Hot Springs of Western Canada: A Complete Guide (4th edition)

By Glenn Woodsworth & David Woodsworth, Harbour Publishing, 2023

– A Book Review by Ron Dart, a member of the Chilliwack Outdoor Club –

Many are the minor pleasures of life, but one of the finest is, after a long day on the trail, in a kayak or car to nestle into a warm, soothing and relaxing hot spring, muscles, bones and tendons finally at ease.

The 4th publication by Glenn and David Woodsworth of Hot Springs of Western Canada: A Complete Guide is an ample and imperative must-have for hot springs baggers and seekers.

Hot Springs of Western Canada lands thoroughly in many hot springs in western Canada, but the reach goes much deeper and further: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Washington and Alaska get their fair due and nod of admiration. But BC tends to be the focus and priority.

The “Preface to the Fourth Edition”, “About Hot Springs”, “About the Guide” and coloured-detailed maps (23 of them) are not to miss and make for a fine entrée to the book, but the bulk and core of the tome nests into 13 sections: the Lower Mainland of BC, Vancouver Island, Northwestern Washington, The Cariboo and Okanagan, The West Kootenays, The East Kootenays, Alberta (and Saskatchewan), Off Highway 16: Prince George to Prince Rupert, British Columbia’s Central Coast, North Coast and Haida Gwaii, Northwestern British Columbia, Off the Alaska Highway: Peace River to Whitehorse and Northwest Territories and Central Yukon.

There are about 115 hot springs mentioned in this book (some well known and easy to access, others much visited but more of a trudge to get to—boat or plane needed, and some more recently discovered and worth the trek to visit). Most of the hot springs discussed in the book give the route to reach the place, fine photographs and excellent primers and teasers in what will be seen when there. There is also plenty of up to date information on the state of the hot spring being visited. The bulk of the hot springs mentioned in the book are Kootenays (East-West), Lower Mainland of BC, Alberta (and Saskatchewan) and Off the Alaska Highway.

Glenn and David Woodsworth have become, since the earlier publication by Jim McDonald of Hot Springs of Western Canada in 1978 the go to authorities on hot springs.

The 1997, 1999 and 2013 publications by Glenn Woodsworth (David joining Glenn in 2013) mean that Glenn-David are now those we need to hear and heed for the growing interest in hot springs—their more comprehensive approach in this recent publication brings us the basic information we need to have if interested in visiting their BC beauties.

I have been fortunate to visit, linger and soak in many of the hot springs Glenn-David have listed in this bounty of a book, but my experience lacks the sheer completeness of Hot Springs of Western Canada (and beyond). This book is the definite and definitive guide for those interested in hot springs and the health-giving gift of them. There are peak baggers—there are park baggers—this is a superb book for those who aspire to be hot spring baggers or simply delight in the relaxed and healing pleasures of hot springs.

–Ron Dart