Trail: Spirit trail
Distance: 1km
Location: Harrison Hot Springs
Distance from Vancouver: 1hr 39min
Directions with a link to google map:
Ages of Children hiking: 2,4,7,10
Adults: 2
Stroller friendly: Yes
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Bathrooms: Yes (out-house)
Time it took to complete: 15 minutes
Jelly Bean Rating: 1/5
Month: June 2018
(Updated May 21, 2023(
If you’re planning on spending the day in Harrison, then the Spirit Trail is a perfect trail to explore before you head to Harrison Lake. We thought it would take a lot of encouragement for our kids to do a little trail walk before swimming, but turns out they did not want to leave!
What’s fascinating about the Spirit Trail is the story. A local artist created clay masks for the trees after his encounter walking in the woods with his dog. He believed “the woods were enchanted and that the trees had individual personalities.”
This is a very easy loop. Some of our kids did this trail in their water shoes, while I walked the trail in my sandals. The sign says 30 minutes, but that’s how long it could take if you become fixated on the enchanted presence. It’s certainly worth it to read the meaning behind the Spirit Trail to your kids, as it will spark some interest in waking the short loop. If it wasn’t full of unique masks, I don’t think our kids would be as motivated to walk the loop.
The Spirit Trail is full of beautiful ferns and fun little places to explore along the side of the trail. Our kids wandered to the side of the trail a lot to get a good look at the masks and found some unique trees to climb over and under.
This trail gave our two-year-olds a taste of freedom and independence. Neither one of them had to go in the hiking pack, as they were able to walk and run most of the loop. Interestingly enough, I think our two-year-olds could have looped the trail twice before the 4-year-olds, as they were too busy being memorized by the masks scattered throughout the forest.
We felt so relaxed spending time herewith the kids because they can wander all over without getting lost. It’s really well marked and stays flat the entire time. This is a great place to stop on your way to Harrison Hot Springs to stretch your legs and check out some of what the town has to offer.
Jellybean Rating Summary for The Spirit Trail
The Spirit Trail gets 1/5 on our Jellybean Rating. It is very easy for kids to be able to do and is very accessible. The masks and ferns throughout the Spirit Trail are exciting checkpoints along the way that keep the kids intrigued and educated. This is a great trail to stop at before you head into Harrison to meet the Sasquatch for ice cream!
Have you done the Spirit Trail in Harrison Hot Springs? Let us know your experience in the comments below!