A Little History... Wells Gray Provincial Park was created in 1939, and is named after a former BC Minister of Lands, Arthur "Wellsy" Gray. The Park is over 500,000 hectares in area, has 5 major lakes within its boundaries, and is home to the headwaters of both the Murtle and Clearwater Rivers. Most of the park is classed as an inland temperate rain forest, one of very few in North America, and is a lush green home for endless species of birds, plants and animals. How to get there... 1. via Highway 5 from Kamloops to Clearwater 2. south from Valemount on Highway 5 3. Mahood Lake can be accessed off of Highway 97 North at 100 Mile via Forest Grove and South Canim Lake Rd. (note! you cannot access Mahood from the corridor area of the park, or vice versa!) 4. The Murtle Lake Nature Conservancy is reached via Blue River, also on Highway 5. |
| Why Visit Wells Gray? Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of Canada's hidden Jewels |
because of Helmcken, Dawson, Rainbow, Osprey and the other waterfalls that dot the Park... But really, that's just the tip of what there is to experience in Wells Gray. |
| When should you visit Wells Gray? Wells Gray is a Park for All Seasons! |
Visit the Corridor to see Black Bears foraging along the roadways from mid May 'till late June. On a good June day, it's not uncommon to see 6-8 different bears up close on a drive from Clearwater to Helmcken Falls. Summer is Wildflower season, with the roadsides blooming in mid June and early July, with the Trophy Mountain Flower Meadows following suit in early July through the end of August. |
| Wells Gray is Nature at its best! |
General Questions about Wells Gray (these only apply to areas actually in the park) How big is the park? OVER 520,000 Hectares… That’s roughly the size of the province of Prince Edward Island. What is the Elevation (how high above sea level are we)? The elevation varies considerably in the park, but good benchmark locations to give as references are the lakes: Clearwater Lake 680m, Murtle Lake 1067m, Hobson Lake 858m, Azure Lake 682m. Trophy Mountain peak is 2577m, Pyramid Mountain is just 1094m. O Where can I see a bear? Bears can be found in all of the parks. The best place to see a bear is probably on the road between the main entrance near Hemp Creek and Helmcken Falls. Keep your eyes open everywhere else though, as bears are common along the sides of the roads just about everywhere in and out of the Park. Where can I see a moose? Moose are a rare sight in the park due to the thick forest. The road between Clearwater Lake and the Park Entrance provides the most moose sightings, but you have to get up early. The best time to spot a moose on the road is between 5 am and 7 am, and even then you have to be very lucky. Where can I see a beaver? Shadow Lake has a resident beaver, as do a couple of the creeks outside the park, in the valley. Are there any stores/gas stations in the park? Only one - at Clearwater Lake Campground - just the basics. Clearwater (North Thompson/ Spahats), Blue River (Murtle), and Forest Grove (Mahood) have the nearest amenities. Nearest phones? North Thompson - yes, pay phone in park Spahats - Clearwater (Flour Meadow Bakery) Corridor and Clearwater Lake - Helmcken Falls Lodge Mahood - ask the park operator on site Murtle Lake - Blue River Will cell phones work in the park? No. Are there hook-ups in the park (water and electricity for motor homes)? No. Showers? only pay showers at clearwater lake. Sani-stations for dumping septic tanks/ gray water? Yes, there are two; one at Clearwater Lake, and one at North Thompson Park. Cost is 5 dollars per use. Running water? All campsites that you can drive to have running filtered water, with the exception of Pyramid Campground which has a hand operated pump. Boat access only campsites have no filtered water sources. Where can I get firewood? Firewood can be purchased from park staff at a cost of $6 per bin (approx. 2 cubic feet). Staff will be selling wood during evening collection shifts, usually between 5:30 and 10 pm. If you wish to purchase firewood during the day, contact park staff at the service yard in Clearwater Lake Campground. Burn only firewood you have brought with you or that you purchase from Park Staff. Removing trees and branches from the forest floor is a violation of the Park Act and will result in a fine. Are dogs allowed in the park? Yes dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash,**** EXCEPT at Murtle Lake!**** Dogs and all other pets are banned form Murtle Lake and are grounds for Immediate Eviction from the park and possibly a fine under the Park Act. Other things banned from the park include but are not limited to: Personal water Craft i.e.Jet skis, Sea-doo’s Unlicensed/uninsured MOTORBIKES i.e. Quads, dirt bikes, ATV’s Glass bottles on Murtle Lake. Horses without a permit (some exceptions) Guided commercial groups on Murtle and Clearwater/Azure Marine (contact Clearwater Info Centre for allowable guiding companies) How much does it cost to stay in the park? All drive in campsites are basically $16 dollars per night, per vehicle (see registration sign for details) Marine campsite fees (boat or canoe access on Clearwater/Azure/Murtle) are $5 per person (13 years or older) per night (see registration sign for details) Nonpayment of fees is grounds for eviction or fines under the park act. Can I pay with my Credit Card or Debit Card? No. Cash or Travelers Cheque are the only acceptable forms of payment. Personal cheques are not accepted! Can I reserve a Campsite? Only at North Thompson and Mahood parks. If I come early, can I save a campsite for a friend? This is not allowed, Wells Gray is a long drive from anywhere, so saving sites is generally unfair to other park users. Can more than one vehicle/RV camp in the same campsite? Generally this is allowed, BUT you will be charged full rate for two RV’s, campers, etc…and extra cars will be charged at least a half fee. This is up to our, and BC Parks discretion, to allow. More than two vehicles on a site are not generally allowed. Are there special areas for tenters? Some sites have sand tent pads. What’s a good short hike I can take (2 hours or less)? Foot Lake Placid Lake Helmcken Rim Trail Ray Farm - Alice Lake - Ray Mineral Spring Bailey's Chute - West Lake Sticta Falls - Dragons Tongue Osprey Falls viewpoint What’s a good medium hike I can take (1-3 hours)? Trophy Mountain Placid Lake (Green Mountain) to Whitehorse Bluffs Pyramid Mountain - Majerus Falls Clearwater Lake Lookout Whale Lake (Mahood) Henrietta Lake (Murtle) File Creek (Murtle) Shaden (Spahats) What’s a good long hike I can take(3-8 hours)? Trophy Mountain Battle Mountain Flat Iron Chain Meadows Horseshoe Falls (bug spray please!) Wavy Range (Murtle Lake) Trails only for the very experienced and well equipped The trail to be base of Helmcken Falls - steep and rocky Huntley Col - steep and lack of water Kostal Lake route - extensively grown in and hard to follow Hobson Lake route - same Zodiac Mountain - trail no longer traceable Can I walk to any of the Campsites on the Clearwater/ Azure Marine Circuit? No. All marine sites can only be accessed by boat or canoe, there are no trails to them (please be careful not to confuse Clearwater Lake Campground with the Marine Circuit). Can I walk to any of the Campsites on the Murtle Marine Circuit? Yes, but only campsite 1, all the rest must be accessed by canoe. |
It's also home to Black Bears, Grizzlies, Moose, Mountain Goats, Caribou, Wolves, Cougar and many other Animal Species. The fishing is amazing, not just for the quality of the Rainbow trout and Salmon, but also for the astonishing beauty of the places you can choose to fish. Anglers come from all over the continent just to fly fish in parts of Wells Gray. Flora? How do 500 year old Cedars, Alpine Meadows carpeted in blooms of every color, and roadways lined with wildflowers sound? Wells Gray is known for its wide range of natural landscapes; everything from glaciers to moose meadows, ancient cedar forests and extinct volcanoes, unspoiled lakes to recent forest fire burns coming back to life. |
when the Clearwater River opens, but good trout fishing can be had in most of the park's larger lakes as soon as you can get access to them in May. Check Freshwater Fishing Regulations for openings and restrictions. August is the busy season in Wells Gray, a time for canoe treks, sunny days on sandy beaches, day hikes and picnics in the flower meadows and along the river banks. It's also the beginning of the Bailey's Chute Salmon Run; wanna see a 40 pound fish fly/ this is the place to see one up close. September is quiet . The Salmon run tapers off around the 20th, and cooler nights bring on fall colours throughout the park, most notably around Mahood Lake and up the Clearwater River Valley. Winter unveils a whole new Wells Gray, with Cross Country skiing, the ice cone on Helmcken Falls, and a cold blanket of snow that covers the Trophies. Cross Country and Backcountry Skiing is popular, as well as guided dogsledding, and snowmobiling in select areas outside the park. |
About Clearwater...
north of Kamloops, Clearwater has one or two of everything; a small supermarket(Safety Mart), a hospital, a library, a couple of hardware stores, several auto mechanics, fine dining, and lots of excellent hotels, B and B's, and motels. The town is also a hive of outdoor adventure. You can try just about every outdoor activity imaginable, including: |
| About Blue River... Blue River, halfway between Jasper and Kamloops, and is the staging point for Murtle Lake in the summers. Blue River is a good place for a pit stop, but don't look for much in the way of facilities. There are several motels and restaurants, a couple gas stations, two general stores, and a medical station. Thats about it. There's no Bank, so if you need cash get it in Clearwater or Valemount. The same goes for most groceries and camping supplies. |
Whitewater Rafting &Kayaking
Dog sledding
Horseback Riding
Guided Fly fishing
Guided Canoe Adventures
Hiking
Cross Country Skiing
Looking for birds? Small birds are common around The Ray Farm, Loons and other ducks abound on all the lakes, and Grouse are a daily sight on the roadways. Rarer Birds: Osprey are common near Clearwater Lake Campground, which is also home to a nesting pair of Merlin Falcons. Several Osprey and Eagle nests can be found on each of Wells Grays major lakes. Cranes and Herons are also often seen in the river channel between Clearwater and Azure Lakes, and in the Murtle Lagoon. |
