Eagles by day. Lights by night.
A weekend in the Harrison River Valley, two hours east of Vancouver. Watch the biggest winter gathering of bald eagles in the world, then walk a village lit up for the holidays.
Most weekends away from Vancouver start with a highway and end in a parking lot. This one starts on a coach downtown. By lunchtime you're standing over the Harrison River, watching eagles work the shallows.
Bring binoculars.
Every late fall, bald eagles gather on this stretch of the Harrison in numbers you won't see anywhere else. It's Season of the Wild, Harrison's celebration of the salmon, eagles and sturgeon. Lunch is at Sasq'ets Burgers and Cafe, right beside the viewing tower, and it's in your ticket.
Two hours in 1906.
Twenty minutes down the road, Kilby Historic Site is what's left of Harrison Mills, a boom-and-bust town where the Harrison meets the Fraser. The 1906 general store is a museum full of things you're allowed to pick up. There's a café, and a farm with animals that have a lot of personality.
It's in your ticket. On Saturday, December 5, that means making an Edwardian Christmas card, spiced apple cider and a Christmas love story.
Then the lights come on.
At 5:00 the lakefront lights up for Lights by the Lake, with photos with Santa and with Sasquatch and the whole village glowing across the water. Both our Saturdays land on the big nights: November 21 is the opening ceremony with fireworks, and December 5 is a Festive Night with live music and Christmas storytime.
Sunday is yours.
Meet at 10:00 at the Sasquatch Museum, which is in your ticket. Then wander the village, browse the shops, or soak at the Harrison Mineral Baths, the hot pools anyone can walk into.
Want more eagles? Shoreline Tours runs a three-hour cruise at 11:00 for $129. Book it with them (code PARKBUS10 takes 10% off) and tell us, so the coach can run you to the dock.
The weekend.
Dinner Saturday is your own, on the main street. Everything else is planned.
Saturday
- 9:00Leave Vancouver, 1025 Dunsmuir St
- 10:00Pick up in Surrey
- 11:30Lunch and the eagle tower
- 1:50Kilby Historic Site
- 5:00Lights by the Lake
Sunday
- 10:00Sasquatch Museum
- 11:00Eagle cruise, if you booked it
- MorningThe village and the mineral baths
- 2:30Leave Harrison
- 5:15Back in Vancouver
Where to stay.
Book your own room, straight with the hotel. Pick one in Harrison Village or the Sasquatch Inn, because that's where the coach goes.
Harrison Hot Springs Resort
The big one on the lakefront, with the hot spring pools. A few minutes' walk from the lights. Bed and breakfast deal for Parkbus travellers.
Harrison Lake Hotel
The cheaper room in the village, on a quiet side street near the public hot spring pool. Breakfast for two with every room. Pets welcome, free parking.
Lifty Life
Holiday rentals in the village, for a group or a family who want a kitchen. 5% off with PARKBUS.
Sasquatch Inn & Pub
A classic roadhouse 15 minutes out, pub downstairs. The coach drops you at the door Saturday night and picks you up Sunday. 15% off with PARK123.
Every other hotel and rental in the valley is on Tourism Harrison's Stay page.
Book the weekend.
- Dates
- Nov 21–22 or Dec 5–6, 2026
- Leaves
- Vancouver 9:00 a.m., Surrey 10:00 a.m.
- Back
- Vancouver around 5:15 p.m. Sunday
- Included
- Coach both ways, Saturday lunch, Kilby, Lights by the Lake, Sasquatch Museum, Parkbus staff
- Your room
- Booked separately, direct with the hotel
$130 per person, your Parkbus ticket
Pickups, hotel codes and questions are on the full trip page.
This weekend and this feature were made with Tourism Harrison, the destination organization for the Harrison River Valley.