Count-down: 33 days until departure for Alaskan Adventure!
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| Hot Springs Wikipedia Commons |
There is a special little place in British Colombia on the Alaska Highway about 18 hours northwest of Jasper, Alberta, Canada and almost 17 hours northeast of Juneau, Alaska that was once called “Tropical Valley”. Hidden within a lush boreal forest like a secret garden, is a group of natural hot springs ranging in temperatures from 108 F to 126 F. Now named the Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, it is Canada’s second largest hot springs and a popular tourist attraction especially in the summer. Travelers can rest from the long drive on the Alaska Highway and relax in the hot restorative waters.
The warm water pools nourish an immense diversity of flora and fauna, including 14 different species of wild orchid. Moose often feed in the warm swamps surrounding the pools. One hot springs pool is reserved for humans, but moose, beavers, and bears, don’t always follow the rules. Another pool had been open in previous years, but the bears enjoyed it too much so they had to close it for humans.
In the winter, visitors to the hot springs can soak in the relaxing waters surrounded by snow frosted trees and gaze up to see the dancing greens and purples of the Northern Lights. I would love to witness that. Even though we’re going in the spring, I think it will be just as magical and maybe someday we'll return to see the park in its winter splendor.
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| Snow covered trees surrounding springs Wikipedia Commons |
National Geographic Travel- check out this link to see a cool winter photo of the park
British Columbia Parks
Kathy :)
That might be a bit unnerving to be swimming with a moose.
ReplyDeleteI'll refrain from any beaver jokes, but - a moose once bit my sister.
I'm not sure I could handle the cold of Alaska, but I would love to see all of the wonderful nature over there. :)
ReplyDeleteThe images and words of another place call with such power...
ReplyDeleteSusan
Garden of Eden Blog
I have yet to visit a hot springs, and yet there's a few just miles away. I need to get on that. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved your line about how the moose etc don't always follow the rules. I think I'd be too nervous to relax - I'd be worried a bear or some other creature was going to come for a swim. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog the other day.
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge
Alaska is a land of so much beauty. Cold, too, but gorgeous nonetheless. Great pics and story, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSilvia @
SilviaWrites
Wow, that sounds so awesome. A bit hot for my taste, though :). I hope you have lots of fun there.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to go to British Columbia for a long time now. In theory, it seems pretty cool for animals to be in the same hot springs as humans, but in reality, it might be a bit unnerving.
ReplyDeleteAlex-Haha! How was your sister that close to a moose?
ReplyDeleteChrys- I'm hoping it's not too cold when we go.
Susan- They surely do.
David-I'm sure you'd love it, we went to one in Colorado this summer and it was great, no moose though luckily. :)
Madeline- Thanks! Yeah, I'm sure I'll be keeping a close eye on the forest.
Silvia- Thanks!
JE- Yeah, 126 is a little too hot for me too, but maybe with a spring chill in the air it will be just right.
Carrie-I think I would leave pretty quickly, if a moose joined us. :)