Grayling River Hotsprings

Grayling River Hot Springs is a remote, undeveloped thermal complex located approximately 67 km northeast of Muncho Lake, and about 50 km upstream from the Grayling–Liard River confluence in northern British Columbia. The springs lie within a 1,421-hectare ecological reserve in the Hyland Plateau ecosection and are among the hottest recorded in the entire Liard basin. The system is split across both sides of a small canyon along the Grayling River, with multiple high-temperature seeps forming soakable pools and active tufa formations. One of the most prominent features is a 20-meter tufa cliff with a bat-inhabited cave above it. Thermal discharges create a network of channels and pools in the river’s floodplain, with strong flow and distinct karst mineral content. Soaking opportunities exist on both sides of the canyon, but terrain is rugged and unmarked—extreme caution is advised. Access is highly difficult, with no trail; the area is reachable only by river travel or bush plane. Despite a major fire in 1971, some mature white spruce remain on the north-facing slopes, while deciduous regrowth dominates the terraces. The thermal influence supports a unique warm-climate plant community, including species such as yellow monkey-flower, prairie wedgegrass, satin grass, and the northernmost occurrence of western witchgrass. The site also provides habitat for a significant Little Brown Myotis bat colony, as well as moose, grizzly bears, and cold-water fish like bull trout and arctic grayling. Due to its isolation, visits are rare. Anyone attempting to reach Grayling River Hot Springs should be fully self-sufficient, experienced in wilderness navigation, and committed to low-impact travel within a sensitive ecological zone.