Harrison Hot Springs

Harrison Hot Springs is a village and vacation resort area in the Fraser Valley at the south end of Harrison Lake. Visitors and locals alike are drawn by the picturesque lake, the beach, recreation opportunities, camping, and, of course, the hot springs.

Understand
The area and hot springs were first known to and used by the Chehalis First Nations people. Low-key resort development began after the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through Agassiz, making the area more accessible. Development has increased, but the village is still small (fewer than 2,000 people). It remains a popular spot to get away to and can be very busy on summer weekends.

Get in
From Highway 1, exit at Hwy 9 (exit 135) and follow it north to Agassiz. From there, follow Hot Springs Road north to the lake. If you're on Hwy 7, turn onto Hot Springs Road in Agassiz. The drive from Vancouver will take about 1½-2 hours, depending on traffic.

Get around
The village is compact so walking is the easiest way to get around. Hot Springs Road is the main street out of town and Esplanade Ave, along the beach, has many of the motels and restaurants. The public hot springs pool is at the intersection of these two roads.

See

 * is the largest lake in southwestern BC. Framed by mountains on three sides, it makes a nice backdrop to the location.
 * From town, follow Lillooet Ave east; at the end of the lake it turns north and becomes Rockwell Dr. Along the lake is the with a rocky beach and views of Harrison Lake. 4-6 km inland are a pair of pretty lakes —  and  — with camping, hiking and a sandy beach. Access to Deer Lake and Hicks Lake is via a gravel road that has some potholes but is OK for 2WD.

Do
Not surprisingly, many of the activities in Harrison Hot Springs revolve around water -- relaxing in the hot springs, swimming, kayaking, cruising the lake, to name a few. But there's plenty more you can do if you want to stay dry.

Swimming

 * Enjoy a refreshing dip in the glacier-fed waters of Harrison Lake. If you want something warmer than the lake but cooler than the hot pool, try the in the beach.
 * Enjoy a refreshing dip in the glacier-fed waters of Harrison Lake. If you want something warmer than the lake but cooler than the hot pool, try the in the beach.

On the lake

 * Take a cruise on Harrison Lake.
 * Rent a boat -- motorized or kayak -- and tour the lake yourself.
 * Windsurf. Winds are highest in the afternoon.
 * If you have your own boat, there is a boat ramp at the east end of Esplanade Avenue.
 * If you have your own boat, there is a boat ramp at the east end of Esplanade Avenue.

Other activities

 * Rent a bicycle or quadracycle and pedal around town. The quad bikes are particularly good for a laugh with four people providing the power and two steering. The various pedaling machines can be rented by the hour from:




 * There are many hiking trails in the area.

Buy
Several small shops are available along Esplanade and Hot Springs Road.



Eat
There are a number of casual dining restaurants and takeaway places located along Esplanade Avenue and Hot Springs Road.



Drink
There isn't much late night nightlife in Harrison. Pubs and restaurants are generally open until 10 or 11PM. The Settler Pub also serves as a liquor store if you want to stock up on your own supplies.



Sleep




Hospital

 * The nearest hospital is in Chilliwack.

Go next
In the immediate vicinity, there is Bridal Veil Falls, about 20-30 minutes away south of Agassiz, see Chilliwack.

Further east is the town of Hope, the scenic Fraser Canyon, and Manning Provincial Park, which offers hiking, camping and other recreation opportunities. If you're looking to return to Vancouver and have some time, you may want to take Highway 7 which is slower but more scenic (particularly the piece between Agassiz and Mission).