Number of campgrounds in Fraser Valley’s Harrison Lake area closed

A number of campgrounds in the Harrison Lake area, in B.C.’s Fraser Valley, are closed to campers looking for spring getaways — with operators saying a provincial agency is to blame.

Five campgrounds in the West Harrison area are closed due to tree-felling work, according to the contracted operator.

Meanwhile, three campgrounds on the east side of Harrison Lake are closed due to the campground operator waiting to hear back about whether they obtained the contract to manage the sites this season.

In B.C., many campgrounds are managed by contracted operators that often charge a fee, while provincial agency Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. (RSTBC) is responsible for providing oversight and ultimately contracting services out to operators.

Two operators in the Harrison Lake area — the First Nation-operated West Harrison Reservations and Camping and Greenshades Enterprises, which manages Harrison East recreation sites — say RSTBC is to blame for the springtime closures.

In the case of Harrison West, the Chehalis River, Grace Lake, Twenty Mile Bay, Weaver Lake and Wood Lake campgrounds are closed.

The operator, the Sts’ailes First Nation, said in a notice on its website that RSTBC notified it that dangerous trees would need to be felled before the sites could reopen.

The Chehalis River campsite is seen in the Harrison Lake area. (Recreation Sites and Trails B.C.)

In the notice, it said it was complying because safety was its priority, but the closures would impact visitors at the start of camping season.

“Because these closures were entirely foreseeable and preventable, we encourage campers to write and call [provincial] representatives, including RSTBC staff, to address the outstanding safety concerns with some urgency,” the notice reads.

A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry said that it recognized the frustration expressed by the operator of the West Harrison sites.

“Contracts to assess the dangerous trees are being finalized now and we anticipate work beginning next week,” the spokesperson wrote.

“Danger trees can pose a serious risk to public safety and must be fully assessed and mitigated before sites can safely reopen.”

The spokesperson added that, while not all hazards could be identified years ahead of time, it would work to improve planning and coordination moving forward.

The operator said any affected campers who had reservations would be refunded within a seven-day window — but anyone who cancelled their reservation more than seven days ahead of time would be subject to its cancellation policy.

Tender expiry

Meanwhile, on the east shore of Harrison Lake, campground operator Greenshades Enterprises said that the contract to manage the Bear Creek, Cascade Peninsula and Cogburn Beach sites came up this spring as part of a regular tender process.

Greenshades said it submitted a bid to continue operating the site, and it was waiting for RSTBC to award the contract.

Cogburn Beach is seen in the Harrison Lake area. (Recreation Sites and Trails B.C.)

“We understand the frustration and impact this is having on many campers trying to make their recreation site camping plans,” the operator wrote.

“We are hoping this gets handled soon as we are unable to move forward in any way until this process is complete.”

While the notice was available on the operator’s website on Tuesday afternoon, it appeared to have since been deleted, along with most of the rest of the site.

The Environment Ministry spokesperson said the contract expired at the end of 2025, and the ministry was in the final stages of procurement, which it said would wrap up next week.

They said the successful applicant would be able to set up the campsites for regular springtime opening in mid-May.

“The role of RSTBC is to ensure recreation sites are being managed in accordance with program requirements and, where funding is available, support in aspects of the operation of these sites,” the spokesperson wrote.