I am planning a September trip to Harrison Hot Springs BC but have never been there and need some help.
I am thinking of trying to get a reservation at Sasquatch Provincial Park but the reservations for September do not open until next month. How difficult will it be to book there?
I see that the Provincial Park has three campgrounds. If anyone can suggest which one would be best for a 35' motorhome I would appreciate it.
Also any recommendations for alternates. I have checked rvparkreviews. They show only one place that looks good; Saquatch Springs RV Resort.
I hope you will get some first-hand assistance from someone in that area, but in the meantime: My Trailer Life Directory lists the site sizes at Sasquatch as 24X28. Might be wise to phone ahead for site size (604)795-6169.
Other options are: Big Foot Campgrounds & RV Park with 22X60 sites, (604)796-9767, Glencoe Motel & RV Park 20X35 sites, (604)796-2574; and Harrison Springs Camping & RV Park, sites 24X45, (604)796-8900.
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Just how long do you plan to be at Harrison? To be quite honest, it's lacking in attention keeping stuff. I've been there numerous times, so am not slagging the place, but really, there's not much there. If you want to access the 'springs' you are going to have 2 choices. Go to the public pool or stay in the Harrison Hot Spring Resort. There's a couple eating eating joints...the lake is nice enough and a golf course. One full day and night and you'll have exhausted the opportunities.
As far as the cg's...I wouldn't recommend them to you and I know them well enough. Gravel road to get there and they aren't picturesque except you are in the woods. There is a private cg in Harrison just off the lake. The name escapes me, but the folks at the O'Settler Inn will know it, if you call. (it's a good pub). If you just want to hang out in the area, check out Kilby Provincial Park, perhaps. It's about 15 minutes from Harrison, on the Harrison River. Pretty, no services tho.
Perhaps if you tell us of your time frames and what you like, we could give some suggestions. The area was my backyard for years and there are several posters here that are also very familiar with the places.
Not sure if you are still looking for Harrison info - but we go there every year. The beach is nice. Be aware that Sasquatch Provincial Park is a 10-15 min. drive into town. There are 3 campgrounds on 2 lakes (Deer and Hicks Lakes). We usually stay at Bench as its a bit more private. Hicks is the most popular. I doubt you will need reservations in September and provincial parks in BC always keep first come first serve sites. I forget the percentage but there website is good http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
If you want to be in town and walking distance to the beach - stay at one of the private campgrounds. The nicest was Sasquatch Springs but it is now by annual membership only. Disappointing. Bigfoot is not bad but a good walk. Many of the other private parks are very very tight spots that we would never consider. We stay at the provincial site and drive into town.
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Agreed, if you plan on anything go to Sasquatch. Lakeside will fit you as we've been there and going back in a few weeks.
as for actually going into any hot springs IMHO the public pool is just that - a pool. Big deal ;(. Harrison Hotel OTOH is nice luxury but not camping nor accessible unless you're staying at the hotel.
If you're going for the springs don't bother. If you're coming up here to see other stuff, try Rolley Lake - very beautiful and better hiking IMHO.
FWIW Bigfoot is probably the best choice but that isn't saying much. Provincial Park with no services is still the better bet - you at least get a big site and the lake.
* This post was
edited 07/05/08 09:56pm by driveby *
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I just got back from BC where I spent two weeks at the Scotch Creek provincial campground. I made my reservations on the 1st of April as these places fill up and you are usually out of luck, but not this year as tourism is really down this year with this campground running about 80% full during my stay, I hear that a lot of the campgrounds in BC are also hurting.The price of fuel is through the roof in BC and it also does not help that they put a carbon tax effective the 1st of July which should really kill tourism as this tax will grow every year for the next several years. It is a shame because the Shuswap Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. I should also add that I have never seen so much snow in the Rockies while crossing the Rogers Pass at this time of the year.So much for global warming.
hywybnb, you could be in luck if you visit the region during Agassiz's Fall Fair and Corn Festival. This town is five miles from Harrison Hot Springs. The event is a small town fair you could like. Sweet corn from Agassiz is legendary.
One thing we used to do would be to canoe down the Harrison River on an afternoon and take out near the Harrison Mills bridge, or even paddle slightly farther, to the bar near Kilby's Museum. By this time you are in Harrison Bay. With luck the salmon will be running in the shallows portion of the the river, quite a sight. This river, easy to paddle as it is gently sloped downhill out of never dammed, 41-mile long Harrison Lake, enters the Fraser soon after the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge, and has one of the largest Chinook, or King, salmon runs in the world pass through. Tales of giant sturgeon traveling between the Fraser and the big Lake have been told for decades, some to 1,000 lbs or more, believe they are largely now protected. Harrison Lake also has harbour seals, at times, although it is 80 miles from salt water.
Harrison Hot Springs has a nice ambience, in the manner of a resort community. Shops and restaurants will still be active then. The "world sandcastle competition" is also held during early September, with contestants from literally across the continent making the trip and displaying some phenomenal sand sculpture. The sculptures stand for several weeks thereafter. Nearby Harrison Mills sports a fairly new golf course, with another course constructed many years ago and revamped since, just outside the Village of Harrison.
Harrison has been home to two promenent Sasquatch hunters, Rene Dehinden and John Green (who has written books on the subject). In years past the Harrison Hotel's dock was festooned with casts of Sasquatch feet. A local campground displays a huge wooden Sasquatch with all detail shown prominently. It has since be turned to face away from the highway out of modesty.
Keep in mind that when you make a reservation at a provincial park campgrounds cost, there is a non-refundable reservation service fee of $6.30 per night, to a maximum of $18.90 for three or more nights. That's a whole extra night of camping!
Unless you're planning to arrive during the Labor Day long weekend, don't make a reservation. Other than that long weekend, September is usually quiet for camping as the kids are back in school.
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