Summary of Route
- Type: Classic Overland
- Rating: 5/5
- Season: Any, but Spring to October recommended
- Length: 162 km’s one way from start of gravel road
- Vehicle suitability: Stock 4x4
The Route
The Harrison to Pemberton Overland route is arguably one of the most popular routes in South Western British Columbia and for good reason. It is 162 km’s of easy navigable gravel travel with excellent views, hot springs, and camping to be had on Harrison Lake and Lillooet Lake. While a 4x4 is recommended for this route, it is only necessary for an 11 km section occurring after the initial 55 km’s of gravel travel and for one of our recommended detours. Accordingly, this route is very beginner friendly and an AWD vehicle can complete a large portion of it.
Road conditions can vary depending on seasonal weather events. We have found that the Facebook group for Harrison Valley FSR’s (east/west/Chehalis and others) has more up to date information than the British Columbia Government FSR status page. Links to both of these sites can be found here.
Access to the Harrison to Pemberton Overland route is found north of the town of Harrison Mills. If you have just completed our Harrison East route (found here), take some time to explore the quaint town of Harrison Hot Springs before heading west to begin this route. If you are coming from Vancouver, exit highway 1 as if proceeding to Mission. You will continue along highway 7, travelling north east, until the start of this route. Along this approach you will pass multiple gas stations; however, Leqamel Esso (GPS coordinates 49.17460, -122.08018) is our favourite spot to top up fuel and obtain any last minute items for this drive.
Regardless of the direction of your approach, you will be leaving highway 7 at the intersection with Morris Valley Road (GPS coordinates 49.25124, -121.95792) near the Sasquatch Inn. Continue travelling north on Morris Valley Road for approximately 11.7 km’s. Morris Valley Road will directly lead into Weaver Creek Road and promptly switch to gravel travel. Within the first several km’s of travel, Weaver Creek Road switches into Sts’ailes FSR, also known as Harrison West, which you will travel until you near the end of Harrison Lake.
Within the first 2 km’s of travel, you will come across access to Grace Lake Recreation Site and Wolf Lake Recreation Site. While adequate sites, better awaits and we recommend bypassing these recreation sites. After an additional 14 km’s of travel (16 km’s from the start of gravel) you reach the first point of interest on this route. If you are driving a 4x4, bear right onto a narrower but relatively easy road leading to Harrison Lake (GPS coordinates 49.43000, -121.84676). If you do not have a 4x4, this access is not recommended.
An additional 3 km’s of travel bring you to the access for Unnamed Lake (Elissa) Recreation Reserve and Wood Lake Recreation Site. Again, we prefer the dispersed camping on this route and accordingly bypass these sites. Continue travelling along the wide, well maintained Sts’ailes FSR. At the 28 km mark, views begin to open up over Harrison Lake. After enjoying the views, you will begin to descend in elevation. As you begin to level out you will reach an intersection. Continuing this route will require you to bear right, whereas a left turn will take you to North Chehalis Lake Beach. This is a wonderful overnight option and our full write-up can be found here.
After avoiding or checking out North Chehalis Lake Beach, continue to travel along Sts’ailes FSR. Another 1-2 km’s and you will begin to gain views of Twenty Mile Bay Recreation Site. Twenty Mile Bay Recreation Site offers reservation and first come first serve sites, with a wonderful beach for campers to use. More information can be found here. As of the summer of 2023, Twenty Mile Bay Recreation Site now charges $10 for visitors.
Passing Twenty Mile Bay Recreation Site our next point of interest and lakeside camping opportunity can be found at the 41.5 km mark (from the start of gravel). GPS coordinates 49.59222, -121.93063. The turnoff to this site is on your right and is likely accessible in almost any vehicle.
After checking out this site, return the way you entered to Sts’ailes FSR. Continue travelling north. An addition 14 km’s of travel will bring you to the Bremnar Delta Recreation Reserve. Take the obvious right hand turn (GPS coordinates 49.66927, -122.01391) for further beautiful sites found along Harrison Lake. This site is similarly accessible to most vehicles. Should these sites be full, there is another adequate pullout with lake access slightly further along the Sts’ailes FSR.
If you are not driving a 4x4, this likely concludes your trip as within 500m of travel Sts’ailes FSR conditions begin to deteriorate. Fortunately, views abound in this section and the poor conditions only persist for approximately 11 km’s, before the road returns to good condition. As of August, 2023, there was active logging in this area and use of a two-way radio is recommended.
You are now travelling on Lillooet West FSR. After an additional 9 km’s of travel and passing a major log sorting operation, road conditions become excellent. Another 3 km’s of travel, at approximately 78.5 km’s of gravel travel, you will reach the small community of Tipella. If you failed to re-fuel prior to starting this overland route, fuel can be found in Tipella.
2.5 km’s of further northerly travel will bring you to the intersection for Sloquet Hot Springs (GPS coordinates 49.75847, -122.23006). This turn-off is relatively well signed and depicted below. The road to Sloquet Hot Springs is well maintained and this is an easy detour and highly recommended. If you intend to overnight near the hot springs or go for a swim you will need to pay the recreation site fee for this area. The campsites found above Sloquet Hot Springs are adequate but are quite dark as this is a heavily forested area.
After enjoying Sloquet Hot Springs, return to the main road you will travelling on prior. After 4.1 km’s of travel you will reach one of the few intersections on this route. To follow this planned itinerary, turn right onto In-SHUCK FSR. The next 50 km’s of this route are the least exciting of this entire drive; however, adequate sites can be found at 49.85237, -122.27927 and 49.92915, -122.34910, and there are opportunities for views of Lillooet River to be had.
As you reach the 137 km mark of this route, gorgeous views will begin to open up looking north up Lillooet Lake. While there are no dispersed camping opportunities along Lillooet Lake, there are ample paid Recreation Site options. In our opinion, these steadily decrease in quality as you proceed north towards Pemberton. The first site you will come across, Driftwood Bay Recreation Site, is our preferred site. Driftwood Bay Recreation Site additionally has an overflow tent camping section should you be arriving on a weekend.
Should Driftwood Bay Recreation Site be full or only less ideal sites remain, consider driving the 2 km’s further north to Lizzie Bay Recreation Site as there are some excellent car camping opportunities there as well.
After enjoying your time at these gorgeous recreation sites, return to the main road you have been traveling along. You will follow this the remainder of the drive but be sure to stop and enjoy the southern views over Lillooet Lake as you near the end of this drive. If you are looking to extend your drive, consider embarking on our South Chilcotin Overland route after resupplying in Pemberton.