5 Best Places To Visit In Harrison Hot Springs, BC, Canada

One of the most popular tourist destinations in British Columbia, Harrison Hot Springs is a small resort village with a population of around 1900, located at the southern end of Harrison Lake in the Fraser Valley. With the opening up of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1886, Harrison Hot Springs has been deemed a small resort community as its status has also only elevated since.

As the name suggests, the titular attractions of the area are its springs. However, multiple other fun activities also rope in a flood of tourists every day to the region. From biking to hiking to fishing and sightseeing, Harrison Hot Springs has something to offer for everyone. So, now that we know about the basics of the village let us dovetail into its other details.

Best 5 places that everyone should visit in Harrison Hot Springs

In recent times, Harrison Hot Springs has become a highly sought-after destination for families and elderly couples, owing to the abundance of soothing spas, resorts, and other family-oriented sites in the area. Likewise, the accessibility to the village has sky-rocked due to it being a mere 5 minutes drive from Abbotsford International Airport and also due to the presence of affordable and efficient 24-hour taxi services. Although Harrison Hot Springs has a plethora of fun things, let us first look at the best five places that should be on everyone’s checklist.

1. Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Eponymous with its name, Harrison Hot Springs Resort is ideal if you want to experience the area’s scenic beauty and bask in a rejuvenating and unwinding luxury spa session. It offers views of picturesque locations such as the shoreline of Harrison Lake, nearby mountains, and much more. Since 1866, people from around the world have been visiting the resorts of Harrison Hot Springs to achieve healing and relaxation from the resort’s five mineral spring pools. Likewise, if you are not staying in Hot Springs Resort, a public hot springs pool is located at the junction of Hot Springs Road and the Esplanade, where guests can spend hours warming and soaking up the thermal spring waters. 

2. Water-based Activities

In addition to its world-famous thermal water springs, Harrison Hot Springs is also known for its water-based activities. A cruise tour on Harrison Lake is one of the activities that you can indulge in the resort village. The cruise trips offer an ethereal view of the mountains and are also full of leisure activities such as barbeques, parties, games, and so forth. Likewise, if you want to enjoy another water-based activity apart from cruising, then you can also consider boating on Harrison Lagoon or Harrison Lake, something that is more low-key and rustic. Tourists can hire boats, kayaks, or canoes for a thrilling ride in the Harrison River and Lake. Contrarily, if you love swimming, then you can dive into the waters of Harrison Lagoon, as they are calmer and calmer with warm and shallow waters. Lastly, do not forget to visit the Harrison Hot Springs Waterpark for a fun and frolicking day of adventure. It is an inflatable waterpark open during the summer months where you can enjoy swings, monkey bars, and hamster balls.

3. Hiking

Harrison Hot Springs has many hiking trails suited for beginners and experts. If you are an adventure lover, you should not miss hiking along some of the region’s trails. A few of the popular hiking trails of the village include –

• Bear Mountain Hike – It is a hiking trail best suited for experienced hikers. It is an 18-kilometre trail that is challenging and overgrown in certain areas. It takes a minimum of 7 hours to complete the hike, and people are advised to look out for the flagging tapes at the crossroads and always take the path most trailed. You can get to the Bear Mountain Trailhead by taking a taxi from the village center.
• Spirit Trail – Located in the Lower Bear Mountains, Spirit Trail is 5.5 kilometres long and is an easy walk with plain roads that crisscross through the park. The entire hike takes two hours to complete, and some of the unique features along the way include clay masks installed by local artists to enhance the mystical appeal of the area.
• Harrison Grind – With a distance of 10 kilometres, it is not for the faint of heart. The trail leads to a series of granite cliffs after ascending Agazziz Mountain via an old logging road that passes under power line towers. Small historical relics can also be found by walkers. The trip takes about six hours to complete, so be sure to dress appropriately for the terrain, which includes gullies and overgrown vegetation, by wearing strong boots and clothing that is both breathable and covered. 

4. Harrison Festival of Arts

It is a 10-day festival celebrated in the region for the past 40 years. The festival is a wonderful family-friendly event, and international and national artists often grace its presence. It is known for featuring music from around the globe, visual and literary arts, art, a massive waterfront art market, workshops, and much more. Evening concerts, Hands-on workshops, and Music on the Beach are some of the most popular activities of the festival. The festival is an enjoyable experience, and tourists from far and wide come to attend it.

5. Agassiz-Harrison Museum

Located in downtown Agassiz in Pioneer Park, the museum is located in the 1893 Canadian Pacific Railway station. It is one of the last-remaining oldest wood stations in the country. All of the people and organisations in the Agassiz-Harrison Valley have contributed to the collection of images, papers, maps, and manuscripts. The site is a must-visit for all history lovers and provides a unique glimpse into the past of Harrison Hot Springs. 

So, there we have it, the top best places to visit in Harrison Hot Springs. In addition, you can also visit the Kilby Historic Site, dine in the local restaurants, and relax on the region’s sandy beaches. The various tourist spots of the village are well-connected to each other by the excellent taxi services that operate 24/7.