Lower Mainland. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- The Harrison River is susceptible to extreme water levels and velocities during spring and summer run-off season.
- Watch for log pilings in the river, opposite the campground.
- There are no developed trails at this park.
Special notes
Park Management
This park is cooperatively managed by the Kilby Heritage Society, a charitable, non-profit society on behalf of the province of BC. Services (such as the Social Services Camping Fee Exemption) and facilities may differ from those offered in other BC provincial parks.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
The park is located at Harrison Mills, 15km west of Agassiz. From Highway 7, follow the provincial park and binocular logo directional signs south onto School Road at the eastern end of the highway bridge. Continue straight to the T-junction and turn right onto Kilby Road, past the historic Kilby General Store and Farm, and continue to the park. The closest communities, towns and cities are Harrison Mills, Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers 35 vehicle-accessible campsites, both reservable sites, and first come, first served sites are available. There are no double or pull-through campsites available. Some sites are amid the trees, and others are in open areas near the beach. Maximum two vehicles per site. There is no parking available for extra vehicles. There is no gatehouse.
If there is no staff to help you locate a site, find a campsite with no ticket number on the post. Park staff will come by to collect camping fees. Sometimes the gate is locked in the off-season due to environmental conditions. The closest store is in Harrison Mills, approximately 5km west on Highway #7.
Seasonal dates and fees
| Season dates | Bush side | Beach side | Senior rate (65+)* | Day-use | |
| Winter season | January 1 to February 28 | N/A | $20 | N/A | $15 |
| Shoulder season | March 1 to April 30 | $30 | $30 | $25 | $15 |
| High season | May 1 to September 30 | $35 | $40 | N/A | N/A |
| Shoulder season | October 1 to October 31 | $30 | $30 | $25 | $15 |
| Winter season | November 1 to December 31 | $20 | $20 | N/A | $15 |
Please refer to the Kilby Park Welcome Package [PDF] or visit Kilby.ca for more information.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
Swimmers need to watch for drop-offs! The water can be very cold.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are fishing opportunities in this park.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Kilby Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Facilities
There is a paved single wide boat launch located in the day-use area. There is parking available for vehicles and boats trailers during the day only, but no overnight parking. Boats can be left in the water or beached overnight at the owners own risk. There is no marina nearby to moor boats overnight. Waterskiing is permitted on the river.
Please refer to Kilby.ca for fee information.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood may be purchased in the park, please contact the park operator, or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
This park has a day-use and picnic area with picnic tables and pit toilets available. Bring your own barbeques and briquettes. The beach area is sandy (dogs are not permitted on the beach area). Open fires are prohibited.
Please refer to Kilby.ca for fee information.
About this park
The Harrison and Fraser Rivers served as major transportation routes for the local First Nations population. In the mid to late 1800s, the Fraser River and Cariboo gold rushes created considerable activity along the Harrison River, near the site of this historic park.
The first settlers to pre-empt land in this area were farmers, one of whom started milling lumber in 1870. From 1870 to 1910, a succession of sawmills came into operation and with them, the community grew. Thomas Kilby came to Harrison Mills in 1902 and by 1904, had built a three-story building consisting of a general store and hotel. His son, Acton and wife, Jessie ran this operation until their retirement in 1976. The Provincial Government acquired this area. Today, the general store is a museum and is operated by the Ministry responsible for Tourism. The beach area has been developed into a riverside park with 22 campsites, a small day-use area, and a boat launch under the jurisdiction of BC Parks.
The park lies within the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone and is representative of the Fraser floodplain landscape. Upland vegetation includes cottonwood, poplar, alder, and willow while the understory consists largely of red currant and salmonberry.
Kilby Park is a designated British Columbia Wildlife Watch area. It is an excellent location to view large concentrations of wintering Bald Eagles as well as graceful trumpeter swans that migrate to the area from Alaska. Other common bird species to the park area include ravens, geese, eagles, swans, finches, chickadees and jays. Coho and Spring salmon can be found in Harrison River which borders the park.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Park operator | This park is operated by Kilby General Store and Farm |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
