| Clearwater Corridor/Valley |
| New! There is now a small store at Clearwater Lake Campground, and two cabins for rent. Ice, basic groceries, and some camping type stuff is available. |
The Corridor, aka the Clearwater Valley is a big place.... The starting point for all your maps (0 km) is the Info Centre in Clearwater, so that's what we'll call the beginning. I'm going to break this page into two parts: |
| Clearwater Info Centre to Hemp Creek |
10km Spahats Creek Park Spahats Creek Park is now a day use area only - the campsite is now closed. It also has Spahats Falls, which has carved an enormous canyon out of the layers of lava rock. This place will be somewhat unnerving for anyone with a fear of heights! Also take the time to walk along Spahats Creek itself for a bit, it's a very lush spot among big firs, cedars, and hemlocks. Now that you've seen the falls, continue on the park road to the Shaden Viewpoint. You won't be disappointed as this is one of the most spectacular views of the valley, and a great place for a coffee break or picnic. |
This distance is just to the turnoff, the Trophy Mountain trailhead itself is another 13 km on gravel roads. I could explain how to get there, but its easier if you just get a map. The road gets you to a parking lot, which gets you within about an hours' hike (most guides say 45 minutes, but I'm slow) of the Trophy Mountain Flower Meadows... This is where you cue the theme to "the sound of Music" |
While you're up the road, you should also check out Silvertip Falls. |
These three canyons are worth pulling over to have a quick look at, especially Third Canyon. |
This is a nice hike, an hour or so each way, with a very rewarding waterfall at the end. New! Moul Falls has a parking area and some new signage... finding it is now very easy. |
I've never actually been but I hear good things. This trail is not for the beginner, this is for those who want a day or couple of days trek into the Mountains. If you truly want to get away from the crowds for a mountain hiking experience, this is a good place to start. Wells Gray Chalet Adventures offers multi-day guided hut to hut hiking on Battle and Trophy mountains. |
They offer guided horseback trips, as well as guided canoe and ATV trips. 29 km Wells Gray Air An outstanding way to see Wells Gray Park. Fritz's plane seats 3 and in a one hour flight can take you on flights over glaciers, mountain peaks, and pristine lakes. For the relatively low cost of this service, this is a must do adventure for your trip - highly recommended. 30 km Flatiron Trailhead I note that at least one of the guide books calls this Hemp Creek Canyonlands, but the sign says Flat Iron Trailhead, so that's what I'll call it. The first section of this trail is a bit rough due to its heavy use by horses, but if you can get past the ankle twisting rocks, you'll end up with some stunning views of the Hemp Creek Canyon and the Clearwater River Valley. This is especially true in September as most of this forest is deciduous trees, which hold the brightest fall colours when their leaves turn. |
Helmcken Falls Lodge, built in 1948 as a hunting lodge, is nestled at the entrance to Wells Gray Provincial Park. The main lodge now houses a fully licensed a la Carte restaurant, Bar and Lounge, with full balcony to enjoy the warm summer evenings and bright winter days. Twenty-one rooms and an RV/campsite look across a 9 hole golf course to Trophy Mountain in the background. Open year round, they offer many activities including guided horseback riding, hiking and canoeing in the summer time to X-Country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dogsledding in the winter, available directly from their front door. Come and enjoy their backyard! On site facilities: Ninety seat capacity a la Carte restaurant with licensed bar and lounge area. Souvenir & amenities store, public pay phone, vending machine, 21 rooms with en-suite bathrooms, balcony or patio, complimentary tea & coffee, 17 RV sites with 15 amp electric & water, fire pit & picnic table, 7 tent sites with picnic tables – some with fire-pits. Separate men’s and ladie's shower houses with hot water. Communal picnic shelter with wood stoves. Guided canoeing,hiking, and horseback rides. In winter time, guided x-country skiing, snowshoeing, x- country ski and snowshoe rentals, guided snowmobiling and dogsledding. Contact Info: Helmcken Falls Lodge Box 239, 6664 Clearwater valley Road Clearwater, B.C. V0E 1N0 Tel. (250) 674 3657 Fax. (250) 674 2971 Email: info@helmckenfalls.com Web: www.helmckenfalls.com The Wells Gray Golf Course is just down the hill. We generally feel it's a bit sacrilegious to mention a golf course when talking about a park, but we make an exception for this one. After all, how many golf courses can claim frogs, ducks, and the occasional Moose or Black bear as hazards. The golf is cheap too. |
The Info Centre is full of useful info on the park, and more importantly, people who know things! Have a look around, then ask away! We, and BC Parks, provide them with up to date info on trails, camping conditions, what's in bloom, where the bears are, etc. And if they don't know themselves, they know who to ask. You can get maps there, book trips like the Clearwater Lake Boat Tour or a raft trip, and you can book your B & B or Motel (we want you to stay in the park, but...). They have clean washrooms, pay phones, Internet access, a gift shop, camping gear, and refreshments. They also have free guides to the Clearwater Corridor. |
| Useful tip 2 Natures bulldozer, the Grizzly Bear If you're going to see a Grizzly on a Wells Gray trip, it will be in the Trophy Mountains, though sightings are limited to one or two a year. However, you may see Grizzly sign. If you come across an area of ground that has been ripped up, odds are a Grizzly has been there, either digging for Glacier Lily bulbs, or trying to uproot a Ground Squirrel. |
| Useful tip 3 Escaping Battle Mountain Sometimes this road can swallow your vehicle. In wet seasons, mud and erosion can wreak havoc on this road, so you may want to ask BC Parks about its condition before you go. I won't say a 4-wheel drive vehicle is a must, but it's probably a very good idea. |
| Useful tip 1 Get a guide book... Both "Exploring Wells Gray" by Roland Neave, and "Nature Wells Gray" by Trevor Goward and Cathie Hickson are excellent choices. Both are very well formatted, easy to use ways to get more out of your Wells Gray experience, so spend the 12 or 15 bucks and you won't miss a thing. You can get both at the Info Centre, Flour Meadow Bakery, and through Chapters/Indigo books. I've worked in the park for nearly 15 years, and I still refer to these books almost daily... |
In front of the Info Centre. This is a statue of Jerry the Moose,
official mascot of BC Parks
official mascot of BC Parks
| I could show you pictures all day, but none of them come close to doing this place justice... You have to see it for yourself. This is just the first slope... |
Moul Falls
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