Banff Upper Hot Springs Closing Again After Lengthy Shutdown

The Banff Upper Hot Springs will close for several weeks this fall, months after reopening following a major rehabilitation project that kept the facility closed longer than originally expected.

Parks Canada says the hot springs will close Oct. 13 and are expected to reopen in early November for their annual fall maintenance period.

The work will include equipment servicing, repairs to interior stairs, deep cleaning and continued work on the roof deck.

The closure isn't unexpected. When the hot springs reopened earlier this year, Parks Canada told Bow Valley Insider that additional routine maintenance to the pool and deck was already scheduled for fall 2026.

Another closure after reopening in March

The upcoming maintenance follows a considerably longer closure that stretched from fall 2025 into spring 2026.

The Upper Hot Springs reopened on March 31 after what Parks Canada described at the time as an "extended closure required for essential facility and maintenance updates."

The facility had originally been expected to reopen in late December, but the reopening was ultimately pushed back until the end of March.

Federal procurement documents reviewed by Bow Valley Insider showed the project went beyond routine upkeep.

The work involved rehabilitation of the facility's main deck and supporting infrastructure, including waterproofing, concrete, masonry, insulation and drainage. The federal tender estimated the project at between $1 million and $5 million.

The documents also showed shifting construction timelines dating back to early 2025.

An initial tender set a contract completion date of June 20, 2025. That tender was later cancelled and reissued with a revised completion date of Aug. 20.

The hot springs ultimately closed in fall 2025, and when they reopened in March, some construction was still underway.

At the time, Parks Canada said the project addressed "critical maintenance work to the building's facilities and foundation."

Some work continued after reopening

The facility initially operated with reduced hours after reopening to accommodate continued outdoor construction.

Parks Canada told Bow Valley Insider in April that minimal disruptions were expected while that work continued and that full operating hours would return once construction was finished.

The agency also confirmed at the time that additional routine maintenance to the pool and deck was planned for this fall.

Parks Canada now says the October closure will include ongoing roof deck work, along with the other annual maintenance.

An exact reopening date has not yet been announced.

The Upper Hot Springs are currently open daily, with admission available on a first-come, first-served basis.