(Last updated on April 26, 2023)
Let me fill you in on a little secret, we all know Harrison Hot Springs correct? You've probably heard of them if you haven't been there. Harrison Hot Springs is town and small community at the Southern end of Harrison Lake in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. These hot springs have mineral pools, hotels and a crowd of people. Although these springs seem nice they are man made sourced from a hot spring, I like more of the natural setting, so with that being said let me start with have you heard of Hobo Hot Springs nearby?
Hobo Hot Springs actually comes from the direct source of Harrison Hot Springs, catching on yet? The reason of the name is probably due to the fact that they are the ghetto version of the resort ones because Hobo Hot Springs are FREE and are natural. Yes that's right free and right beside a huge resort one, need I say more! Here's all you need to know before going to Hobo with helpful directions on how to find them as they are easily missed.
HOW TO GET TO HOBO HOT SPRINGS:
You can thank me later for these easy directions, honestly there wasn't a lot of information about them. I think I found 2-3 things on Instagram confirming they even existed. I went with a friend before we had to come back to Vancouver Island and I insisted we try and find them and I did!
Above is a map to help guide you. You will park at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort located at the P sign just before the resort, parking is free. You will walk along where I've highlighted to the left, you will pass the reosort and walk alongside the lakeshore on a path. It's maybe 1KM if that or just over to get to Hobo. These hot springs are definitely not private whatsoever, because they are on the side of a path so you don't get much privacy. We had several people ask "Is that actually hot." while I was sitting in them. I really wanted to say no it's cold I'm just in here for the photos lol.
You will start to see in the picture above this is the Harrison Source, the building is on the left coming from the parking lot with Hobo on the opposite side (on the right) towards the lake. As you can see from the picture above and below the shallow little pools near the source are extremely HOT and I mean too hot, the ones near the lake are hot but manageable. Please be mindful of not ruining the temperature with lake water as this will contaminate the water in a not so healthy way. The locals have done their best to maintain this.
I have seen people go in these ones near the source but I don't know if they would have stayed in long. The water is boiling hot, so I would refrain from doing that and go to these ones near the lake with a bucket instead.
The view is absolutely gorgeous, this was a perfect way to end a road trip in my opinion. There is Clear Creek Hot Springs in this area as well, definitely more of a trek to get to however. I did like these one for how accessible they are but because of that lots of foot traffic here. Can you believe we were the only ones here, nobody really knows its hot in there, so if you get lucky you might have the same fate as we did.
The picture above gives you an idea of how deep this pool is, I believe this hot spring only exists during certain times when the water is low, as it can be underwater. So be mindful of that and time of year you go. We were here in October and it was perfect, some fellow adventurers have told me how magical this place is in the winter time with snow and even rain! I believe it, the temperature would be really perfect for that season.
I'm not lying when I say this water is hot, so do bring that bucket so you can fill it with some lake water and regulate it a bit. I kept having to get my body out after 1-2 minutes lol. I think I inspired some people to check it out while I was in here, everyone who walked by kept asking me how it was, is it worth it? Heck yes it is! I don't want to pay for something that is suppose to be natural, that's just me. I will pay if it's natural - not something commercialized and is a concrete pool.
I think that is all I have to say and what you need to know before going! I hope you enjoyed this blog about Hobo Hot Springs & I hope you get to see them. Who knows if this resort will keep this here, if you know anything about the Fairmont Hot Springs you would know they had something similar and they re-directed the source from the hot pool from the resort. Which if you want to read about those ones and take a boo you can here. The locals from the village have made Hobo into what it is and kept them tidy, so in saying that please respect Leave No Trace Principles and pack out what you pack in please. Enjoy and we will see you on the trails!
