Nestled at the heart of the Harrison Valley, this small, vibrant community is surrounded by towering mountain peaks, lush forests and salmon-rich rivers. The Harrison River flows quietly south of Harrison Lake, past the base of the steep Cascade Mountains and past verdant pockets of tall coastal trees. If you close your eyes and listen to the calming flow of the river, it’s easy to imagine life in this region back the 1800s, when hordes of gold-seeking explorers passed through in search of great fortune. On a nearby hillside a small graveyard offers silent homage to those bygone days, and to the area’s First Nations heritage. The short journey from Harrison Lake to Harrison Mills travels past the Morris Slough spawning channels, which mark the place where hundreds of thousands of salmon return to spawn in the Harrison’s rich ecosystem each summer and fall.
Just below Morris slough, one of the most productive stretches of water in the entire Fraser Valley is home to the mighty sturgeon – massive prehistoric creatures that still haunt the river bottoms as they follow the summer and fall salmon migrations. Large sturgeons are common sights as they breach like Orcas in the river near Harrison Mills. This area is understandably a popular spot for local guides and anglers during peak fishing periods.
Just past the sturgeon grounds, a series of pillars, which were placed in the river in the late 1930s, act as a natural river dredge, directing the flow of the river into the main channel. This area is known to locals as Harrison Rapids, although it is little more than fast-flowing water, which slows considerably a short distance downstream. This region is a favorite feeding ground for wintering bald eagles, providing an incredible opportunity for visitors to see hundreds of eagles perched in nearby trees above the river. During salmon-spawning season, they regularly swoop overhead and land on the shoreline to feed on the millions of salmon.
Harrison Rapids marks the end of the narrow river and the entrance to the wide bays and flats of Harrison Mills. On the west side of Harrison River, an area called Pretty Flats (or Eagle Bay as some call it) is where scores of bald eagles congregate every winter to feed on decaying salmon. This remarkable stretch of the floodplain is named after the home builder and forest baron Charles Fenn Pretty, who traveled to British Columbia from Ontario in 1890. Charles quickly established himself as a homebuilder in New Westminster; however, once he realized that the Fraser River supported impressive runs of salmon, he seized the opportunity and opened a fish cannery in Queensbrough, which eventually became known as New Westminster. Charles also learned about the large salmon runs in the Harrison River and began active trading with the Chehalis First Nation, having fallen in love with the entire Harrison region. He soon began buying land from the local government, focusing on the large tracts of forest growing throughout the area, and became a major player in the province’s newly emerging timber industry. Charles loved the area so much that he built a lodge in 1891 called Fenn Lodge, which he named after his father. A short time after it was built, however, his beloved lodge burned to the ground. But that didn’t stop Charles, who rebuilt the lodge in 1903, where it still stands today. Ella Pretty,
Charles' daughter-in-law, is in her 90s and lives nearby in Harrison Hot Springs. Fenn Lodge is now owned and operated by Gary Bruce, who offers a private, secluded accommodation with equally private access to the Chehalis River.
Along the west shore of Harrison Lake at Harrison Mills, the new Sandpiper Golf Club is nearly hidden amongst the tall timber stands. Rowena’s Bed and Breakfast, with its beautiful riverside cabins and impeccably manicured greens, is located next to the golf green, offering a perfect hideaway for avid golfers. Meanwhile, across the river and tucked away from Highway 7 is one of the area’s most popular accommodations. Harrison Mills Country House & Lodge provides guests with a serene, relaxing atmosphere and caters to both anglers and tourists alike. One of their many offerings include fully inclusive fishing packages with the region’s leading guide companies.
Just south of the Highway 7 bridge at Harrison Mills a small lumber mill, still in operation, stands as a reminder of the area’s once-booming logging industry. During the spring freshet small tugboats ply the river, towing logs downstream from Harrison Lake. Because the Harrison is not a deep river, tugs can only tow during high water, as many reaches are no more than five feet deep. Indeed, Harrison Mills still holds the same character it developed during its boom years. According to Ella Pretty, little has changed in this region during the last 100 years.
On the east shore of Harrison River, about a half-mile downriver from Harrison Mills, is the normally shallow Harrison Bay flood plain. Because the Fraser River is only a short distance downstream of Harrison River, when the water levels rise in the Fraser during the spring freshet, they rise in Harrison Bay as well. In fact, Harrison Bay can rise as much as 10 feet during peak snow run-off periods, which occur during May and June. In the southwest corner of the bay, Harrison Bay Store and Campground operates a small dock, where fuel, snacks and fishing tackle are sold.
A small sandy beach and camping area known as Kilby Park is situated where Harrison Bay meets the river again on its northeast shore. Kilby Park is a popular resting area for weary travelers driving to Vancouver from Alberta. Scenic Highway 7 is also a popular route for motorhome vacationers making their way across British Columbia. It is important to note that Kilby is a small park with limited camp spots, and is operated on a first-come, first-served basis; the park is often filled with fisherman during summer and fall.
Tucked in behind Kilby Park lies the historic heart of Harrison Mills. Kilby Historic Farm was originally built on a flood plain. The farm site occupies two hectares along the Harrison River, where it enters the Fraser River, just a few kilometers west of Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs. The General Store and other buildings were elevated and connected with boardwalks. Today, visitors can choose from a fascinating gallery of store products and experience first-hand the intriguing artifacts of the farm and its current livestock.
Down the road from Kilby Park and farm is the only fishing lodge in the area – Harrison Mills Country House and Lodge, operated year-round by Fred and Betty Block. During the winter months, the lodge operates as a cozy bed and breakfast accommodation. By July, however, the Harrison Mills Country House transforms into a full-service fishing lodge, offering clients gourmet meals, guided fishing trips and additional amenities, including a hot tub, sauna, pool table, library and a 16-seat indoor movie theatre.
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