Skookumchuck Hot Springs

Category: Hot Springs-soakable

GPS GeoCoords: 49.9653, -122.431483

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aka Lillooet Hot Springs
Skookumchuck Hot Springs should not be confused with the area in the Kootenay region to the east. Skookumchuck Creek and that valley are home to Buhl Creek, Ram Creek, Lussier, Fairmont, Radium and Harrison Hot Springs.

The Lillooet River valley (where we are now) is home to the springs by the name of Skookumchuck, as well as Sloquet Hot Springs.

A primitive soak in tubs made out of a large fiberglass water tank sawed in half. The hot spring waters are at 130F but are tempered by an pipe and valve arrangement to bring in cold creek water to temper the soak.

The soak (as of the last notice) is $5, on private property by with permission to soak.

Directions: The starting point for this springs is Mount Curie, a small town at the northern outpost of B.C. Highway 99 just east of Pemberton (the route that goes north from Vancouver and past the Whistler ski resort area). Gas up here and get whatever supplies you will need. From Mount Curie drive about thirty-four miles south on the logging road that hugs the Lillooet River. Start watching for B.C. Hydro tower number 682, where you turn right onto a narrow dirt road which leads to a campground. This road can be slippery and nearly impassable in the dampness of winter, so the last quarter of a mile may have to be hiked. The hot springs are at the end of this road.

Skookumchuck HS can also be reached from the other direction.

From Hwy 7 in Harrison Mills turn onto the Morris Valley Road
-A Salmon Hatchery will be seen on the left
-The Chehalis River Rec Site goes by next
-Last Gas (Last Chance to buy stuff and top up)
-Keep right at Hemlock Valley FSR junction
-Weaver Creek Park (where the pavement ends and the logging trucks begin)
-A sign misinforming you that you cannot reach Pemberton from here.
-Fairly nice wide graded gravel road, lots of logging trucks move through here so be prepared.
-Now you should be on the Harrison West FSR.
-This area is fairly hilly and windy for the first bit and then straightens out when we start to follow the lake.
-For camping, turn Left off the main road to the 20 Mile Bay forestry camp ground. Standard forestry camp ground rates (10 bucks a night per vehicle). There are two camping areas one with about half a dozen spots and another with over 50. This is a very nice wide bay with a gorgeous beach, eagles overhead plenty of driftwood.
-Continueing, it is good going for awhile but then it starts to get loose and steep in a few spots before Tipella. There are also a couple of small stream fordings in this area. This is easy 4wd and probably tricky or road damaging 2wd. This is the roughest part of the approach in from the south.
-There is a large waterfall with a big bridge which marks the end of the small tricky bit.
-Tipella has a large logging operation that you drive through.
-The road out of Tipella is a very wide gravel highway.
-After the Sloquet Creek bridge you take a uphill left towards Sloquet Hot Springs.
-There is an active helicopter logging operation headquartered just before the hot springs. You are supposed to wait for clearance before crossing the helicopter landing area (just to make sure you aren't blown off the road..)
-This is listed as a fairly tricky 4x4 road, this was clearly written before the logging operation was put in place. 2wd is fine.
-The hot springs themselves are wonderful and worth the walk. There is a fairly rough and tumble forestry campground at the trail head to the hot springs, it is servicable but not really recommended. The hike to the springs is about a seven minute walk including crossing a couple large fallen trees. The springs themselves are divided into four main pools (hotter as you go up) overlooking the river (as cold as the springs are hot). There is a nice grassy picnic spot overlooking the river about halfway to the springs.
-Continuing up (north), nice wide roads provide for easy high speed driving (you can get to Sloquet from the Pemberton side with no problems in pretty much any 2wd car).
-Be careful of the school zone just before Skookumchuk proper. Skookumchuck itself has a pretty impressive old cemetary and a turn of century wooden church (which has seen better days).
-Skookumchuck is just a little further north. This is a well maintained campground with fully developed rustic hot springs. A $5 day use fee applies.

These directions are from 2004 and conditions change all the time. The southern route is really is not for a low-clearance vehicle . . . rough spots and fording, but it is doable in summer. In winter, this route is no-go for even the best-equipped 4-wheelers.