Weekend Getaway At Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Outdoor swimming pool with lounge chairs, trees, and a multi-story hotel building in the background on an overcast day. — Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Are you looking for the perfect easy getaway from Vancouver? Look no further than a stay at Harrison Hot Springs Resort. Here, you can enjoy the beautiful natural setting on Harrison Lake, soak in the hot pools, go for a hike or explore the local farm stands. From low key to more adventurous, a getaway at Harrison Hot Springs Resort offers something for everyone.

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This was my second time traveling to the Harrison Hot Springs area, and like the first there was just something that shifted in me upon arrival in the town. There was a sense of peace, quiet, and of feeling a world away from my daily life in Vancouver. There’s also an air of history to the place – the hot springs have been important to the indigenous communities of the area since time immemorial, and Vancouverites have been traveling to this lakeside town for over 125 years to soak in the pools and receive medical benefits.

Getting to Harrison Hot Springs

I recommend driving a loop to get the most out of the trip. You can drive on TransCanada Route 1 east through Chilliwack on the way there if traveling from Vancouver (the most direct route), stopping at farm stands along the way. Chilliwack is known for growing corn, and you can also find pumpkin patches when visiting in the fall season or tulip farms when visiting in the spring. Downtown Chilliwack has also been revitalized and Thunderbird Lane is a nice place to walk around or grab some coffee when en-route (try Azzurri for some authentic Italian coffee and pastries!).

On your return trip, I recommend driving the scenic route 7, which is a bit more meandering but takes you through farm areas outside of Harrison Hot Springs. You can make stops at farms on the Circle Tour like The Farm House Natural Cheeses or the Lavender Farm. You can also stop in historic Kilby – visiting the historic site or going to the Provincial Park beach for eagle spotting (October – January).

A street scene under an arched sign reading Thunderbird Lane, with people walking and shops lining both sides of the lane. — Downtown Chilliwack

A deli counter displays various cheeses in a glass case, with a cashier standing behind the counter and another person nearby. — Downtown Chilliwack

Staying at the Historic Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Why stay at the resort?

While there are a lot of great accommodation options in Harrison Hot Springs and nearby, Harrison Hot Springs Resort offers access to their 5 hot pools exclusively to hotel guests. With multiple restaurants inside the complex as well, you don’t even have to leave the resort in order to have a relaxing time.

Indoor pool with people swimming and relaxing; large windows show greenery outside, and wooden beams line one side of the space. — Indoor pools at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Who is the resort for?

Everyone! There are pools that are family friendly as well as adults only, so it suits many guest needs. With the multiple restaurants, you can dine in a more casual (Islands Bar) or more upscale way (Copper Room). One of the best parts is that the resort is dog friendly – as someone who travels frequently with my dog Shasta, I appreciate this kind of flexibility in my accommodations.

A grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and cheese, a side salad, and a partially finished cocktail on a white table. — Dinner at Islands Bar

A slice of cheesecake topped with strawberry sauce, served with whipped cream and a sprig of greenery on a white plate. — Dinner at Islands Bar

What are the pools like?

First off, the pools are open 8am-11pm for adults (10pm for children), which means you can enjoy the pools first thing in the morning or late into the night, enjoying the experience in different weather and light conditions.

There are 5 pools – 3 outdoor and 2 indoor. The two indoor include a relaxing pool at a cooler temperature and a circular hot tub (the hottest pool in the complex). Outside, there is a heated lap pool, as well as two warm pools (one adults only) surrounded by beautiful landscaping and separated by a wooden bridge.

The pool area is quite social – so come with your friends for your weekend away. Also, the pools are reserved for hotel guests only, which helps control density.

Several people relax in a steaming outdoor pool surrounded by rocks, trees, and a multi-story hotel with balconies. — Adults-only pool at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Do I need to bring anything special?

Robes and towels are provided by the resort, as well as water bottles. Don’t forget a bathing suit of course, and I’d bring a book or journal to take down to the pools to add to your relaxation, as well as flip flops. If you are planning to dine at the Copper Room, I’d bring something nice to wear, otherwise you can dress casually throughout the resort.

Indoor circular hot tub with step entry, surrounded by wooden beams and large windows, under a domed ceiling with a skylight. — Indoor Pool

A woman in a swimsuit wades into an outdoor pool surrounded by trees and a multi-story building under a cloudy sky. — Indoor Pool

What is there to do besides the pools?

After you have soaked your heart out in the many pools, you can do some exploring in Harrison Hot Springs proper or the surrounding areas. Here are some great activities that I recommend depending on the season.

Year round activities

Enjoy the gorgeous views out onto the lake from the hotel. You can walk the lakeshore and in the summer enjoy swimming in the beaches and in the lagoon.

Statue of Bigfoot near a landscaped garden with a lake and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — Sasquatch statue with the lagoon and lake in the background.

Visit the Agassiz-Harrison Museum, which has history about the towns of Agassiz and Harrison, the history of the Canada Pacific railroad that runs through Agassiz, as well as objects and history of the first-nations communities of the area. You can also pick up guides for the circle farm tour, or restaurant recommendations in the Harrison River Valley area.

A red Canadian Pacific caboose with the number 437310 is parked beside a building, surrounded by trees. — Canadian Pacific Caboose at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum.

Take a boat tour on the lake with Harrison Eco Tours. They offer boat tours to Rainbow Falls, or in the fall, fishing charters during the salmon run.

View from the back of a boat moving through a lake, leaving a wake, surrounded by forested mountains under a cloudy sky. — Boat tour

A waterfall flows down a rocky cliff surrounded by green trees and fallen logs in a forested area. — Rainbow Falls

Hike the easy Spirit Trail and enjoy the gorgeous temperate rainforest and artistic clay masks.

Two large trees in a forest have painted face masks mounted on their trunks in daylight. — Clay masks in the trees along the Spirit Trail.

Check out the new Sasquatch Museum.
Check out the Circle Farm Tour sites (see above).

Summer specific activities

Bring a kayak or paddleboard to use on the lake, or go to a quieter and warmer lake – Hicks Lake in Sasquatch Provincial Park.
For the very fit, hike the famous Cheam Peak trail with incredible 360 views at the top (4×4 vehicle recommended).

Calm lake surrounded by forested hills with distant mountains, paddleboarders, and a small sailboat on a clear, sunny day. — Kayaking on Hicks Lake in Sasquatch Provincial Park.

Winter specific activities

Check out the lights on the lake event hosted by the city of Harrison Hot Springs.
Bring your ski gear and head over the Sasquatch Mountain Resort.

No matter the season, there is something fun to enjoy at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Weekend Getaway at Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Getting to Harrison Hot Springs