Trip Report
Harrison River from Harrison Hot Springs to Harrison Mills
October 11, 2025
Leaders: Kapila and Quirine
Participants: Rob, Peter, Christine, Esmeralda, Eric, Belva, Bob, Lorraine, Daisie and Nancy
The Harrison River offers idyllic scenery on a stress-free paddle from Harrison Hot Springs to Kilby Park at Harrison Mills. More than 30 paddlers had registered for the October 11th trip, anticipating fine fall weather and lots of colour on the river-side mountains. However, at 09:00 hours on the morning of the trip, only 12 brave souls met at the boat launch in Harrison Hot Springs, under a low cloud cover and intermittent rain. Trip leaders Kapila and Quirine greeted us and provided an overview of the day. Cars were shuttled to Kirby Park, kayaks were packed and launched, and with a moderate tail wind we headed across the lake to the outlet where the river begins.
The morning’s paddle was relatively uneventful, but the low cloud obscured much of the mountains. Jumping salmon and the odd seal were our companions as we kayakers talked and got to know each other a little better. Boat traffic was minimal, so there were few interruptions to the business of paddling. At lunchtime, we pulled out on the mud at Morris Creek, where we were able to rest, eat and visit the petroglyphs that are nearby. The water level was quite low this year, so a side-trip up Morris Creek was skipped in favour of a direct re-start on the Harrison.
By mid-afternoon a headwind was picking up as we reached the upstream end of the east channel of the Harrison. After a look downstream and a quick discussion, we decided to try the channel, as it looked passable and offered shelter from the worst of the wind. None of us made it through without exiting our boats at least once. When we finally reached the main channel again, we were happy to have deep water, but the headwind was continuing to build. By the time we reached the Lougheed Highway Bridge, we were facing a near gale force headwind and the last kilometre was a struggle for all of us. We eventually turned the corner at Kilby Park and pulled out near the boat launch ramp. Tired and wind-blown, we fought to lift our boats onto our cars without losing them against the wind. By 5:30 pm, all was secure and we departed for the Sasquatch Inn for beer and a welcome dinner.
Thanks to Kapila Jayaweera and Quirine Schuyff for organizing and leading this year’s Harrison River trip. With a mixture of SKABC veterans and newcomers, our group enjoyed making new acquaintances and conquering a few paddling challenges along the way. See you next year!
Eric Hall
Photos: Esmeralda, Rob and Kapila
