GOLD RUSH 1858
The Harrison – Port Douglas – Lillooet Trail
When gold was first discovered on the Fraser and Thompson Rivers in 1858, there was an explosion of interest and activity. Miners from all parts of America, as well as the world, raced to British Columbia hoping to find their fortunes.
As there were no roads into the Interior, the first, and only, route to the goldfields further north was by sternwheeler up the Fraser and Harrison Rivers, then via Harrison Lake, to the newly established town of Port Douglas at its head.
Disembarking there, miners faced a long and arduous journey over 100 miles of rough tracks and lakes to Lillooet. In 1858 alone, 30,000 men passed through this wild region.
Legend has it that miners returning down the Harrison Lake fell into its cold waters, and found them – warm! Although the First Nations people in the region knew about them, the hot springs were ‘discovered’ and eventually a hotel and spa were built nearby. The rest of the village grew up around these initial establishments.
When the Cariboo road was built in 1863 through the Fraser Canyon to Barkerville, this difficult water route was eventually abandoned. Although the gold rush has faded, Harrison Hot Springs continues to flourish.