Lussier Hot Springs and Whiteswan Lake Prov. Park, BC
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:44 pm
This is the first "major" trip I've done in my van since getting it last fall. First van camping too. Lussier Hot Springs are natural hot springs along the riverbed of the Lussier River, about a 1 hr drive from Invermere BC. Pools have been built using rocks from the riverbed, creating about 5 or 6 pools of varying temperature (as the water runs further from the spring and into the river). The hot springs are an amazing spot, very accessible and well-maintained but a totally different experience than the glorified hot tubs of Banff, Radium, etc, and free to boot. We went down to the hot springs in the morning but I've been after dark in the past, and it's something else to sit in these natural pools and look up at the stars. Apparently they are accessible throughout the winter too.
Wanting to get a fire started before dark, we drove past the hot springs and stopped at the first campground within Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, which was at Alces Lake, about 5km past the springs. The campground was gated off so we left the van at the gate (came back to sleep) and walked in for a campfire. There are more campgrounds within the park (around Whiteswan Lake itself) and Top of the World Provincial Park is in this direction as well, further up another FSR. I reckon I'll return to these later on in the year.
The FSR leaves Highway 93/95 about 50km south of Invermere, near the town of Canal Flats.
(Google Maps link)
Though an active logging road, it is fairly well-maintained. Bumpy with potholes but nothing a 2wd couldn't handle. We followed a Toyota Corolla in.
The FSR has been blasted in to the side of this river valley. It is a steep drop off and the road is 1 lane at times:
Alces Lake Campground, the first of 3 or 4 campgrounds within Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, was gated and locked, so we parked the van at the entrance:
Walked from the van into the campground. Here's the view of Alces Lake:
Though it was drizzly all night, we found enough dry wood to have a campfire and roast some sausages:
The following morning we hit up the hot springs, backtracking a bit along the FSR towards the highway. A family with children were already there enjoying a morning dip:
On the way out along the FSR:
Stopped at a lookout about 10km NE of Radium:
Stopped for a photo op at the turnoff for Cochrane, AB, about 20km W of Calgary:
Icing on the cake was getting the best fuel economy I've had since buying the van last fall:
Banff to Invermere: 220 km; 7.78 l/100km; 30.22 mpg
Return trip Radium to Calgary: 262km; 7.62 l/100km; 30.86 mpg
I reckon the big secret was keeping it slow - I cruised at 90-95km/h wherever possible and took it slow up the hills.
1991 L300 Exceed, High Roof, diesel, 5-spd
Wanting to get a fire started before dark, we drove past the hot springs and stopped at the first campground within Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, which was at Alces Lake, about 5km past the springs. The campground was gated off so we left the van at the gate (came back to sleep) and walked in for a campfire. There are more campgrounds within the park (around Whiteswan Lake itself) and Top of the World Provincial Park is in this direction as well, further up another FSR. I reckon I'll return to these later on in the year.
The FSR leaves Highway 93/95 about 50km south of Invermere, near the town of Canal Flats.
(Google Maps link)
Though an active logging road, it is fairly well-maintained. Bumpy with potholes but nothing a 2wd couldn't handle. We followed a Toyota Corolla in.
The FSR has been blasted in to the side of this river valley. It is a steep drop off and the road is 1 lane at times:
Alces Lake Campground, the first of 3 or 4 campgrounds within Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, was gated and locked, so we parked the van at the entrance:
Walked from the van into the campground. Here's the view of Alces Lake:
Though it was drizzly all night, we found enough dry wood to have a campfire and roast some sausages:
The following morning we hit up the hot springs, backtracking a bit along the FSR towards the highway. A family with children were already there enjoying a morning dip:
On the way out along the FSR:
Stopped at a lookout about 10km NE of Radium:
Stopped for a photo op at the turnoff for Cochrane, AB, about 20km W of Calgary:
Icing on the cake was getting the best fuel economy I've had since buying the van last fall:
Banff to Invermere: 220 km; 7.78 l/100km; 30.22 mpg
Return trip Radium to Calgary: 262km; 7.62 l/100km; 30.86 mpg
I reckon the big secret was keeping it slow - I cruised at 90-95km/h wherever possible and took it slow up the hills.
1991 L300 Exceed, High Roof, diesel, 5-spd