Do you like waterfalls? Make sure to visit Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada! Check this post for the best falls and practical tips.
About Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park is a true paradise for nature lovers and a must-see when you’re on a road trip in West Canada. This park is best known for its impressive amount of waterfalls. Wells Gray is undoubtedly Canada’s waterfall paradise with no less than 42 named waterfalls and countless smaller cascades.
In addition, the park has beautiful elongated lakes, endless forests (including rainforest) and canyons. So a beautiful natural area!
The park is located in the Canadian province of British Columbia, west of Jasper and Valemount and north of Kamloops. The park has three entrances. On the east side, you can drive from the village of Blue River to Murtle Lake, and on the west side (100 Mile House) on the Cariboo Highway to Mahood Lake. The main entrance to the park, however, is the southern entrance at Clearwater. In fact, from here you can see all the famous waterfalls in the park.
I myself stayed two nights on the south side of Wells Gray Provincial Park and in this blog post, I’ll tell you more about this incredible park. I share practical tips as well as an overview of the most beautiful waterfalls and fun hiking trails. Enjoy!
Practical info for your visit to Wells Gray
Let’s start with some practical tips so you can prepare for your visit to Wells Gray National Park.
Opening hours
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Visitor information
The visitor center is in Clearwater and is open daily from May to October. Going here before entering the park is highly recommended.
At the visitor center, you can get detailed maps of the park and a convenient overview of all hiking trails. In addition, the rangers also provide up-to-date information on, for example, closed viewpoints or hiking trails.
Cost
Wells Gray Provincial Park is free to visit.
Access road
From Clearwater, it is a 65-kilometer drive to Clearwater Lake. Most of the route is an asphalt road (up to Helmcken Falls), but the last part (about 20 kilometers) to Clearwater Lake is unpaved. I myself have driven this road several times and if you take it easy, it is a good drive.
But keep this in mind, because car rental companies are usually not big fans of you driving a rental car on a dirt road.
Best travel time
The park is open year-round but the best time to visit is from June to September. I visited Wells Gray in late June and the weather was ok. It was not crazy hot and there were a few showers, but overall it was good. Make sure to bring bug spray as mosquitos love it here.
You can also visit the park in winter for a fairytale-like experience with frozen waterfalls, but sometimes roads and trails are closed due to snow. In winter, you can go on a snowshoe walk or cross-country ski.
The most beautiful waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray is known for its spectacular waterfalls, which is probably why you want to visit this park. These are some of the most beautiful waterfalls that you should not miss.
Helmcken Falls
At 141 meters high, this is the fourth-highest waterfall in Canada. Helmcken Falls is the best known and most visited waterfall in the park and understandably so; the view of this powerful waterfall is nothing short of spectacular. For me personally, it felt a bit like a fairytale, it’s just hard to describe how gorgeous it is. The water falls into a kind of bowl and sometimes a rainbow can be seen.
Dawson Falls
Just before Helmcken Falls, you will find another large waterfall in the Murtle River, but this one really looks quite different. Although the waterfall is not nearly as high (“only” 18 meters), it is especially striking because it is a whopping 107 meters wide. This waterfall is especially impressive in the spring when the snow melts and the water flows even harder through the river.
Spahats Creek Falls
Driving into the park from Clearwater, Spahats Creek Falls are the first waterfalls you see. It is a short hike to the viewpoint and from here you have a beautiful view of the 75-foot-high waterfall that flows into a deep gorge. It’s absolutely gorgeous and definitely one of my favorite waterfalls in the park.
Moul Falls
There are some waterfalls that require a little more effort than others if you want to see them. To get to Moul Falls, you have to walk almost an hour. But it’s worth it and the hike is not that hard.
This 35 meter high waterfall comes down with a lot of force and this is the only one where you can walk behind (not always, so be careful). I myself watched the waterfall from a distance because you can get very wet here and the stones are very slippery. But it was still a very impressive sight!
Bailey’s Chute
A short hike takes you to Bailey’s Chute, and this one is also worth seeing. It is not a waterfall like you think it should look like, but more like a hefty rapids in the river. The water here churns around with a lot of force and that’s very interesting to see (and almost impossible to photograph, in real life it makes much more of an impression).
Sticta Falls
This is the hidden gem of the waterfalls in Wells Gray as far as I’m concerned; it’s hardly mentioned anywhere, nor is it on Google Maps. You get there by following the Chain Meadows Trail. The starting point is between the Falls Creek and Clearwater Lake campgrounds. Here you will automatically come across a sign toward Dragon’s Tongue and then before the bridge, you will see the trail to Sticta Falls.
It is a fairly short hike (less than a kilometer), but the last part to the waterfall is quite slippery and steep. But be careful and when you get there you’ll find yourself in a beautiful place surrounded by big rocks, moss, old trees, and a waterfall clattering down through a canyon. Enchantingly beautiful!
If you want to check out more waterfalls, make sure to go to the visitor centre before entering the park and get the map showing all major waterfalls and parking areas.
The best hikes in Wells Gray Provincial Park
The best way to explore Wells Gray’s waterfalls and wildlife is through its many hiking trails. There are hikes for every skill level, from short and easy to a waterfall to challenging multi-day treks to remote campgrounds.
Since I had a full day in the park, I was able to walk several trails. Here are a few recommendations:
- Spahats Viewpoint to Shaden Viewpoint: You can drive from one viewpoint to another, but it is only 1 kilometer and goes through a beautiful forest. At the viewpoint, you have a nice view of the canyon created by the Clearwater River.
- Moul Falls Trail: As I mentioned, you can only reach Moul Falls by walking a short trail of 3 kilometers (one way). This is an easy hike; it is almost flat. Only at the waterfall itself do you have to descend some stairs.
- West Lake Loop: According to the rangers, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the park and I found it very beautiful indeed! It starts at Baileys Chute and you hike through a rainforest along the fast-flowing river. In between you spot another waterfall and a beautiful mountain lake. The round trip totals 6.6 kilometers and is easy to follow with little elevation change.
- Chain Meadows/Easter Bluff Trail: This hike starts at the Clearwater Lake Campground and takes you to several viewpoints. There is a substantial climb in it, which is why the hike is qualified as moderate. I myself did about half of the hike, up to Osprey Lookout. That already gives you a nice view of the park.
- Trophy Mountain Meadows: I unfortunately did not do this hike myself, but heard very good things about it. This hike is especially beautiful in the (early) summer when the meadow is dotted with colorful flowers. The trail is 5 kilometers one way and qualified as easy.
Most of the hiking trails have no other branches and are therefore easy to follow. If there is a fork, it is clearly marked which way to go.
Other activities in Wells Gray Provincial Park
Besides hiking and waterfall spotting, there are other fun things to do in Wells Gray National Park:
- Wildlife spotting: The park has rich wildlife. With some luck, you will spot moose, deer, bears, or even wolves. Be mindful of the animals, though. Don’t drive too fast and always keep your distance when you see them.
- Rafting and canoeing: For the adventurous, there are opportunities to raft on the Clearwater River or canoe on the lakes in the park. Among other things, you can rent canoes at the Osprey Café behind the Clearwater Lake Campground.
- Fishing: Wells Gray has excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout and salmon, among others. Don’t forget your fishing license!
- Mountain biking: In addition to hiking trails, the park has several mountain bike trails. You can get a map at the visitor center.
Where to stay
If you want to see the beautiful waterfalls and do some activities in the park, it is convenient to stay one or more nights near the park. I myself stayed in the park for two nights, which I thought was perfect. These are some great places to stay in and near the park:
- Falls Creek Campground/Clearwater Lake Campground: These two campgrounds are next to each other at the end of the road from Clearwater, in the middle of the park. I myself slept at the first one. They are quite primitive, but the sites are spacious and you have lots of privacy. There are pit toilets and water taps. Clearwater Campground even has a shower, but I didn’t test it myself. The advantage of these campgrounds is that you can reserve sites in advance.
- Wolfwood Guest Ranch (4⭐): Sleeping in nature on a real ranch? Then this is a great place to stay. The cottages are tastefully decorated and there is a large garden.
- Blue Grouse Country Inn B&B (4⭐): This B&B is in a beautiful location in the park, not far from Moul Falls. Sometimes you can see deer and bears walking through the garden.
You won’t find big hotel chains in Clearwater, but mostly cozy B&Bs and ranches. Check out Booking.com for more options, availability, and prices. On the Wells Gray website, you will find a list of all the campgrounds in the park, which ones you can reserve, and which are first come first serve.
Book a trip to Western Canada
These were all my tips for visiting Wells Gray Provincial Park. This beautiful place is a nice stop during a road trip in Canada, you can combine it well with Mount Robson Provincial Park and Jasper National Park, among others. Would you like to explore the beautiful nature in Canada? Use the websites below to book an unforgettable trip!
in Western Canada. Want to visit the Canadian Rockies? Use the websites below to book an unforgettable trip!
✈️ Plane tickets – To visit the amazing parks in British Columbia and Alberta, it’s easiest to fly to Vancouver, Calgary, or Edmonton. Check WayAway to find the best deals and cashback on plane tickets.
🚘 Rental car & RV – It is very difficult to explore this part of Canada without a car or RV. Check Rental Cars to find the best deals and RV Share for RVs.
📱E-sim – While traveling in Canada, I use an e-sim from Airalo to stay connected. It was very useful for navigation, but also easy to keep family and friends updated on my adventures.
💊 Having good travel insurance will give you peace of mind. Check Insubuy to find the best travel insurance that fits your needs.
🐻 Tours and activities – There are plenty of fun tours and activities to do in Canada. From historical tours of cities to boat rides among orcas and whales. Check out Get Your Guide for options.
Read more about Canada
Looking for more information for a Canada road trip? Get one of these travel guides for more tips and inspiration.
Lonely Planet British Columbia & the Canadian Rockies
Fodor’s Canadian Rockies: with Calgary, Banff, and Jasper National Parks
In addition, you can also read more about a trip to Canada on this website. Read these articles as well:
- The best tips & things to do in Banff National Park
- 20 fun things to do in Vancouver in the summer
- Visiting Yoho National Park: tips the best things to do
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