Liard River Hot Spring campground

When we stayed there it was not during a busy weekend or holiday and it was not full nor crowded at all. Perhaps you could get a better idea by calling the campground itself. We did notice that during the Victoria Day weekend the campgrounds were full.

Book ahead, I *think* you might be able to make a change to your reservation up to 72hrs before (for a fee)?

We've never reserved for the campground at Liard, but usually plan to stay at the provincial campgrounds at Muncho Lake or Summit Lake the night before, meaning only a short drive to Liard, thus arriving by early to mid-afternoon.

Long weekends it is busy, yes. But in June, July, August it is too warm to really enjoy the hot springs, for us anyway. So usually it is just tourists stopping in rather than locals.

After all, we can visit them anytime in winter or cooler months!

Easter long weekend in March 2013

We were there in late July last year. It was a cool evening and we enjoyed the springs very much. We didn't have a reservation and the campground was not full. Thanks for the photo Sue, it is beautiful. lizzie

We have stopped there a couple times in June. No reservations but we did arrive early in the afternoon before the place got invaded by rentals & people who have been piling the miles on & are in a rush to get somewhere.

In June of 2010 we decided to stop at Muncho Lake early in the afternoon. Had a very relaxing time there. Next morning took a leisurely drive to Laird Hot Springs. Got there around around noon. Asked the Lady attendant if they had any vacancies and she said just drive in and take a spot, which we did. There was plenty of available spots. Real nice campground and enjoyed the Hot Springs a lot.

We stayed there on the way home last August without a reservation and had no trouble finding a campsite. We had driven from Watson Lake that morning and drove to Toad River the next day. And, like Sue, it was really too warm for us to stay in the water for very long without getting out and cooling off.

We have found over the years, that if we arrive before about 2 PM, there are usually some vacant spaces. Doesn't seem to be a campground that many people make a reservation to use. To far out in the middle of nowhere I guess.

In recent years they have shut down access to the upper pool and springs. Some endangered something or other I read. Getting as bad as the lower 48 at this stuff.
The upper pool, now closed to access to the public.


The lower, only pool now, has a large variation in temperatures I have noticed. Some years the pool is too hot to even be in it and the little creek just below the pool is much more comfortable. Other years the pool is just fine. Sometimes the horse flies will eat you and sometimes they are not to be seen. But it is a great place to camp for a day or so.

Across the highway is the Liard Hot Springs lodge, owned and run by the local First Nation tribe. It has sure had it's share of management problems since they bought the place. Sometimes it is open, sometimes it is closed. Sometimes it is partially open. In 2011, we stopped there and found everything but the hotel rooms were open. The café, the gas station and the campground were open, but don't count on anything, that you have to have being available at any given time.

The Provincial Park is nice, but sometimes they allow the parking lot to be used for overflow and sometimes not, we have found. They have some real nice double sites, that we used in 2009 while traveling with my SIL and BIL.



The lower pool has always been the most popular with the visitors. However the upper pool was often used "clothing optional" by some, especially locals. So don't know if they have moved to the lower pool or not. The PP rebuilt the bath houses a few years back and they are much nicer. On the day this photo was taken the temperature of the lower pool was very comfortable with the main hot spring just to the right of this photo. It was/is always painful to get too close to it. Great place to cook your lobsters though if you brought any with you. LOL

More from March 2013

The new change room


The hot end of the Alpha pool


Standing near the hot end - the cool end is over the structure the looks like a bridge, near the centre of the image


It is a rare snail that has caused the closure of the Beta pool

Note that there is no place at the changeroom or pool to secure your belongings.

Do not take your wallet or anything of value to the pool because there are no lockers. Only open cubbies like you see in the picture of the exterior of the changerooms. Inside the changerooms there are hooks on which to hang stuff.

IF YOU HAVE COLORED OR HIGHLIGHTED HAIR (assuming you have hair) :B know that the minerals in the hotspring will react with the hair chemicals and change the color. Bleached blonde goes brilliant green... ask me how I know that :(

Don't take your silver jewelry in either, or any gold imitation products. They'll change...