Jasper’s Hot Spot

Super loaded with dissolved minerals, the hottest hot springs in the Rockies is Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park. This popular hot spring is cooled down from a scalding hot 54°C to a pleasant 40°C for visitors to enjoy. Located in the scenic Fiddle Valley in the front ranges of the eastern Rockies, Miette Hot Springs rewards visitors with a chance to relax in the natural mineral water, stretch their legs on a hike, or linger over a picnic. There are opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife as well, and it is common to see bighorn sheep and black bears in the area.

Miette Hot Springs, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Parks Canada, Lee Simmons Photographer

Hikers who enjoy wide-open meadows and dramatic vistas will revel in the views from the Sulphur Skyline trail, a 9.5 km round trip hike that starts in the Miette Hot Springs parking lot. For those wanting a stroll, a short trail leads up to the ruins of the old Miette aqua court, the source of the hot springs in the canyon.

Before they were developed, the Miette Hot Springs flowed into the Fiddle River. You may expect that a natural hot spring would be contained in a rock pool, but there were no natural pools in the valley. Miette’s first pools were created from logs and mud, then later replaced with a concrete pool to protect public health. Today there are four pools in the complex that also features a cafe and gift shop. Camping and commercial accommodation are nearby. (See our campground directory on p. 66)

People have long sought out hot springs for their therapeutic value, and they were once considered a legitimate treatment for a variety of ailments ranging from gout to rheumatism. Today’s  medical specialists suggest that soaking in hot springs is better suited to stress reduction and relief from aches. Given that many illnesses are caused by stress, it may just be that the hot water is beneficial to one’s overall health. When combined with fresh mountain air, and an invigorating hike, soaking in the Miette Hot Springs is an experience to savour.

Bathers in the Miette Hot Springs Pool, Jasper National Park, Alberta, 1929
Photo Courtesy of Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archive – PA 39-57

Directions:
From Jasper, proceed east on highway 16 for 44 km to the Pocahontas Bungalows and the Miette Road junction. Miette Hot Springs are at the end of Miette Road, 17 km ahead.

For more information please visit pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/sources-springs/miette/miette.aspx

Miette is just one of three hot springs located in the national parks: Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park and Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park are also great places to “take to the waters” and enjoy remarkable scenery.