the cave was okay, the cold pool small and awkward, and regular pool was just a warm pool. Building seems to be getting old, room was ok. Ordered food to the room, which was very good! Very big portions. We had gluten free pasta and a chicken burger with fries. The lady told us that would be plenty of food but we insisted on ordering the nachos too. We shouldn't have. Only managed to have a few before our stomaches were stretched to our limits. Our stay was nice, but 1 visit is enough for me.

Have been to the resort many times over 30yrs most recently last week. The rooms are well done and the beds comfortable. The dining room has great, although expensive food, with nice views of the pools. Would be even nicer if they offered free coffee, breakfast items like many hotels. The in room coffee is not tasty nor plentiful. Would be a great thing if there was a microwave in the ice machine room for guests.

I used to come to Ainsworth almost every weekend and we would eat there most times. The food was always so amazing and the service was great! Yesterday we went for a swim in the pool then went up to the restaurant to eat and were very disappointed when we saw how much the menu had changed with the new owners. We were even more disappointed when our food arived and we tasted it. We ordered the calamari, chicken wings and the smoked elk carpaccio. The chicken wings were mediocre at best and the elk carpaccio was inedible but worst of all was the calamari. It was brought out in huge pieces that were impossible to cut for two reasons. If you touched it the batter would slide right off because it was so greasy and the other reason was because it was basically rubber. The waitress didn't quality check and was extremely slow to bring drinks. When she did bring drinks they were made incorrectly and with the ice already melted. She spent most of the time complaining to us about how busy she was. Over all this was the worst dinning experience I have ever had. I will not be back. Do yourself a favor and save the $200 by not eating here!

My wife and myself took a trip to the Ainsworth Hot Springs to get away from the city for a bit. Had a wonderful drive through the interior of BC on the way! As far as the review - Hot Springs are nice, the pool is warm, but not hot. About a meter deep on the shallow end, and just slightly deeper on the "deep" end. Not enough for swimming IMHO. Can't see the caves in the Yelp pictures, but they're actually quite nice (if a bit small), and quite a bit warmer (and usually quite busy). There's also a cold-water pool for chilling yourself before dipping in the pools. There is none of the sulfur odor you sometimes get at hotsprings. Hotel has been remodeled recently, and it's clean, but not fancy. LCD TVs in the rooms and nice bathrooms, but the decor is a tad bland. For what the rooms are, even with the free hotspring access, I'd say it's about $40/night overpriced. There are only around 43 rooms, with the majority on the 3rd floor (same as the hotspring). Wifi is free, however it's very slow (don't even think about Netflix) - just tethered to my cell phone and got much better speed. Restaurant on the 4th floor was a pleasant surprise. Decor just a bit dated, but a great view, and the food is actually quite nice and well-prepared. We had breakfast and dinner and both meals were excellent. The hotspring is reserved for hotel guests for a few hours in the morning, then it opens to the public, and gets quite busy in the early afternoon, particularly on nice days.

Great pools. Nothing special about the rooms, though they are clean. Food is a little overpriced. Pools are not super kid friendly after dark.

Nice place, clean good customer service with a smile. The area was beautiful with amazing views, you should open late with private booking, during the night would be amazing due to the stars and the romantic surroundings

A one time pass is $12 and a day pass is $18. After soaking for a half hour, we got hungry. There's a restaurant upstairs--owned by the same people who own the pool and caves, mind you. But if you leave the pool area to eat in the restaurant, you have to buy a day pass. You're thinking: "Let me get this straight. You were about to go upstairs and give the owner another $40 for food for two people, but to be able to soak again, you have to spend another $6/person for a day pass??" My thoughts exactly. The irrationality of this got me so hot that even though the caves are awesome, I will never go back. Such greed! Such a shame. Upsides: caves, friendly staff.

Enjoyed a wonderful weekend at the resort. The hot springs were amazing. We stayed in the designer suites. Really spacious and nicely decorated. Restaurant had excellent food but felt it was overpriced. The worst thing was the Internet connection in the hotel. When relaxing in the room the Internet was barely functional. Took forever for simple things to load up. Overall I would recommend it

My husband and I stayed in the cheapest room they had which was very nice, modern, updated. Coffee pot with coffee, and a mini fridge in room. There's also a hair dryer for the ladies and the bathtub is very deep. The housekeeping staff was super friendly even though we only stayed one night. I was super impressed with the restaurant staff the food was good but I was more impressed with the staff. Very professional; I even dropped my cloth napkin on the floor and somebody across the room saw and brought me another one. The hot springs were busy because it's open to the public of course, but for two hours in the morning hotel guests get to use it before they do, which is nice.

Nasty hotel and resturant, won't give you the details, just a heads up. Check reviews online before staying and eating here. Probably the worst resturant I have ever been to.

the resort itself is a little outdated...and when the dining room is set up for dinner, it can be a little overpriced. However, the food was good (7 out of 10) and it is easy access to the hot springs. more importantly, you get free passes, which for a couple will run you $20-30 dollars. Also, you dont have many options other than the resort

My husband and I had a great time here! Five stars for the hot springs and hotel room. We stayed in one of the suites facing the lake/mountains and the room was very nice, well worth the price. Our room was very modern and comfortable and the big bathtub and heated floors in the bathroom were a nice touch. The hot springs and cave were nice! It seemed to get a bit crowded midday, but mornings and after 8pm were good times for a little more privacy. I deducted one star for the restaurant. We ate there twice. The food is average, but our server the first time forgot we were there and left us sitting with empty plates after our meal for about 30 minutes. We got up to leave before he finally took notice of us. Our waiter the second time (John, I think) was much more attentive. Overall, we had a great experience here. I would definitely return!!

I've never actually stayed in the hotel here, or eaten in the restaurant, but I have used the hot springs. We used to come here every year right after Christmas when I was a kid, and I remember it being a wonderful and relaxing place. When my mom and I came up here recently I was not disappointed. The springs have been updated a little, but still retains the same qualities that I remember enjoying before. There are three pools, the Caves, the regular pool, and the cold plunge. The Caves are awesome, they have water that runs about 105 degrees and you can go back into the horseshoe formation of caves with natural bulid up on the walls from the mineral water. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. The regular pool runs about 98 degrees and is wonderful for relaxing and enjoying the company of the people around you. The cold plunge is...well cold. But it was nice that the waterfall running into it wasn't surrounded by ice like it always was in the winter. The pricing is reasonable, and you have the option of buying a single use pass or a day pass so you can leave and come back. All in all it was a wonderful experience, and I wish that we lived closer to go more often.

Wow, the food here is amazing and very reasonably priced. I was so impressed by how much food we got, how quickly it came out, and how great the service was. Not to mention how incredibly delicious it is! And a great view! I highly recommend eating here.

The quality of the rooms have improved significantly since our last visit, but the customer service and restaurant have taken a serious dive bomb in quality. Beautiful hot springs but no longer worth the five hour drive for. Don't waste your time or money.

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort provides a wonderful get-away. We arrived here as our last stop on a 21 day road trip through the north central USA to Niagara Falls, ON and after visiting Ontario's Muskoka and Haliburton areas to see the very colourful autumn leaves, we returned through the northern route (Trans Canada Hwy 1) to Lethbridge, AB then Crowsnest (Hwy 3) to Fernie, BC and then Hwy 3A from Creston, BC north then taking the longest free ferry ride in the world to Balfour, BC and booking into Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort for our last night on the road. We selected basic Queen bed room on the 3rd floor with no view (you don't need a view when you are sleeping) but the views from the 4th floor restaurant and the pool area are breathtaking! The room was clean and functional and equipped with robes for when you want to head to the pool area where the hot caves and hot pools are also located. How invigorating after 21 days of driving 4 to 7 hours each day. The restaurant dining was superb and our server, Mark was excellent. We drank a lovely bottle of white wine and I had the BBQ back ribs which were delicious. Liz had Ainsworth chicken with stuffed spinach and she loved it. We retired to our room and slept in quiet comfort and in the morning went back to the dinning room for a delightful breakfast. Now we head for home with our happy memories of our trip and our evening at Ainsworth. We certainly recommend this place.

We missed the turn-off to Ainsworth Hot Springs due to inadequate signage, and drove a few miles down the road in order to turn around. Having just come from Nakusp Hot Springs with ample overnight parking, we did not know what to expect so our 44' motor home was definitely out of place navigating the small parking lot. After a long day of driving interesting roads to get there, we had not even turned the engine off before a woman came running over with an abrupt message we could not park there for the night. I suppose lots of people have attempted to do so, but as greenhorns, we had not expected such an unfriendly welcome. And after that message, we certainly would not have sought nourishment at the restaurant either! We left immediately and stopped at a motel just down from them, the first one on the right. What nice people!! They were very friendly people and directed us to a place we could spend the night. Kind of took the bad taste of the other woman out of the mouth. We did go back the next morning, took in the pool and the cave, it was OK. A few sun umbrellas would have been nice as it was so hot out and being in the hot water we could not stay in very long. I am concerned about the waste water draining into the lake below, yes, it is seemingly a small amount, but years of chlorinated water running into the Lake must have some effect on the fish, etc. The flowers and hanging baskets were lovely but I would not go back.

My husband and I stayed at this hotel 6 years ago and loved it when it was a bit old.. the price was right and the staff was so friendly. The only positive now is the amazing water. It is clean and unique. The hotel is very overpriced for the room you receive. We paid 250.00 for the best room they have. It is next to the stairs, door to the pools, and the ice machine. I picked this room because it was the only one that seemed nice enough to be comfortable. The 190.00 rooms don't have bathtubs and have outdated and old bed coverings. They use to offer kitchens in the rooms but they took them out so you are stuck having all of your meals at the hotel restaurant. This pool is open privately for a half an hour to hotel guests. I was disappointed the pool doesn't open until 830. It closes at 9:00 so because this place is in the middle of nowhere. You have 11 1/2 hours at night to waste. The restaurant only stays open until 9:30. So since you can'take check in until 4:00 you have very little chance to take a dip in the pool. We had to get out early enough to have dinner before the restaurant closed. The restaurant.... it is so pretentious for no good reason. The food was not so great I had the veal special 26.00 it took a half an hour and was horrid. I wanted dessert but I didn't want to pay 9.00 for another bad dish. I would recommend you stay somewhere else and pay for a day pass. Staying at the hotel has no bonuses. The hot spring should be open until 11:00pm. I think the hotel should put guests first. They are very money hungry.