Ainsworth Hot Springs and Balfour sit on the north shore of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia's West Kootenays. They are small communities rather than a single town, but together they make a strong day out: soak in mineral water, walk to a lakeside lighthouse, or head up into the limestone caves above Ainsworth.
The hot springs are the reason most travellers come. The main pool is pleasant enough, but the cave loop gives the place its character, with warm mineral water flowing through a horseshoe-shaped passage before returning to the open pool.
Balfour adds the lake setting. The ferry terminal gives easy access across Kootenay Lake, while Pilot Bay and the nearby cable ferry make the shore feel more like a chain of small discoveries than a simple resort stop.