This weekend was dedicated to all things tulips, catching the tail end of this spring flower’s season. We started out in Abbotsford, making our way North East until we reach Harrison River Valley.
To get us there we had the 2026 Mazda CX90 GT-P MHEV as our whip of the week. Having driven the 2026 Mazda CX90 Signature PHEV the week before, and having driven to the Okanagan in the 2026 Mazda CX70 Signature PHEV two weeks before that, I was well versed in the CX90’s handling. Larger than its predecessor with the ability to seat 7, although the third seat lacks leg room for a comfortable long distance ride, and would be better suited flattened and used as additional storage space. However it is nice to have the option, should you need it. I was more interested in the handling and controls, having already familiarized myself with and become a fan of Mazda’s cruise control and hands-free driving functions. Therefore the drive felt quick, easy, and faster than anticipated. Not to mention that we had the first hot summer-like day of the year on our side for even easier driving conditions.
I just could have used the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle functionality to further my fuel economy, with the ability to charge the battery for a little over 30km of driving and then charge the car during driving at periods where it coasted downhill.
However it also nice to not have to think about locating a charging station and having to wait to charge the vehicle with this week’s Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle version. It uses a small electric to assist a traditional combustion engine, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. I was able to travel the 121km from home to Harrison and back again, plus all the additional side questions and roads of exploration in between with one tank at just under 600km.
With all the modern conveniences of multi-cable plug in, apple play, wireless charging, and individual climate control including both heated and cooling seats; both my travelling companion and myself were comfortable. With the larger sun roof offering extra vitamin D, and all the cup holders holding our drinks to keep us hydrated, we were sitting pretty.
In Harrison Hot Springs we were following the Tulip Trail, a new way to get locals and visitors enjoying the season and supporting the local businesses in the area. The occasion is centred around the Harrison Tulip Festival with invitation to meet their surrounding neighbours through a passport program.
For its 3rd season in a row, the Harrison Tulip Festival celebrates spring with the return of over 14 million blooms across 45 acres. This colourful showcase features 150 varieties of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths that you can stroll the vibrant flower fields to explore. There are also show gardens and plenty of photo ops to capture the memory of your time here. These is so much to do that you can make a whole day of things with live music, workshops, and food trucks. But more about its current and expanded offering in a separate post to come.
The Tulip Trail expands on the above and is your guide to exploring more of the Harrison River Valley during tulip season. Where if you are visiting the festival above, you can turn your drive into a spring getaway, like we did. We took the 2+ hour drive and made it into a weekend with visits to local farms, shops, cafés, and cozy stays.
We began our visit in Harrison at their tourism centre, which also doubles as a Sasquatch museum. Outside of their hot springs, they are also known for this mythical hairy giant, given how many sightings there have been in the past. The museum maps this out and also has compelling foot print castings, photos, and witness accounts to document some of it.
The Museum also looks at the history of Sasquatch within the First Nations communities. Through storytelling and its image in art and through artifacts. The word Sasquatch is thought to be a mispronunciation of the local Sts’Ailes First Nations word ‘Sasq’ets’, meaning ‘hairy man’. The Sts’ailes believe the Sasquatch is a spiritual being that can vanish into the spirit realm at will, which may explain why it is so elusive and difficult to track down.
The Sasquatch Museum is one of the handful of stops listed on the Harrison Tulip Trail passport. Guests are invited to undergo the trail at their own pace. You present said passport at any of the 16 participating locations that includes places to eat and drink, farm experiences, places to shops, and things to discover.
At each of the aforementioned stop you pick up and/or show your Tulip Trail passports to redeem for special offers, and collect stamps to win prizes. From what I gathered some vendors will only supply stamp with purchase, others were just happy that you came in to visit, offering their stamp freely.
For those who are a fan of this hairy giant, the town leans into its mythical celebrity and you will see it mentioned on advertising signs, stationed at doorways in greeting, and you will be able to take one home from any of the multiple gift shops in the area. Sasquatch is so popular that he even has his own inn.
Sasquatch Inn & Pub is a quick 15 minute drive to the neighbouring town of Agassiz, and on top of accommodations, they also offer tasty pub food. They are also another stop on the Tulip Trail, offering guest 10% off their meal.
Their cabin-esque theme has been recently renovated, and now has even more nods to Sasquatch, plus local memorabilia to serve as decor. To the locals the pub is known for their welcoming ambience, friendly staff, and flavourful food. For the latter I was impressed, and not expecting this quality from what read like an extensive, but standard pub-style menu. Even the salad was good.
I had the Steak & Smashers for a good variety of tastes. An 8oz Sirloin served with roasted potatoes smashed and dressed like a baked potato, Caesar salad, and garlic bread. All this food under $30 is if great value, and enough to share between two. The Caesar was fully dressed with a generous about of both dressing and croutons, to the extent that I got a mouthful of cream. The steak was hefty with a good char. I asked for medium rare and it came out medium, other than that it was well seasoned with salt and pepper to allow its natural flavour to show through. And the potatoes were definitely the highlight here, a whole dish with melty cheese and enough sour cream on the side to slather.
We stopped for lunch at Muddy Waters the first day and had breakfast on our way home during the second. From the lines and continuing rotation of people in and out, I would deem them a hot spot. They offer home spun breakfast and lunch, as well as cafe beverages and pastries. Muddy Waters is a family-run café that uses fresh, local ingredients to create a unique farm-to-table experience. From locally-roasted coffee to cheeses from Agassiz.
In celebration of the Tulip Trail and season, they have a specialty drink called “The Tulip”. It is an ice matcha beverage with a strawberry foam topper. More on this and on our other multiple meals here to come, in its own post.
Another food stop listed on the Tulip Trail Passport is Rocky Mountain Chocolates next door. They have their popular candied apples and house made chocolate. The latter can be found coating fruit, nuts, and cookies. Or you can enjoy it as a solid chunk shaped like either tulips and/or big foot’s feet.
We would complete our Tulip Trail passport by visiting 10 different stops and earning enough stamps to be entered to win one of the grand prizes. We visited Harrison Antiques and wandered their isles of historic knick knacks and shopped for more modern gifts at Blue Dandelion Gifts nearby. Karen’s Café & Gifts has both gifts and high tea, where your Tulip Trail passport gets you 10% off the latter. For something more thematic Cabin Fever Junction Bakery has Chocolate mousse filled tulip treats and tulip shaped cookies. Also in Agassiz is the Broken Whisk restaurant for a sit down meal.
We enjoyed the activity of this and the scavenger hunt that brought us in and around Harrison River Valley. Although, being able to test this out on their inaugural year, I do have some feedback for event organizers.
I understand that the passport is meant to be a travel ready short list, however it would have been nice to have additional information on the pamphlet. A map pin pointing locations, in case you want to snake around the area and capture all stops within walking distance of one another. In the same vein to list the stops by geographical area, as apposed to type of business for easier planning. Contact information and hours of operation, as we were not warned that most businesses are closed on Sundays, so found ourselves travelling around extra, un-needlessly.
And it would also be nice to know what we were playing for. After hearing the prizes we gained gusto for the challenge, and energy in completing the search. However, instead of 4-5 smaller prizes for each prize level grand down to 4th, it would be nice to amalgamate them all into one experience prize pack. A bigger prize to pull greater entries. A fulsome reason that will bring visitors back down with accommodations, a meal, an excursion, as well as a take home gift.
Maybe this is all something they can evaluate for next year, considering there is only one more week to collect and win. The contest closes on May 3rd, 2026.
Not part of the Tulip Trail per se, but one of the prizes you could win is a stay at Harrison Beach Hotel. That would be our accommodations for the evening. They are located directly across the street from Harrison Lake in the heart of Harrison Hot Springs. It was central and gave us easy access that is within walking distance to everything.
We stayed in the Junior Lakeview Suite with its sweeping views of Harrison Lake and fireplace for ambiance. This was a spacious suite with larger living area that included cozy seating for 4, a dining space for 2, and and work desk for 1.
I was especially impressed by the fully furnished kitchenette with full sized fridge and freezer, a microwave, coffee maker with pods, oven and convection stove top; plus drawers and cupboards filled with pans, cups, dishes, and cutlery. Everything needed to make a week or month long stay more comfortable.
The suite is an ideal accommodation for two friends or two couples, given the large king bed and pull out couch. The entire room is an open concept room, but the sleeping quarters are made more discrete with a wall in between both.
As for the bathroom it was modern with black fixtures against white tile. You had bolted down toiletries the likes of hand and body wash, shampoo, and conditioner by Mother Earth, a local indigenous made and own brand. I especially enjoyed the former most with its minty freshness and exfoliating beads.
The hotel does have an indoor pool and covered hot tub at the back, but sadly none of it with the heated mineral waters that gives the area its name. The only way to get your hot spring fix is through the official Harrison Hot Springs Hotel with its 5 unique pools or the public access hot spring pool, that was closed for the season during our visit in late April.
For free and general access hot springs you can look to the “hobo hot springs”. These once ran freely (physically and literally) with the heated healing water from the building next door. However its waters have since been blocked off under the reason of protecting the public and to safe guard the buildings surrounding from liability. Now these pool run emptier, with but a trickle and a stream of steam to identify what it once was. Still hot at some points, but not enough to heat. They still serve as a tourist attraction and way to enjoy the natural phenomenon without paying. I got my finger tips in just to say that I have.
Harrison Beach Hotel – True Key Hotels & Resorts
160 Esplanade Ave Unit C, Harrison Hot Springs, BC VOM
+1 (604) 796-1111
harrisonbeachhotel.com
