If you're intrigued by the mineral water hot springs near Harrison Hot Springs, BC Canada, then this should give you a well-rounded idea of what to expect!
Long ago, European settlers searching for gold had an unexpected hot springs encounter! After flipping their canoe in Harrison Lake, they were astonished to find that they didn't suffer hypothermia thanks to the warm water. This discovery led to the development of a popular retreat known as the St.Alice Hotel, established in 1886. Though it burned down in 1920, the hotel was rebuilt and transformed into the iconic Harrison Hot Springs Hotel.
Before this, for thousands of years, the Coast Salish people and local Sts’ailes First Nations have regarded the Kwals, or hot springs, as a healing destination.
Today, the understanding is that The Harrison Hot Springs Hotel has exclusive rights to the hot mineral waters coming from the lake.
The general public can take a leisurely stroll to "The Source", just a 10 minute walk from the hotel on the west side of the lake. Peek inside the metal-clad building to catch a glimpse of the steam rising and catch a whiff of the mineral water. Keep an eye out for the hot mineral water in the surrounding waterways - it's easy to spot by the steam!
This mineral water is cooled and pumped below ground to the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel, where guests and spa-goers can indulge in indoor and outdoor pools exclusively for their use.
Mineral water is also being pumped underground to the Harrison Hot Springs Public Pool, located in the heart of the village at the end of Hot Springs Rd. This indoor hot pool can be accessed for a fee and is available to both visitors and locals alike.
For all you adventurous folks out there, it's worth noting that Harrison Lake, spanning 60 km in length, is the largest freshwater body in southwestern British Columbia. Logging roads follow both sides of the lake, with Clear Creek Hot Springs on the east side and Sloquet Hot Springs on the west side, closer to Pemberton. These natural hot springs in the forest have been modified by humans and can get quite busy at times. It takes several hours to get to either hot spring and it's wise to have a 4X4 vehicle and an experienced driver.
Hopefully this helps give you an idea of what to expect - Happy Travels!