Wells Gray Provincial Park Things to Do

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Helmcken Falls get all the credit in this park. They are higher and have a larger flow, however, Spahats Creek Falls at 74 meters (246 ft) is quite impressive by itself. Had it not been in such company as the monstrous Helmcken it would have garnered an equally distinguished reputation. There is a trail which winds to the base of the falls which would give you a totally different perspective. If you do not want to spend that much time there the view from the observation deck is also quite nice.

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Nearly half a million years ago volcanic activity in the area began sending lava flows into this canyon layer by layer and cooled. The layers of these volcanic flows can still be seen today. In the more recent ice ages the Clearwater canyon was cut out of the surroundings by massive glaciers. As the ice age ended Spahats Creek began cutting into the layers of lava flows and created a canyon which it lies in today. The Walls of which provide you with a great view on the upper right hand side of the attached picture atop the cliff.

At only 27 meters (59 ft) Dawson Falls would not be a very interesting waterfall especially with the likes of Helmcken and Spahats falls in the vicinity. Dawson falls does have one very good thing going for it though it’s volume is much larger than wither of the other falls. The volume is so large that the falls stretch over 91 meters (300 ft) across. This thundering beast is only a 10 minute walk from the road as well. Be wairy of the Mosquito’s though this is the only place in the park where I was bothered by them and they were ferocious there.

Clearwater, and this town was at the entrance way to Wells Gray National park.
On the corner of the Clearwater Valley road is the information centre. Outside, there is a statue of a Moose, and inside is information on Wells Gray n/pk, plus some stuffed Animals.

Make sure you stop here before heading into the park.

What a National park this was!.....And one very much worth coming to, even though, probably not as well known as the Banff & Jasper areas.

We really liked this park.

What do you come here for?.............

Well, in June, the Lupins [flowers] were thick on the roadsides, ever so pretty.

Then the Bears, I don't know how many of these we saw, but it was a great place to see them in the wild.

Waterfalls........Would have to be some of the most stunning you could see, and there is more than one!

Scenery.........Lovely

Peace & quiet, not hordes of Tourists, infact, there was only one other couple there!

And our accommodation was in a peaceful setting too, just outside the National Park.

Spahats Falls, is a beautiful 75 - 80 metre waterfall on Spahats Creek, located within the Wells Gray Provincial Park.

It is a two tiered waterfall that plunges into Spahats Creek Canyon.
This is an impressive waterfall and chasm walls are sheer basalt.
The canyon-rim viewpoint gives excellent views, and for the energetic, there is also a trail to the base of the falls, [which I didn't do] but it would be an entirely different view, and probably worth the walk.

It is a little hard to photograph the two tiers in one photo.

This is a beautiful waterfall!

Take the Yellowhead Highway to Clearwater. Turn onto Clearwater Road and drive for about 10 km to the signed parking area for Spahats Creek Provincial Park. The falls are a short hike down an easy trail to a well constructed viewpoint overlooking the magnificent canyon.

Helmcken Falls is a 141METRE waterfall on the Murtle River in the Wells Gray Provincial Park. It was because of this waterfall, that the development of Wells Gray Provincial Park came about.

Helmcken Falls is situated on volcanic rock, and is often known as the most powerful waterfall west of the Rocky Mountains.
5000 and 25000 cubic feet of water pass over the falls per second, plunging into a big ampitheatre. Now, that is a lot of water, no wonder they are impressive!

In the winter, a giant ice cone, at times over 200 feet high, builds at the base of the falls. I have seen photo's of this, wow! how I would like to see it for real!

These are easy ones to view. We just took the short walk from the car park to have a look at these stunning falls.
These are the 4th highest falls in Canada.

The Helmcken Falls Rim Trail is graded as "easy" and is a 8 km return walk. It leads from the Rim Trail parking lot just above the Murtle River on Clearwater Valley Road and follows the rim of the falls for quite a way. You should be close enough to hear the thunder of the falls.
In winter this trail is open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for those who wish to see the falls covered with a thick mantle of ice.

THE MUSHBOWL, I guess named this, because this is what they look like, wide & shallow [only 15ft deep & 75ft wide] the water rushes over the rocks and down a small pothole which is known as the Devil's Punchbowl. Plenty of froth & bubble here.
They are also located on the Murtle River.

Located in Wells Grey Provincial Park.
From the Yellowhead Highway in Clearwater, head along the Clearwater River Road, signed for Wells Grey Provincial Park, for 43 kilometers to the single lane bridge crossing the Murtle River over this waterfall.