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Tourism Wells Gray
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Helmcken Falls
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Tourism Wells Gray
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Tourism Wells Gray
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Tourism Wells Gray
By Stephanie Molina, photos courtesy Tourism Wells Gray
Halfway between the BC Coast and the Rockies lies a hidden gem where the wild things are. Crowds are scarce and stunning natural beauty abounds.
Home to Canada’s fourth highest waterfall, and three times the height of Niagara, Helmcken Falls is just one of 39 named exquisite waterfalls you’ll find here.
Wells Gray is where the Murtle and Clearwater Rivers roar and wildlife sightings are as common as sunrise and sunset. It's 5,250 square kilometres (3,262 square miles) of alpine wilderness, borne from volcanoes and carved by glaciers. The fourth largest park in British Columbia protects most of the southern, and highest, regions of the Cariboo Mountains and one of the most unique landscapes in all of BC; where your days are measured in vertical feet, big game sightings and the number of waterfall shots on your camera.
It’s here, among old-growth interior rainforests and soaring mountain peaks that you’ll find serenity paddling Murtle Lake, North America’s largest canoe-only lake. A place where wildlife is so accessible you can watch in wonder as bears graze just meters away, where you can be drawn into the forest by the thunder of Helmcken Falls, and hike through a kaleidoscope of colour in the wildflower meadows of the Trophy Mountains.
It’s your staging ground for pure wilderness adventures… camping, hiking, white-water rafting, canoeing, or touring; by car, on foot, or from high in the saddle … in the Canada you imagined.
Wells Gray lies at the midway point between the northern Rockies of Alberta and the city of Vancouver, along BC Highway 5. Wells Gray is easily accessible from the town of Clearwater, which is just 34-km south of the park. A welcome rest stop on your journey, and the first stop on your Wells Gray getaway, Clearwater is both a wilderness outpost and your gateway to adventure. Rest up. Fuel up. Gather provisions. Enjoy gourmet, local cuisine. Then prepare for your unforgettable adventure. Clearwater and Wells Gray Park host many diverse RV sites to suit your needs and tastes.
Chasing Waterfalls
You’ll often hear the roar, long before you see cascading water tumbling over lichen-drenched boulders, making its way downstream. You can explore almost any trail or lake in the main corridor of the park and come across unique waterfalls & plenty of non-stop photo ops.
The grandest and most visited waterfall is Helmcken Falls, where the roiling Murtle River narrows to 23-metres and surges 140 meters down into the canyon below. Stand at the observation platform at the lip of the canyon and prepare to be humbled watching the river carve out a magnificent amphitheatre-like bowl a kilometre and a half in the distance, or strike out on a one-hour hike along the Rim Trail where the views from above the falls can only be described as magnificent.
Float in the wake of history
Slip on a lifejacket and follow in the wake of the first Overlanders floating the North Thompson River. Soak up the sun. Experience the grandeur of the great outdoors. Watch eagles fish from treetops. Make warm summer memories floating in the coolness of the North Thompson with expert guides at the helm.
Hit the Beach
You just can’t beat a day at Dutch Lake. Park your chair by the sandy shore and watch your kids playing on its golden shores. Catch up on the latest beach book or jump in yourself and feel the heat of the day melt away in cool running waters. It’s a great escape from your daily routine, and even a short respite can easily re-energize you.
Cruise Clearwater Lake
Explore the vastness of the park on a guided motorized boat tour of Clearwater and Azure Lakes. Full- and half-day cruises and overnight camping trips are the hallmark of Clearwater Lake Tours where local experts take the hassle out of getting on the water.
Trophy Mountains
Rising 2,575 metres above the Shuswap Highlands are the glacier-cloaked peaks of the Trophy Mountains. Journey to their southern slopes, near the Clearwater Valley Road, and you’ll be met by a kaleidoscope of colour when the wildflowers bloom each summer. One of the most easily accessed sub-alpine meadows in all of BC, the Trophy Mountains are where you’ll find hikers, photographers, backcountry skiers and snowshoers exploring each month of the year.
Go Where the Wild Things Are
Embark on guided wilderness tours to view bears, deer, wolves, beavers, and over 250 species of bird life. Marvel at the might of salmon swimming up waterfalls, returning to their spawning grounds. Learn all about migration patterns, feeding habits and the love life of our wild creatures. A local wildlife expert at your side makes exploring in the wild worry-free.
Or simply head out by car or on foot and chances are, you’ll find lots of evidence of big and small game – making sightseeing just that much more exhilarating here. With so much to do and see and freedom from stifling crowds, the most common regret of visitors to Wells Gray is that they should have planned a longer stay.
Visit www.wellsgray.ca to start planning your adventure.