This past summer I set off on a three week roadtrip/hiking expedition through British Columbia and Alberta. While the first “big” destination was Mount Robson Provincial Park (to hike the Berg Lake trail) I knew we needed to make a side-trip to Wells Gray Provincial Park. Located in Clearwater, BC, Wells Gray boasts an abundance of options when it comes to hiking, camping, canoeing, and just about any other outdoor activity you can think of.
We only had one day to spend in the park and it was a tough choice deciding how to spend it. Knowing Wells Gray has such an abundance of unique and easily accessible waterfalls I figured it would be fun to try and see as many as we could. A few weeks before our trip I reserved a campsite at the Clearwater Lake Campground and began looking up all of our possible destinations. Upon arrival in Clearwater, we dropped into the visitor centre to chat with some of the park staff. They provided us with a map and went over some “must sees” along Clearwater Valley Road into the park (one of which turned out to be our favourite stop)!
1. Spahats Creek Falls
Our first stop was Spahats Creek falls, about 11km up the road into Wells Gray Park. From the parking lot it is a short 2 minute walk to the main viewpoint for the falls. Spahats Falls is a tall, narrow waterfall plummeting into a wide gorge below. While the waterfall itself is quite captivating, the surrounding cliffside caught my attention. A history of volcanic activity has shaped much of the canyon landscape in this park. Information placards scattered throughout various locations provide insight into the parks intriguing past.
2. Moul Falls
After leaving Spahats Falls we headed to our next destination: Moul Falls. This waterfall takes a little bit more effort to reach, however it is entirely worth it! Moul Falls was hands down the highlight of our time in Wells Gray. It is about a 5.5km hike from the parking lot to the falls. However, the terrain is fairly level and it’s definitely more of a leisurely walk than a gruelling hike. It took just over an hour or so round-trip.
After following a rocky service road for a few kilometers the trail veers left and narrows into a winding forest. From here it is roughly another kilometer to the viewing deck at the top of the Moul Falls. At first glance it seems that this is the best vantage point, however just past the viewing deck there is another trail which descends below the falls. If you aren’t scared to get a little wet, you can follow this path underneath and around to the opposite side of the waterfall! This was hands down the coolest thing ever and I had a permanent smile on my face the rest of the day. All we could talk about the whole hike back, and even to this day, was how breathtaking Moul Falls was.
3. Dawson Falls
Next on the list, and last for the evening, was Dawson Falls. Like most of the waterfalls we visited, a short walk will take you out to the viewing area. This is one of the widest waterfalls in the park and it was very unique to watch the water cascade down the step-like rocks. The viewing area offers a decent vantage point, however just off to the side there is another trail which runs down to the river below. The rocks along the river are slippery but allow unobstructed views of Dawson Falls.
I noticed there is also a viewing area on the North end of the falls, which appears to be reached via a side road along the way to Pyramid campsite, though we did not explore this portion.
After knocking off three waterfalls it was getting late and time to head to our campsite for the evening. There are a few camping options scattered along Clearwater Valley Road, the furthest of which being Clearwater Lake campground. As the name suggests, this site sits at the very end of the road next to Clearwater Lake. Here, we spent the evening relaxing and gushing about our experience at Moul Falls (can you tell this was a highlight of the trip).
The next morning we took our coffees for a short walk to the lake and explored camp in the daylight. With two more waterfalls on the agenda and a 3 1/2 hour drive to Mount Robson we didn’t have much time to waste. After packing up camp we set out to the first of two stops before leaving Wells Gray.
4. Bailey’s Chute
Approximately a 10 minute drive back down Clearwater Valley Road from Clearwater Lake campsite is Bailey’s Chute. Once parked, cross the road and begin a short 5 minute walk to the viewing deck area. Those interested can continue past the Bailey’s Chute viewing deck along West Lake Loop Trail, to reach two more waterfalls (Marucus & Myanth Falls). Unfortunately, we were pressed for time and were only able to do the short 1km round-trip to Bailey’s Chute.
While the size of Bailey’s Chute is nothing extraordinary, the sheer power of it caught my attention. The Clearwater river roars through this narrow rock opening with intimidating speed and determination. Like many stops in Wells Gray there are a handful of interesting information plaques along the viewing deck where you can read about the history of the area. It was cool to learn how the chute was formed while standing right next to it.
5. Helmcken Falls
Our final stop was at the most famous waterfall in Wells Gray, and possibly even in BC, Helmcken Falls. There are two different options to view this magnificent waterfall. The first (and easiest) involves a short walk from the Helmcken Falls parking lot to a large viewing platform looking out over the falls from afar. This is a very family friendly option and allows a safe view of the spectacular waterfall.
The second option consists of an 8km hike, winding along the Murtle River and exiting next to the waterfall on the opposite side. The Rim Trail, as it is referred to, starts from a different parking lot further down Clearwater Valley Road (next to Dawson Falls). While there is very little elevation along the way and the trail consists of very simple terrain, there are no fences/railings as you emerge alongside Helmcken Falls so exercise caution!
I personally think it is well worth the quick hike out to the far end of the falls as the unobstructed views are out of this world. It’s not hard to see why this waterfall has gained so much popularity. I promise it is even more stunning up close and personal.
Fair warning: you won’t have much of a view unless you get pretty close to the edge of the cliff, so keep this in mind if you’re scared of heights (my heart was racing). We spent a good half an hour exploring the area before heading back to our car and were the only two people there the entire time.
Our last stop didn’t disappoint and really left me wanting more. As mentioned before, we had to keep our visit to Wells Gray short due to travel plans but this park is well worth a multi-day stay. Whether you’re planning a hiking adventure or a fun family trip, there are endless things to see and do! I wish we could have stayed longer and without a doubt will be back one day soon.
Wander With Katie 