We ventured out to enjoy Sloquet Hot Springs, a natural and undeveloped hot spring. It’s about a 4-5 hour drive from Vancouver and is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Xa’xtsa First Nation.
We left Vancouver in the afternoon and spent the night at a beautiful rec site on Lillooet Lake. This gave us a chance to take our canoe out that evening and during the morning. Lee did a bit of fishing.
The next day we drove up to the hot springs for the day. It cost a $20 entrance fee for the two of us which is the same as the campsite fee. It was a cool day so we left our dog in the car, as no pets are allowed near the hot springs.
The trai down is short and steep. Anyone who hikes regularly would probably feel comfortable, but it may be challenging for those who are unfamiliar with our West Coast landscape. Our video shows the trickiest parts of the trail so people can judge for themselves.
Near the pools there was a small changing area but no washrooms. You could cool down in the river, but it’s very fast-moving. There was a rope tied up to hang to while you dip, but the river current is very strong.
The site is open year-round, but it’s effectively closed to most people once it starts snowing as the brand off the main logging road up to the hot springs is not plowed.
Which way do you drive, via Pemberton or Harrison Hot Springs?
Almost everyone drives via Pemberton. It’s a logging road once you turn off towards Lillooet Lake, but a relatively safe and smooth ride.
Out of curiosity, we took the less popular way back home and drove towards Harrison Hot Springs. We have a 4×4 truck in good condition and are experienced backcountry drivers. We found it rather stressful and slow-moving. Many signs were posted warning us that the road was unstable and that we should stay away from the edge, but often the road was scarcely wider than the truck. There was no one else out there if you ran into trouble, so you really need to be self-sufficient. That way is not a scenic drive or shortcut for most people. There isn’t any footage in the video of that direction as we were quite preoccupied with driving!
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