Banff Upper Hot Springs Reopens Months Late As Construction Continues

The Banff Upper Hot Springs has reopened to the public after months of delays, with construction still ongoing and questions remaining about what caused the project to extend well beyond its original timeline.

The facility reopened March 31 following what Parks Canada described as an “extended closure required for essential facility and maintenance updates.”

“This construction project addressed critical maintenance work to the building’s facilities and foundation,” said Tomi Postma, public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park. “Visitors can expect a fresh and clean environment, without changes to the original heritage experience.”

The site is operating with reduced hours, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, to accommodate ongoing outdoor construction, with full operations expected once work is complete.

“Minimal disruptions to visitors are expected. Full hours of operation will return once all work is completed,” Postma said.

Additional routine maintenance is also scheduled for the pool and deck area in fall 2026.

Documents posted on the federal CanadaBuys procurement system outlining the scope of work and bidding process show the project went beyond routine upkeep, involving a substantial rehabilitation of the facility’s main deck and supporting infrastructure.

The tender describes selective demolition and new construction or reinstallation of key elements, including waterproofing, concrete, masonry, insulation and drainage, and estimates the project at between $1 million and $5 million.

The project timeline outlined in those documents shows delays began during the procurement process.

Initial tender documents issued Jan. 22, 2025, set an expected contract completion date of June 20, 2025. The original tender was later cancelled and reissued, with a revised completion date of Aug. 20, 2025.

The reissued tender also shifted how the facility would operate during construction. Earlier plans indicated the site could remain partially open where safe, while later documents required a full closure during construction.

The facility ultimately closed in the fall of 2025, with an expected reopening in late December that was later pushed back to the end of March.

Parks Canada has not publicly detailed what challenges contributed to the delay or why the project extended several months beyond its completion targets.

Bow Valley Insider contacted Parks Canada for comment but did not receive a response at time of publication.