Alberta · Remote access
Mist Mountain Warm Springs
A mountain warm-spring source documented in Alberta’s southern Rockies. Its historical measurement is cooler than many developed hot pools, and the setting is alpine rather than roadside.
Historical source coordinate; not a trailhead. Accuracy and datum have not been independently verified. Historical water readings describe source samples, not safe soaking temperatures.
An alpine soak above Highway 40
Mist Mountain's springs are two small natural pools high on the flank of a 3,140-metre peak in Kananaskis Country — a genuinely alpine setting rather than a valley-bottom pool, and the reason this one has a following out of all proportion to its size.
The trailhead is on the east side of Highway 40, about 15 kilometres south of Highwood Pass, which is itself the highest paved pass in Canada. The pools are warm rather than hot; come for the position and the view, not the temperature.
A short, steep hike with a turn that people miss
The route is roughly 6.3 to 6.5 kilometres round trip with about 580 to 600 metres of elevation gain, rated moderate to difficult depending on the source. It is not a long day, but it is a steady climb.
The detail worth knowing: the access to the springs is below a waterfall and requires a right turn off the main trail. People routinely climb past it and miss the pools entirely, so watch for the junction rather than following the obvious path upward.
The road is closed for half the year
This is the constraint that catches most people out. The road to Mist Mountain is closed from 1 December to 14 June for wildlife protection, so the usable window is mid-June to the end of November.
That seasonal closure is standard practice on this stretch of Highway 40 and is strictly applied. Check Alberta Parks' current seasonal closures before planning a trip, and note that early-season conditions at this elevation can still involve snow.
Opening hours & season
No verified visitor timetable
Access depends on land-manager permission, closures and local conditions. No published timetable should be interpreted as 24-hour access.
All times are local to the spring. Checked 2026-10-01; this is not a live opening-status display. Closure notices override regular hours.
Our take
Most relevant to capable mountain hikers. The small-scale spring and mountain conditions make it unsuitable to promise as a comfortable, reliable bathing destination.
Editorial assessment based on published information. No firsthand visit or customer score is implied.
Before you go
Sources & record notes
Geoscience BC’s 2016 compilation · 1 historical sampling record · Source name: Mist Mt. References recorded in the dataset: Grasby 2000.
Sources used for this guide
- Explore Kananaskis — Mist Mountain natural hot springs hike
- Wikipedia — Mist Mountain
- Wikipedia — Highwood Pass
Written from the published sources above. Operator hours, access rules and closures change; the official link is authoritative.