Off the Beaten Path

Off the Beaten Path…Embrace the Elements

(2 days, 1 night)

Hot Springs! WATER…THE DRIVING FORCE OF NATURE

Start your day as early as possible to maximize the daylight hours for these full-day ‘off the beaten path’ adventures. Pack a picnic of your favourite foods and plenty of water!

Clear Creek Hot Springs – this all-natural hot spring is located approximately 54 km north of Harrison Hot Springs along the Harrison East and Clear Creek Forest Service Roads.

In the 1950s tubs were placed at the site by a logger and his gold-panning wife.  The first baths were large ancient wooden wine barrels fed by hoses cemented into the thermal springs in the rocks.  After the restoration of the service road, more tubs were placed alongside the original wooden tub, which remains to this day. 

To reach this destination a 4 x 4 is recommended to maneuver through the many potholes, ruts, and rocks, and during the rainy season, puddles and mud are abundant. To reach the tubs drive up the East Harrison Forest Service Road until you reach Clear Creek Forest Service Road. Approximately 11 km up Clear Creek FSR you will arrive at the hot springs, located on your right. Walk along a short pathway made of logs and you will find 3 hot tubs nestled in a beautiful old-growth forest.

This is a very rustic yet popular set up so chances are there will be other people enjoying the tubs when you arrive.

Boating

Embark on the scenic adventure of a lifetime in Harrison Hot Springs!

Shoreline Tours offers a 2-hour tour aboard the Laroan charting a course along the lake’s west side, floating past the green waters of Echo Bay, the towering rock formations of Echo Island, and the cold cascades of Rainbow Falls. The tour concludes with a cruise past Sasquatch Provincial Park and includes light commentary about the lake and the history of the area. Onboard enjoy a beverage and treat yourself to a bite to eat.

Shoreline Tours

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Harrison Eco Tours offers several excursions with the Rainbow Falls 1.5-hour tour being a fan favourite. Enjoy a comfortable jet boat tour up Harrison Lake and into Cascade Bay. If conditions allow, they pull up on a sandy beach and take a short walk/hike up to the base of Rainbow Falls offering great photo opportunities and a chance to explore a few local trails as well as the beach area. This trip offers stunning mountain views and West Coast forest walks through the various trees and vegetation in the area. Harrison Eco Tours has covered and heated jet boats as well as offering wheelchair-accessible tours.

Harrison River Valley, the land of the Sasquatch, might just treat you to a legendary encounter. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive creature doing its best hide-and-seek impression with the local wildlife.

If you happen to visit the Harrison River Valley in the fall you timed it right for an avian extravaganza!

From mid-October to January the Harrison River Valley celebrates the Season of the Wild. The Season of the Wild tells the story of the salmon, sturgeon, and eagles here in the Harrison River Valley. Every year, the salmon swim up the Harrison River and come to rest in our tributaries to lay their eggs. The spawning season begins mid-October, with prime viewing October through early November. This event, along with the cooler temperatures in the North, contributes to the large gathering of bald eagles seen here October – January; with peak eagle viewing in November. 

The best viewing is by boat with either Shoreline Tours or Harrison Eco Tours.

View bald eagles by the hundreds perched in the trees and along the shoreline, gathered on the shore feeding on salmon, or often soaring above the boat. In October and early November, salmon are often spotted splashing and jumping throughout your journey down the river. Above water, you are surrounded by fantastic scenery and bird life, while below water witness the various species of salmon mingling as they select their mates for the upcoming spawn.

Be sure to bring your binoculars! 

Paddling
water safety

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You may have heard Harrison Hot Springs is home to magical healing hot springs, but there is a whole free-spirit side to Harrison that you may not be aware of.  Harrison is also a kayaking mecca. From Harrison Mills to where the Harrison River meets Harrison Hot Springs, the scenery remains untouched, the water is calm, and the exploration routes are endless. 

Kayakers come to the Harrison River Valley to embrace the serene and be held in suspense. Our area overflows with bird sightings, scenic wilderness, wildlife, breathtaking views, and waterfalls. Paddle it out with our top picks:

1. DABBLE WITH A PADDLE: Harrison Eco Tours offers the perfect trip for the novice or experienced kayaker. Leaving daily from the Harrison Lakeshore this tour includes safety orientation and a two-hour paddle on Harrison Lake and part-way down the Harrison River.

2. MIAMI RIVER IS FAMILY FRIENDLY: Bring along the little ones. This is an easy paddle suited for families with young children. The Miami River is a fun route where you’ll paddle through the Village enjoying wildlife including a variety of birds along the riverside. Keep an eye out for the resident beaver who is usually spotted close to the beaver dam by the 2nd bridge. 

3. HARRISON HISTORY THAT REMAINS A SECRET: Paddle past the First Nations’ petroglyphs, burial sites, and the historic “Bubble and Squeak” sunken steamship. Abundant wildlife and scenic beauty abound. 4-5 hours long.

4. OVER THE RAINBOW: Accessible by boat only, experience this unforgettable day trip by kayak. Pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water and take a guided paddle to Rainbow Falls. Stretch your legs as you take a short hike up to the falls. 8-hour round trip. 

5. FROM LAKE TO RIVER: From Harrison Hot Springs to Harrison Mills this experience is best done with a friend as two vehicles are required. Leave one in Harrison Mills at the Kilby Park Boat Launch and drive the other vehicle to Harrison Hot Springs. This is gorgeous year-round but especially in the fall when bald eagles gather! Be sure to explore the hatcheries along the way to catch the salmon run.

EARTH to ground you and FIRE to ignite your soul. 

Ground Adventure
Campbell Lake

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Harrison Lake Nature Adventures – created by a group of experienced and passionate adventure nuts, offers guided ATV Tours.  They have an excursion for everyone, from Sasquatch Tour to guided hiking and camping excursions, to a Hot Springs soak. A favourite is their 3-hour Sasquatch Tour on Slollicum Trail. The trail speaks to pure beauty with lush forest, meandering creeks, and views of the local mountains, and Harrison Lake. The Sasquatch Tour includes storytelling as you hear the tales about the documented legendary Sasquatch sightings. 

In the afternoon head over to Sasquatch Mountain Resort for an exciting challenge that everyone can enjoy. Tap into your inner adventurer and explore the 4-story aerial park. Sasquatch’s aerial park allows you to choose your adventure; you can tackle one element and head back down or complete the whole course in one go. The choice is yours! Climbers of all ages and abilities are welcome but be sure to wear closed-toed shoes; no sandals or flip-flops.

Explore the stunning alpine meadow setting at Sasquatch Mountain Resort Disc Golf. This 9-hole disc golf course is free; however, players must bring their own discs. Caution….the local sasquatch may try to steal your discs!

Fire in the sky

A Harrison Lake sunset is truly breathtaking, and you can watch the sun go down from almost anywhere.

At Harrison Hot Springs lakeside restaurants you’ll be surrounded by chill music, dimmed lights, and lake views while indulging in savory, delectable flavours. Check out the famous Harrison sunset as it slowly sinks behind the rippling water and Mt. Breckenridge. A sight you don’t want to miss!

Looking for more of an ‘off the beaten path’ experience? Head to a mountain peak and look west. Harrison Lake Nature Adventures can take you to some key spots around Slollicum Trail.

Fresh AIR is nature, speaking to us.

Whether you’re an adventurous tourist, planning a special occasion or corporate event, or dreaming up a one-of-a-kind engagement, Librico Helicopters can help you create a sky-high experience in the Harrison River Valley. The sky is the limit for what they can do!

Please know before you go by pre-planning and preparing for these adventures. To make the most of the ‘off the beaten’ path experiences, we recommend hiring a guide.

Family Camping smores Harrison Pathfinder

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The Harrison River Valley offers various accommodations including hotels, motels, B&Bs, cabins and campgrounds!  Select accommodations offer boat or float plane access – be sure to enquire when reserving. 

Some of our favourite camping spots include:

  • Pathfinder Camp Resorts – located in Agassiz a short drive from Harrison Lake. Surrounded by wide open green spaces, a stay here includes free WiFi, a children’s playground, a swimming pool (seasonal) and horseshoe pits. RV or stay in a cabin. Enquire about their pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible cabin options.
  • Hicks Lake Campground – offers vehicle-accessible sites, reservable front country sites and one group site with a covered shelter.
  • Accessibility at Hicks – campsites offer compacted gravel and dirt, both in the campground and on the access routes. Sites include picnic tables, most with accessible overhangs, and standard fire pits with cooking grids.
  • Bench Campground – offers vehicle-accessible campsites.
  • Accessibility at Bench – campsites offer compacted gravel and dirt, both in the campground and on the access routes. Sites include picnic tables, most with accessible overhangs.
  • Lakeside Campground – offers vehicle-accessible campsites.

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