There is so much to explore in beautiful BC, and we went on a romantic, quiet getaway to Harrison River Valley a few weekends ago. This October is one of the warmest Octobers that I’ve experienced thus far, and it made the trip even more perfect. If you live in Vancouver (or elsewhere), and want to reconnect with nature but also experience luxury while traveling—this post is for you!
We stayed at The Lodge at Harrison Lake, and Rowena’s Inn on the River / Sandpiper Resort over 2 nights and it was the perfect getaway. This post is written with you in mind as I’d love for you to use this as a guide to recreate this getaway for yourselves!
Disclaimer: This trip and stay was hosted by The Lodge at Harrison Lake and Rowena’s Inn as a media experience—which I’m so so thankful for. That said, this post is based on my own, authentic experience.
Here is my experience and how you can travel within the Harrison River Valley— The Lodge at Harrison Lake and Rowena’s Inn on the River:
For your reference, Harrison River Valley is home to Harrison Mills, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and the District of Kent—so there are loads to explore. This trip is nestled in the beauty of nature on the West Coast of BC, and we felt so rejuvenated and connected with the outdoors during this trip.
Spend a night at The Lodge at Harrison Lake
I definitely recommend spending 1-2 nights at The Lodge at Harrison Lake. I actually never knew there was a gorgeous resort past the main Harrison town. We’ve stayed at Harrison Hot Spring in the past, but WHO KNEW there was more.
The Lodge is 3-5 minute drive away past the town so it’s definitely closeby to the tourist spots in Harrison, but also takes you closer to the water and is a hot spot for weddings because of the stunning landscape.
How long does it takes to get to The Lodge at Harrison Lake from Vancouver:
If you are driving from Vancouver or Burnaby, do give yourself about 1.5-2.5 hours pending your exact location and traffic conditions. Along the route, you’ll pass by Abbotsford—which has many lovely wineries and fruit/animal farms for you to check out. You can find a couple of my favourite stops in my ‘wineries in Abbotsford’ blog post.
Where we stayed at The Lodge:
The Lodge at Harrison Lake has a stunning main residence with beautiful waterfront accommodations, a private beach, stunning marina and outdoor barrel sauna!
We stayed at the new Beachfront Cabin—there is only one currently, but another one is coming in 2023!
You guys, the beachfront cabin we stayed in was STUNNING. Absolutely breathtaking. It felt like we had our own private island even though it was steps away from the main Lodge residence.
It overlooks the mountains and water, with a private firepit right outside the cabin, plus the beach literally in front. The firepit comes with firewood on site, an axe (that Elbert loved), and we were all set up to bring smores over the campfire. I definitely felt that it was a mix of glamping and luxury.
What to do while at The Lodge:
This trip is definitely one that is quieter, peaceful, and one where you reconnect with nature. There are a variety of hikes you can do while there, or sit by the water and read.
The Harrison town, which is popular with tourists is a very short drive away! Hence, you’re close to restaurants, the hot spring public pool, stores and more.
Some ideas for you while there (information provided by Tourism Harrison):
Walk Harrison Lake
Harrison Lake is much longer than it appears, at 60 km long, and covering over 200 square km.
While it is now a freshwater lake, thousands of years ago it was not a lake but, rather, an arm of the sea. It varies in depth from just a few feet to a maximum depth of 279 m. (916 ft.).
It supports a rich biodiversity of seasonal and permanent animal species including Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Pink, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Chinook Salmon, Sturgeon, Harbor Seals, Canadian Geese, Herons, and too many different types of waterfowl to list.
BC Bird Trail The Harrison River Valley
Bird Trail shares an appreciation for skies, offering touring itineraries and stories that connect astounding birdwatching hotspots with restaurants, cafes, hotels, and activities in communities across the province.
● Walk Spirit Trail (1 km): Spirit Trail is a short walk through a beautiful cedar forest that is very accessible from the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. What makes this trail special is that a local resident decorated cedars along the trail with beautiful masks.
● The Heritage Walk (5 km return): This pleasant walk takes you back through time, past historical buildings and landmark moments in Harrison Hot Springs’ history. It starts at the Visitor Centre and provides a great overview of Harrison Hot Springs.
PS: We are approaching the Lights by the Lake!
Lights By The Lake is a winter lights festival taking place from November 19th, 2022 to January 8th, 2023.
You’ll experience the warm glow of Holiday lights and charming winter window paintings. Each business will decorate their store front with Holiday cheer.
Spend your second night at the stunning Rowena’s Inn on the River/ Sandpiper Resort
I absolutely love Rowena’s Inn on the River—it’s honestly one of the most stunning places we’ve been to ever. We stayed there years ago in the Fall and it’s amazing to see how different it looks after some revamping. We managed to see a ton of eagles during our previous stay!
Rowena’s Inn/Sandpiper Resort is located in Harrison Mills—surrounded by wilderness and gorgeous mountains and river.
How long does it takes to get to Rowena’s Inn from The Lodge at Harrison Lake:
From The Lodge at Harrison, it takes a mere 20-25 minutes drive to Rowena’s Inn! Not too far hey. I do recommend stopping for lunch along the route at Sasquatch Inn—we had the cabbage rolls last time we were there and it was yummy!
Where we stayed at Rowena’s Inn on the River:
PS: Sandpiper Resort is home to Rowena’s Inn on the River, Sandpiper Golf Course, and the River’s Edge Clubhouse.
We stayed in the 1 bedroom Luxury Nature series cabin called Coho and it was beautiful. The last stay we had at the resort was in the Eagle 2 bedroom cabin (equally beautiful)!
There are a variety of accommodations you can look at while at the resort. They are also in the midst of building new cabins which is so exciting!!
Luxury Nature Cabins
The luxury nature series cabins come in 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom layouts and honour the wildlife and salmon that are indigenous and sacred to the area. They have the same rustic elements as the classic cabins, but with contemporary touches, such as larger living areas and kitchens, gas or wood-burning fireplaces, and media streaming and cable.
Rustic Classic Cottages
The studio Rustic Classic Cottages honour the original owners’ family history. Enjoy complete relaxation with a deep soaker tub for two, in-room wood-burning fireplaces, and magnificent views of the Harrison River and mountains.
Rooms inside the Inn
Rowena’s Inn on the River is the colonial 1920s themed inn, infused with old world charm. Offered a handful of times a year, guests are invited to dine in the Upper and Lower Drawing Rooms for Step Back in Time fireside dining
What we immediately fell in love with at this resort is the incredible views, and how it feels like a slice of Europe in the valley. I’m a huge fan of architecture, and everything about the inn, cabins and exterior around the resort was so breathtaking to me.
What to do while at the resort:
If you golf, Sandpiper Golf Course is also one of British Columbia’s most scenic 18-hole golf courses and is renowned for its golf and fishing packages.
We just soaked up the views and went on a walk to try and find some eagles!
Explore the Eagle Walking Trail
This trail is located to the left of River’s Edge Clubhouse (the resort restaurant). We were surrounded by the forest, lush flora, rushing creeks, eagle viewing gazebo, and diverse wildlife. Here is the resort map for trail details.
Season of the Wild
The Season of the Wild tells the story of the salmon, sturgeon, and the eagles in the Harrison River Valley.
Every year, the salmon swim up the Harrison River and come to rest in the tributaries to lay their eggs. The spawning season typically begins mid October, with prime viewing October through early November.
This event contributes to the largest winter gathering of the bald eagles from October – January with the peak eagle viewing in November.
Eat at the River’s Edge Clubhouse
You guys know I love to eat, and the Clubhouse restaurant had a beautiful revamp from the last time we visited.
The food was AMAZING—and I don’t say this lightly. The outdoor patio space is enclosed in glass so you get a nice view of the mountains and golf course during your meal.
Get the Caesar btw.
This 2 day getaway that Elbert and I experienced came at such a perfect time. It was so incredibly rejuvenating and beautiful, and I hope you enjoyed this post and it helps you plan a getaway of your own!
If you are a sucker for themed itineraries, Tourism Harrison has a list of itineraries that you can draw inspiration from depending on what you love doing—if you’re a romantic, an adventurer, foodie etc!
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Till next time loves,
Xoxo Sam