Harrison Hot Springs

A hot-spring resort village on the south shore of Harrison Lake and a base for exploring the Fraser Valley, with Bridal Veil Falls, Cultus Lake, the Othello Tunnels and Hell's Gate nearby.

Harrison Hot Springs is a lakeside resort village at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the south shore of Harrison Lake, about 130 km (roughly a 1.5-hour drive) from Vancouver. The village is tiny — a single street along the beach holds the hotels, restaurants and public hot-spring pool. Its sulphur hot springs have made it a resort since the 19th century, and it's also famous for Sasquatch (Bigfoot) legends. The best approach is to stay in one place and explore the surroundings: in the village, soak in the hot springs, stroll the beach, take a boat cruise on Harrison Lake or go stand-up paddleboarding; to the northeast, Sasquatch Provincial Park has three forest lakes for swimming and camping; to the south lie Bridal Veil Falls, hikes up Mount Cheam, the Cultus Lake resort area and the Lindeman Lake trail; heading east along the Fraser River to the town of Hope, you can walk the Othello Tunnels in the Coquihalla Canyon, then continue north to Hell's Gate and ride the Airtram. Fall and winter bring another peak: in October–November you can watch the salmon run at the Weaver Creek Spawning Channel, and in November–December thousands of bald eagles gather at the mouth of the Harrison River; in April, Agassiz is covered in vast tulip fields. June–September is best for lake activities and hiking; winters are cold, damp and rainy — perfect for a hot-spring soak. There's almost no public transit, so driving is recommended; allow 2–3 days. Note: the beach and parking get very crowded on summer weekends, and campsites at popular provincial parks must be reserved in advance through BC Parks.

Top sights

• Harrison Lake & Beach – A narrow glacial lake framed by mountains. The village beach, lagoon swimming area and lakeside trails are the heart of the resort, with si…
• Harrison Public Hot Pool – An indoor public mineral pool on the lakefront in the village center, filled with hot spring water cooled down from its source, at an affor…
• Sasquatch Provincial Park – A forest park northeast of the hot spring village, where Hicks, Deer and Hannah lakes offer swimming and boating, and forest trails and cam…
• Bridal Veil Falls – A roughly 60-meter waterfall that slides down a rock face like a thin veil. It is a 15-minute walk from the parking lot and the most conven…
• Cultus Lake – A resort lake south of Chilliwack with beaches, a water park, an adventure park and the Teapot Hill trail. It is the liveliest spot in the…
• Kilby Historic Site – The 1920s general store, hotel and farm at the mouth of the Harrison River are preserved intact, with staff in period costume giving tours…
• Harrison River Bald Eagle Viewing (Chehalis Flats) – Every late autumn, over a thousand bald eagles gather on the Harrison River flats to feed on returning salmon, one of the largest bald eagl…
• Weaver Creek Spawning Channel – An artificial salmon spawning channel where, in October, visitors can watch thousands of sockeye and pink salmon fighting upstream to spawn…
• Othello Tunnels – Five tunnels and trestle bridges left from an abandoned railway through a steep granite canyon, with the roaring Coquihalla River below. Th…
• Hell's Gate Airtram – A cable car descends 150 meters to the narrowest point of the Fraser Canyon, where the river surges through a 35-meter-wide rock gap. The c…
• Hope – A mountain town at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley, with chainsaw wood carvings lining its streets. It is the filming location of Firs…
• Lindeman Lake Trail – A short hiking trail in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park that climbs for about 1.5 hours to a bright emerald alpine lake, one of the most po…
• Cheam Peak – The landmark peak of the Fraser Valley. In summer, an alpine trail leads to the summit, overlooking the whole valley, Harrison Lake and Mou…
• Harrison Tulip Festival (Tulips of the Valley) – Each April, dozens of acres of tulips bloom together at Agassiz farm, with snow-capped Cheam Peak as the backdrop, making it the most popul…
• Sasquatch Mountain Resort – A small family ski area in Hemlock Valley on the west side of Harrison Lake, with short runs but few crowds and low prices, suited to begin…

Where to eat

• Morgan's Bistro – A contemporary Canadian restaurant on Esplanade Avenue by Harrison Lake, known for beautiful plating and an excellent w…
• Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel Restaurant – A family-run German lakeside restaurant since 1975. Its many schnitzels are the signature, and it is the most-reviewed…
• Muddy Waters Café – A family-run lakeside café whose ingredients come from within 100 miles. Its breakfast bun and coffee are the most popu…

Itineraries

• Vancouver to the Rockies via Okanagan – A one-way traverse of BC, traveling from the coastal city through wine country and mountain passes to Calgary.
• BC & Canadian Rockies Grand Loop – A round-trip loop from Vancouver, passing through Whistler, Wells Gray, Jasper, Banff, and wine country.
• Okanagan Wine Valley South-to-North 6-Day Traverse – Drive over the mountains from Vancouver to Osoyoos, and head north to Kelowna for wine tasting.