Harrison Grind Lookout via Campbell Lake Trail

Harrison Grind Lookout via Campbell Lake Trail is one of those Harrison hikes that either makes your day or chews you up a bit first. It’s rated challenging for a reason: about 11.6 km out-and-back on paper, but many locals are clocking closer to 16–17 km with roughly 876 m of gain. Expect a solid 5–6+ hours on your feet, a serious workout, and a big view over Harrison Lake if you push all the way past Campbell Lake to the lookout.

The first stretch out of Harrison is a wake-up call: steep road to the water tower, rocky creek beds, boulders, and often a lot of water running right down the trail. After that it settles into classic coastal forest, mostly shaded, with mossy rock slabs, big trees, and a quiet, remote feel. Campbell Lake itself is decent for a cool-down dip, but the real payoff is the Harrison Grind lookout beyond the lake, where you get wide open views over Harrison Lake and the surrounding mountains.

Recent hikers report very technical terrain, mud, slippery rocks and bridges, and sections that are overgrown, especially in the first couple of kilometres, so long sleeves, pants, and waterproof boots are smart. The trail is better marked now with orange markers and some fresh flagging, but people still go off-track without a map app, so don’t rely on instinct alone. Expect streams on the trail in spring, lingering snow and puddles higher up early season, heat and limited water later in summer, and logging activity near the end. Start early, bring more water than you think you need, and only choose Harrison Grind Lookout via Campbell Lake Trail if you’re up for a long, technical grind rather than a casual Instagram stroll.