The road along Kuskanax Creek with it's white billowing rapids to the right, thundering waterfalls to the left, and snow capped peaks in the distance is almost as enjoyable as the hot springs themselves.
For many years the Nakusp hot springs have attracted thousands of tourists each year to relax and enjoy the soothing mineral waters of the naturally heated springs.
The history of Nakusp Hot Springs dates back to the late 1800s when Messrs. Darrugh and Lester first staked and tried to claim the area. The controversy began because even then, the springs was regarded as a God-given gift that should be open to the public. The government relented and canceled the application, returning the men's down payment.
A Mrs. Ellen McDougald attempted to obtain the site in 1897 by staking the lot, 8514, like a prospector would, under the name of the Virginia mineral claim. In spite of her efforts to show ownership of the area, no development was undertaken. The McDougald claim was relinquished in 1928 and through a tax sale was purchased by the Leary family. No serious development took place until 1928, when a fund raising campaign throughout the West Kootenay provided sufficient funds to erect a concrete pool, a community kitchen and some cabins. All materials and equipment had to be packed in by horse or on one's back.
In 1955, ten acres which included the springs, was donated and designated for a park to be supervised by the town of Nakusp. It was made into a Class A park in 1964.
Originally it was a nine mile trek from Nakusp to the springs over a challenging trail through the forest until eventually a good logging road was pushed through to near the springs. When money from the various government grants came forth , access was made possible without too much additional cost.
It took some 80 years but finally, in 1974, the hot springs complex was opened by the Premier, Dave Barrett.
Known as the "Valley Of The Hot Springs" there are numerous hot springs throughout the Columbia Basin.
The hot springs are created when hot alkaline water seeps or flows from the earth after it has been heated by volcanic forces. When the Rocky Mountains were created 65 million years ago by a "continental" plate collision, fissures extending far below the earths surface developed during the tectonic shift. Rain and snow melt run off into the chasms to the deep, warmed rocks heating the water that re-emerges containing calcium, iron, and phosphorous. The water comes from deep within the earth emerges at temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water emerges about 1.5 kms from the pools and is piped down through a four inch insulated pipe. The temperature at the source is 54 degrees Celsius / 130 degrees Fahrenheit and is much too hot for bathing. The water is cooled to an average temperature of 42 degrees Celsius/ 108 degrees Fahrenheit in the smaller pool and 38 degrees Celsius/100 degrees Fahrenheit in the larger pool.
To Log this earth cache;
Step One:
You will need to enter the lobby and find the analysis of the mineral content of the water which you will find posted on the glass display case to the left as you enter. .
Please email (do not post answers on the cache page) the cache owners with the following information;
In Milligrams per litre what is the content of Calcium, Sodium, Lead, and Magnesium in the waters at Nakusp?
Step Two:
Take a short walk down the trail toward the "Source" (Trail head N50 17.791 W117 41.053). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO VISIT THE SOURCE AT THE PRESENT TIME!!
Answer these questions.
1. What natural obstruction separates the source from the pools?
2. Nakusp Hot Springs contains sulfur. Can you smell it?
ANY FOUND LOGS THAT DO NOT MEET THE LOGGING REQUIREMENTS WILL BE DELETED 
Step Three: Optional Requirement:
Post a picture of your group with your GPS with the hot springs building in the background.
(1/1/2011 New logging requirement in compliance with the EarthCache Guidelines. "Requests for photographs must be optional.")