Harrison Hot Springs

Located in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains‘ Fraser Country, the Village of Harrison Hot Springs is a small lakeside community surrounded by mountains and forests and famous for its Hot Springs where visitors can unwind in the beneficial hot mineral waters. The region, originally revered as the “healing place” by the Coast Salish natives, houses two hot springs, Potash and Sulphur. The water from these springs is cooled to about 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) and pumped into the resorts pools. Many visitors also come to this popular resort to enjoy swimming and boating on Harrison Lake, stroll along the lakeshore path and enjoy a snack or meal in one of the many restaurants and cafes.

While the Hot Springs are the most notable attraction of the region, there is also golfing, the Kilby Historic Site, and numerous agricultural tours. The scenic views of Harrison are complimented by the varied wildlife in the area including bald eagles, hawks, and herons.

The community of Harrison Mills is just 20 km (12.5 mi) southwest along Hot Spring Rd and Lougheed Hwy 7. This small community is built around agriculture and tourism, and is well worth the trip.

Location

The Village of Harrison Hot Springs is located in the Fraser Valley 120 km (75 mi) east of Vancouver. Close by is the town of Agassiz 8 km (5 mi) from Harrison Hot Springs and Harrison Mills is 20 km (12 mi) from Harrison Hot Springs.

A Step Back in Time

The Village of Harrison Hot Springs has been a small resort community since 1886, when the opening of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought the lakeside springs within a short carriage ride of the transcontinental mainline. In its first promotion as a resort it was known as St. Alice’s Well, although it had been discovered decades earlier when a party of goldfield-bound travellers on Harrison Lake capsized into what they thought was their doom, only to discover the lake at that spot was not freezing, but warm.
Although the resort flourished in a low-key fashion for years after this discovery, a proliferation of hotels and motels led to its further development and it was incorporated as the Village of Harrison Hot Springs in 1949. The village is known for its namesake hot springs, which are a major attraction for tourists.

The region is named after Benjamin Harrison, a former deputy governor for the Hudson’s Bay Company.