Harrison
Hot Springs
British
Columbia
The
hot springs were considered as a "healing
place" by the Coast Salish people who came
by canoe to benefit from the waters. The First
Nations people had always known about the
springs, and the "Keekwully
Tybee" who sent up the
medicine waters from below. They believed the
springs of boiling water, Waum
Chuckm, were of
supernatural origin. Those who drank from the
waters were given some mystic powers of endurance
over other men. According to some legends, the
water will continue to boil as long as there is
sickness in the land.
The
first known appearance of the white man in the
area was in 1808 when Simon Fraser descended the
river which bears his name. There is no evidence
that he ascended into the Harrison River or saw
the Harrison Lake, nor is there evidence to tell
us who was the first explorer to do so. One
account takes place in 1858/59 when a trio of
gold miners, returning from the coast and the
Cariboo gold rush in winter by way of Harrison
Lake. They were nearly chilled to death, one man
fell from the canoe into the warm water. He
convinced the others to join him, when warmed and
strengthened they continued their journey. Two
days later they reached New Westminster and told
their story.
Chemical
analysis of the Harrison springs shows the water
contains silica, ferric oxide, alumina, troxide,
lime, magnesia, chlorine, sulphur, sodium,
potassium and some identified salts. There are
two springs at the south end of the lake, the
"Potash", which has a temperature of
120 degrees, and the "Sulphur" which
has a temperature of 150 degrees. People have
come to bathe in the beneficial waters since
1885, when the St. Alice Hotel and Bath House
were built. Visitors arrived by river steamer
through the turn of the century, when the first
auto route was carved through the bush from the
station at Agassiz.
The
water rights to the hot mineral water supply are
held by the Harrison Hot Springs Resort. Guests
staying in the resort have use of the indoor
mineral pools at the hotel. Visitors may enjoy
the mineral water in the public pool at the
junction of Hot Springs Road and Esplanade.
Harrison
Hot Springs offers a terrific weekend or week
long getaway from the city. Surrounded by
towering mountains and the largest lake in
southwestern British Columbia, there is much to
do for anyone who appreciates the outdoors of
British Columbia.
Recreation
Water Recreation
Fish for cutthroat,
rainbow, Dolly Varden, steelhead, coho and
gigantic sturgeon in the lakes, rivers and creeks
in the area. A boater's dream, 40 miles of clean
mountain lake to explore. Canoeing in the Miami
River, the lakes of Sasquatch park or Harrison
River and lake offers opportunity for every skill
level. Swim in the lagoon, clean swimming areas
of Sasquatch Park or soak in the waters of the
Public Hot Pool. Early mornings and late
afternoons offer the best opportunity for water
skiing. During the afternoons 20 knot winds and
three foot waves offer terrific conditions for
wind surfing.
Fraser
River Expeditions
- 1-800-363-RAFT
White water rafting expeditions in the
Fraser Canyon.
Harrison
Public Pool - corner of Hot Springs Rd.
and Esplande Ave. - (604)796-2244,
ext.249
Natural mineral spring water at an
affordable price. $7 for adults, $5 for
children and seniors.
Harrison
Watersports Inc.
- Located on Harrison Lake -
(604)796-3513
Sea-Doo rentals, banana tube rides,
tournament ski boat, bumper boats.
Kent
Outdoors - (604)796-0006
Offers fishing charters in addition to
fishing, camping and hunting supplies and
bait.
Killer's
Cove Marina
- 5805 Rockwell Dr. - (604)796-3856
Boat rentals, water taxi, kayaks, tubes,
tours.
Shoreline
Tours & Charters
- (604)819-3418
Licensed Captain and crew, private
charters, dinner cruises, daily cruises.
Riverboat
Adventures - (604)869-3811
Jet boat charters, full day adventures,
sunset cruises, goldpan adventures and
overnighters.
Vedder
Mountain Rentals
- (604)824-1630
Canoe rentals located in Sasquatch
Provincial Park.
Land Recreation
Explore the great
outdoors. Harrison Bay and Chehalis River are
among the best places for eagle watching in North
America. Hundreds of the birds can be seen from
November to February as they follow spawning
salmon up the Fraser River. Area trails suit
hikers of all abilities. From family walks the
kids will love to more challenging climbs, hikers
will enjoy the breathtaking views. Local courses
among ancient evergreens offer golf at its best.
Afternoon winds make kite flying a fun activity.
Mountain biking enthusiasts are offered a number
of challenging trails. A rockhounds paradise,
there are more than 600 varieties of rock to be
found locally, including green and black
nephrite, rodonite, orbicular jasper and
dumortierite of the rare violet color.
Cascade
Outdoor Adventures
- Professionally guided, adventures and
tours.
Oak Tree
Golf Course
- 9-hole PGA rated course spanning over
90 acres.
Sandpiper
Golf Club
- 18 hole course on the upland holes and
shore of the Harrison River.
Sasquatch
Provincial Park
- This park was
named after the legendary Bigfoot who is
alleged to have roamed the area. It is
also known for its four attractive lakes
and beautiful forests surrounded by
magnificent mountains.
The
Sasquatch
"Sasquatch" is
the Indian word for hairy giant. These people of
the mountains, standing between seven and eight
feet tall, have been noted to be ape-like
creatures with shaggy hair. The home of the
Harrison Sasquatch is reported to be in Mystery
Valley in caves back of 20 Mile Bay which
stretches as far as Chehalis Lake with Lake
Margaret in between. The Sasquatch are said to
hold a reunion every four years, beginning on the
first night of the full moon in July. For four
nights in succession, as the Sasquatch meet
signal fires are kept burning. 1940 is the last
year that fires were reported to be seen there.
The meeting place is near the summit of Morris
Mountain, considered almost impassable, the
mountain offers sweeping views of the surrounding
country.
There have been many
eyewitness accounts of theses giant, hairy people
in the area. Footprints measuring 16 inches long
and 8 inches across have been recorded. Caves
with crude drawings are attributed to the
Sasquatch. There are places on Morris Mountain
where huge rocks have been placed to form a large
tent-like meeting place. One very large rock was
placed on other stone pillars and cedar branches
knotted together in the way that the Indians
twist and knot cedar for tying purposes are in
evidence at the Morris Mountain meeting place.
Bigfoot -
Fact or Fantasy
- Several thousand
people have claimed encounters with
Bigfoot; huge unexplained footprints have
been found in the forests. Could such a
creature exist in modern day, hi-tech
North America?
Bigfoot
Internet Library
- The Internet's largest collection of
links to Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, and
Yowie information.
Sasquatch
Diary
- A film
diary about the search for Bigfoot, from
filmmaker Peter von Puttkamer.
Sasquatch
Northwest
- A loose knit group
of guys and gals searching for the truth.
These pages are part of their quest to
learn about the mysterious creature most
popularly known as "Bigfoot" or
"Sasquatch".
Sasquatch
Information Society
- Bigfoot
updates, pictures, research and
interviews.
The
Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization
- The
only scientific organization probing the
Bigfoot / Sasquatch mystery.
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