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Top 10 Astonishing Facts about The Cave and Basin, Banff, Alberta

The scenic view of Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Photo by Kimpayant.

Banff National Park has incredible natural scenery and some very enjoyable walking trails, a visit to the Cave and Basin national historic site is highly recommended for all visitors.

They are nine sulfurous hot springs clustered in three groups on the northeast flank of the sulfur mountain and the cave and basin are the lowest.

They are all located along the Sulphur mountain thrust fault below Devonian limestone and water is heated geothermally from the estimated depth of three kilometers.

The cave and basin is the only cavern that is large enough to accommodate a group of people comfortably.

1 It was First Recorded by Joe Healey in 1875

James Hector of the Palliser Expedition recorded the first reference to a hot spring in 1859, and  Joe  Healey found the cave and basin site in 1875. 

Canadian Pacific Railways workers William McCardell and Frank McCabe brought national attention to the Cave and Basin.

In 1883 they descended through the skylight entrance into the cave using a felled tree.  William McCardell went down to the steaming vent hole and found a pool of warm water and eerie stalactites hanging in the fog. As a reward for this bravery, he stripped down and was the first to swim in these luxurious Banff hot springs.

The following year he constructed a small cabin nearby to commercialize the Cave and Basin site

2 The Cave and Basin water  are believed to have healing power

Being a rare source of hot water, many creative healing properties have been attributed to these natural Banff hot springs at the Cave & Basin.

In 1912 people started selling bottled water from the cave and basin sighting it has curative power.

People believed this water with Sulphur was able to heal several diseases of the skin, gout, chronic rheumatism, and syphilis, for the treatment of stiff joints, gunshot wounds, and in- poisoning by mercury or lead.

Visitors at the site would plugde themselves into the pool to optimize the healing powers however swimming is no longer allowed.

3 There are  Well-built Facilities to  Enhance Visitors’ Experience at the Cave

The entrance to the Cave and Basin building. Photo By Gisling.

A small grotto has been constructed at the entrance to the basin to ease access. 

An artificial tunnel was built in 1886 and driven into the cave and basin to aid in visitation.

Also, there is a replica of the 1887 bath house and which was the first structure on-site, proved inadequately in 1902.

A new pool was opened in 1904 and a stone house bath was completed in 1914, designed by the architect Walter s Painter.

In the same year, a naturally heated swimming pool was opened to the public and continued to operate until 1994.

An interpretive display center now uses the structure and has hiking and snowshoes trails.

Most of these facilities were built by the detainees held during first world war 1 at the Ukrainian Canadian intermittent camp that was located nearby.

4 The Cave is Spherical and there is a Magnicificant Spark upon slight Illumination

An image showing the spherical Nature of the Cave and Basin.

The cave is spherical and it still has natural hot spring water flowing into it and it is partially illuminated through the steam vent at the top. 

5 There is a Discovery Walk Trail in Banff Nationally Park

The Discovery Trail walk is coupled with the main building and it starts at the exit of the cave and basin. one can still enjoy this historically significant hike by walking to the far western edge of the main building.

There is also Marsh Trail that begins just below the old Cave and Basin swimming pool. The trail follows a wooden boardwalk into a lush forest. The reason for this unusually lush forest becomes apparent almost immediately as the Lower Boardwalk trail passes several waterfalls from the natural hot springs above

6 The Warm Spring  Waters Support Flora and Fauna Life

There is an unusually lush forest that came up due to several waterfalls from the natural hot springs above.  About six species of orchids grow near these hot springs and several species of birds can be seen in these unfrozen water all year-round.

There is also Banff Longnose Dace minnow, which similar to the Banff springs snail, adapted to grow in these warm waters.

There is a multitude of tiny fish which live in these warm waters and you can also spot many Banff springs snails in these waters.

In the summer you are likely to see Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teals, Yellowthroats, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and in the winter, Robins, Snipes, Mallards, and King deer enjoy these warm waters.

7 Banff  Offers Several Kid’s Friendly Outdoor Activities

Banff Park offers more than just a cave and basin, there are so many kid-friendly things to do in the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

There is also some easy hiking and many kid-friendly bike trails that offer a break from the magical cave and basin such as Cycling Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon.

8 There is a Dark Hallway into the Cave   

Banff, the Cave, and Basin is the most unique place to visit in this national historic site in the dark, with only a lantern for light. Listen to stories of discovery and Banff history, accompanied by lights, sounds, some fog, and even a ghost!

9 The  Attraction Site has Offered Lifeline to Bank head Town

A photo of a Ghost Town by Sarah Lachise.

Bankhead is a small town in Banff that was almost becoming a  ghost town after the closure of its coal mining operation however visitors to the cave and basin enjoy and have fun in the town as they take an educational, interpretive walk around the remains of the former Banff coal mining operation.

In the 1900s, Bankhead, Alberta was a thriving town of nearly 1,000 citizens built next to the operations site of an anthracite coal mine.

The Bankhead Banff coal mine ceased its operations in 1922, and many of the buildings were moved or dismantled. What remains on the former site of Bankhead, Alberta is now the Bankhead ghost town.

10 It has been Preserved  as a  National Historic Site

The federal government and the Canadian parliament set aside this site as a reserve for all Canadians in 1885. The government paid Frank McCabe and William McCardell $675 in recognition of their time spent to protect their claim and the improvements made at the site. Upon the creation of the reserve, the government immediately began development, creating an access tunnel into the cave along with a bathhouse adjacent to the Basin. The discovery of natural hot springs on Sulphur Mountain was made and it was of great national importance. And then, in 1887, history was made, when this reserve officially became Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park!