Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Cave and Basin
The birthplace of Canada's national park system. You can enter a cave to see the sulphur hot spring pools and learn about the history of the national parks.
In 1883, three railway workers discovered this cave hot spring at the foot of Sulphur Mountain. The ownership dispute that followed led to the creation of a hot spring reserve in 1885, which marked the origin of Banff National Park and the Canadian national park system. Inside the site, a tunnel leads into a sulphur-scented cave with thermal pools. The outdoor Basin pool is emerald green, and the nearby wetland is the only place in the world where the Banff springsnail survives, so touching the water is prohibited. The exhibition hall covers the history of the national parks. It is open daily in summer, with fewer opening days in the off-season, and tickets are required. It is about 1.5 km from Banff town and can be reached on foot or by bicycle.
Opening hours
Summer 09:00–17:00; off-season Thu–Mon
Nearby sights
- Vermilion Lakes
- Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
- Banff Town
- Fairmont Banff Springs
- Bow Falls
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Tunnel Mountain
- Mount Norquay