Beautiful British Columbia, Canada - Radium Hot Springs

A couple days prior to heading to Canada we did the ole "what is it you can’t take there"? Is it potatoes, tomatoes, apples? We googled it but it's really hard to figure out. There was something about eggs, dairy, fruit. The best thing to do is use up what you have in the fruit and vegetable department and head over, plead ignorance and if they make you throw it away so be it.

We headed out Wednesday, 5/28, and crossed the border at the Roosville border crossing, it connects the town of Eureka, Montana with Grasmere, British Columbia. Where are you going, how long, any guns or ammo? Drive safely and have a nice time and we were on our way. No question about food, I was a little stunned but I’m not complaining or won’t complain until I get to the resort town and pay $8 for a dozen eggs. Once we got into Canada the first thing we noticed was the license plate, "Beautiful British Columbia", which describes it perfectly.

Radium Hot Springs is a small village which is known for…you guessed it, hot springs. What we didn’t know was this town is also known for their Big Horn Sheep. Just prior to getting to town, we saw an overpass being built, which we learned is for the sheep to cross. The project includes wildlife fencing and gates that will guide animals to the overpass and safely over the highway. We asked the ranger when we checked in at Redstreak Campground in Kootenay National Park about the sheep and she said sometimes they are in town and sometimes they aren’t, you just never know.

This little village of Radium Hot Springs had a population of 1,339 in 2021 and estimates around 120 Big Horn Sheep in the fall of 2021. So, what’s the best outcome for a short stay here? Watching Big Horn Sheep climb the mountain as you soak in the hot spring pools. 

Columbia Lake

Columbia Lake 

Source of Columbia River, which empties into the 

Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon.

Radium Hot Springs

Art in the shape of Big Horn Sheep horns in the 

middle of the roundabout in the village.

The hot springs feed the pool which overlooks

the mountains. Mark was watching the ewe with

her lamb climbing the mountain, as he enjoyed the "hot pool".

It is hard to spot the sheep as they blend in so well.

This is the "cool pool", instead of 102 degrees in the 

"hot pool", this was 84 degrees, both feed from the springs.

They add cold water to the "cool pool" to make it perfect.

We were so lucky to find these rams. The horns 

on the guy on the right were exceptional, almost a full curl.

He was giving Mark and I the eye.