Visitors hoping to bathe in one of Banff's most famous tourist attractions will be out of luck this fall.
Parks Canada announced Friday that the Banff Upper Hot Springs will be closed for necessary maintenance work and facility upgrades from Sept. 2 through the end of December.
"This fall, Parks Canada will be making necessary maintenance work and facility upgrades at the Banff Upper Hot Springs, requiring a full site closure for the duration of the work," stated Banff National Park's Facebook page.
"Parks Canada appreciates everyone's patience and understanding as we enhance this beloved heritage experience. We look forward to welcoming visitors again once this necessary work is completed!"
The mineral-rich hot springs have drawn tourists to the famous mountain town since the 1880s, according to the attraction's website. Prior to that, Indigenous Peoples were the first to soak in the naturally occurring thermal pools, which were considered sacred waters that could help cure illness and ailments.
The hot springs are the result of geological activity. The water is heated deep below the earth and then rises upward to the surface, carrying with it minerals from the subterranean rock.
"Charged with minerals and warmed by the heat of the earth's crust, the water flows up to the surface along a fault plane," explains Parks Canada.
"The fault provides an easy avenue for water to flow along until it emerges at one of the outlets here on Sulphur Mountain."
Canadian Pacific Railway workers came across the Cave and Basin Hot Springs at the foot of Sulphur Mountain in 1883, according to Parks Canada. Their discovery captured the attention of the nation and helped lead to the creation of Banff National Park, Canada's first national park.
More than 140 years later, the springs remain one of Banff's biggest tourist attractions, welcoming more than 300,000 visitors a year, according to Alberta government's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The hot springs include concentrations of sulphate, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium and sodium. Water temperature is kept between 37 and 40 Celsius (98 and 104 Fahrenheit), providing relaxation and therapeutic benefits.
The bath house is now recognized as a federal heritage building.