Fairmont Hot Springs
Elevation: 800 m (2667 ft)
Population: 400
Interesting Note: More than a 100 years ago Fairmont was only a stop on a stage coach route. Today, with its 3 golf courses, mineral hot pools & ski hill, Fairmont offers travellers every thing they need, winter or summer.
Like Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs first made its mark with Europeans
because of its natural, odorless hot springs. Located 26 km south of Invermere,
Fairmont's economy is based around tourism and focused, to a large degree, in
the timeshare retail sector. A small resort town, Fairmont is host to tens of
thousands of domestic and foreign timeshare owners each year. Fairmont offers
a host of basic amenities, such as restaurants, accommodations, gas station, cafes,
grocery store, apparel and gift retailers, post office, church, and an airport.
Fairmont's recreation opportunities during the summer months include, golfing
at two 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis, mini-golf, horseback riding,
hiking, mountain biking, and paddling on the Columbia River.
Winter recreation centers around the Fairmont ski hill. With two lifts and
a large number of intermediate runs, the hill strives to provide family skiing
and snowboarding. With 304 m of vertical, the family ski hill offers a cafeteria,
lounge, ski school and equipment rentals. Other winter activities include snowmobiling,
and cross country skiing.
However, Fairmont's biggest year-round draw is its hot springs. The pools'
complex is made up of soaking hot pools, a warm swimming pool and a diving pool.
Imagine sitting in muscle and bone soothing, odorless waters while looking up
at chiseled Rocky Mountain Peaks, appearing so close that you think you can
touch them. Or look to the west and watch the sun set over the Purcell Mountains.
(Text courtesy of Valley Echo)
What Fairmont Hot Springs has to offer:
