Wells Gray Park

About this Park

Location notes

Activities

• 24:Hiking Day-hiking is a popular activity in Wells Gray Park. Always check the trail conditions report under visitor guidelines before heading out. For detailed trail maps, see maps and location. Look below for information on day-hikes in these areas of the park.Clearwater/Azure MarineCorridorMahood LakeSpahats CreekFor information on wilderness hikes in this park, see the Wells Gray Park: Backcountry areas page.Clearwater/Azure MarineThere are several trailheads along the shorelines of the Clearwater/Azure Marine area. These trails lead to some of the park’s lesser-known waterfalls and viewpoints.One of the trails leads to Rainbow Falls, which is at the east end of Azure Lake. Another, which starts at Divers Bluff Campground on Clearwater Lake, takes you to Eagle Viewpoint.CorridorThe longer hikes available in the Corridor area start from Clearwater Lake and the Pyramid Campground. There are also many short hikes available in various parts of the Well Gray Corridor. Shorter hikes are in the following areasAlice LakeBailey’s ChuteBattle MountainCanyonlandsChain MeadowsClearwater LakeshoreDragon’s TongueFlatironGatling GorgeGreen MountainHorseshoeMajerus FarmMoul FallsOsprey LookoutPlacid LakeRay FarmSouth RimTrophy MeadowsWest LakeWhitehorse BluffsMahood LakeThere are short, easy trails to Mahood, Canim, and Deception falls. Canim, Mahood, and Deception are all less than a 30-minute walk from the road. They provide excellent examples of Wells Gray’s spectacular waterfalls.The Canim River Trail is also a 30-minute walk. It runs from behind the service yard, past some old cabins. For the energetic, Whale Lake offers good fishing at the end of a 4 km hiking trail (a roughly 90-minute walk).Spahats CreekThere is an easy walk from Spahats parking lot to Shaden lookout. This has views of Spahats Falls and the Clearwater River valley. There is also an interpretative loop trail near Spahats Falls parking lot.
• 24:Swimming You will find many swimming opportunities along Mahood Lake and Murtle Lake. The opportunities for swimming in the Clearwater/Azure Marine and Corridor areas are more limited and should be approached with caution. Before visiting, see the practice water safety section of our marine visitor guide.Mahood LakeThe shore of Mahood Lake offers the best swimming opportunities in Wells Gray Park. It has 220 m of suitable areas, including beaches.Murtle LakeKnown for its beautiful sandy beaches, Murtle Lake has some ideal swimming spots. The shallow waters in the lake’s west arm are particularly suitable.Clearwater/Azure Marine and CorridorLakes and rivers in these areas offer swimming opportunities. However, most of the bodies of water here are glacier-fed, so they are very cold year-round.Swimming in the Clearwater River can be dangerous, especially near rapids. Pick your spots carefully, staying as far from rapids as possible.
• 24:Canoeing Canoeing enthusiasts will find opportunities in the Clearwater/Azure Marine, Mahood Lake, and Murtle Lake areas of Wells Gray Park.Clearwater/Azure MarinePrivate companies offer guided canoeing trips in the Clearwater/Azure Marine area. Visit wellsgray.ca for more information. When heading for the Azure area, you must complete a strenuous upstream paddle to use a 0.5 km portage.Mahood LakeWhile Mahood Lake is more known for powerboating, it does also offer canoeing opportunities. Stronger paddlers can even canoe to the lake’s three marine-accessible camping areas.Murtle LakeMurtle Lake is one of Wells Gray’s Park’s best spots for canoeing. Motorboats and other watercraft are not allowed on the lake. Only canoes and kayaks are allowed here.
• 24:Kayaking Clearwater/Azure Marine and CorridorHighly proficient kayakers are attracted to Wells Gray Park by the Clearwater River’s challenging whitewater areas.The whitewater includes class V sections, which are impassible to all but the most skilled kayakers.Clearwater and Azure lakes are great for kayaking. However, you must take a half-kilometre portage to reach Azure Lake.Mahood LakeWhile Mahood Lake is more known for powerboating, it does also offer kayaking opportunities. Stronger paddlers can even kayak to the lake’s three marine-accessible camping areas.Murtle LakeMurtle Lake is one of Wells Gray’s Park’s best spots for kayaking. Motorboats and other watercraft are not allowed on the lake. Only canoes and kayaks are allowed here.
• 24:Fishing Fishing opportunities are available at the Clearwater/Azure Marine and Mahood Lake areas of Wells Gray Park. For information on where to launch, see the boat launch section. For maps with boat launch locations, see maps and location. Clearwater River and Azure Lake do not have boat launches.Clearwater/Azure MarineRainbow trout can be caught throughout this area. Popular spots include the ends of both lakes, as well as Barella Creek and Angus Horne Creek.Mahood LakeRainbow trout, lake trout, kokanee, whitefish, and burbot can all be caught in Mahood Lake.
• 24:Interpretive programs Find fun summer outdoor learning experiences, with Discover Parks Ambassadors at Wells Gray Park. These experiences include evening events at campgrounds and interpretive walks.The activities program runs from June until the end of August. For specific dates, along with information on many more seasonal and year-round activities, please visit the Discover Parks website.
• 24:Wildlife viewing With a large variety of habitats and ecosystems, Wells Gray Park provides exceptional wildlife viewing and bird watching opportunities.You may see black bears in the spring, Chinook salmon during the autumn, and wolves and moose in winter.For more information on the wildlife of Wells Gray Park, please see the wildlife section. For information on how to stay safe, visit our wildlife safety page.
• 24:Pets on leash Dogs and other pets are welcome in Wells Gray Park, but they must be kept under control. You must always be in control of your pets and dispose of their waste in the bins provided.Pets must be leashed in frontcountry areas of the park. ‘Frontcountry’ means anywhere within 1 km of a highway or park road. Pets are not allowed in beach areas or most park buildings.In the backcountry (anywhere more than 1 km from a highway or park road), dogs may be off leash. You may encounter bears, horses, and other dangerous animals that could harm your pet in the backcountry.
• 24:Cycling Cycling is allowed only on roads and designated trails in Wells Gray Park. There are specific trails for mountain bikers in the Corridor area. For details, please contact the Visitor Info Centre.Bike helmets are mandatory everywhere in British Columbia. For information on using a bicycle with an electric-assist motor, please see the e-biking section, directly below.
• 24:E-Biking Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are allowed on signed or designated trails. They must conform to the e-bike rules and classifications outlined on the cycling page. The only exception to this policy is for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work for BC Parks.
• 24:Horseback riding Horseback riding is allowed on designated trails in many areas of Wells Gray Park. Each designated trail is marked by a sign at the trailhead. Horseback tours are available throughout the park (see commercial riding tours, below).You need a letter of authorization to ride a horse in certain parts of the park. Areas that require a letter of authorization include Battle Mountain, Table Mountain, and Pyramid Trail to upper Murtle River.To see if you need a letter authorization, call our regional office at 1-250-371-6200. If you do need to apply for a letter of authorization, you must then contact the area supervisor. There is no fee.In areas of the park where private companies offer horseback tours, you do not need a letter of authorization. You can also use the Green Mountain trail system in the Corridor area for horseback riding without specific authorization.Check the trail conditions report in the visitor guidelines section before horseback riding in this park.Commercial riding toursInformation on commercial horseback riding tours is available from the Visitor Info Centre.
• 24:Hunting Hunting is allowed in Wells Gray Park if conducted according to provincial regulations. Please consult the current hunting and trapping regulations synopsis for detailed information.
• 24:Winter recreation Wells Gray Park offers some sightseeing opportunities during the winter months. Winter sightseeing is available at Helmcken Falls and Dawson Falls, but parking is limited in these areas.There are also backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing opportunities in this park during the winter. The cross-country skiing areas are no longer groomed, so the terrain is not always ideal.The Trophy Mountain area has been popular with backcountry skiers in past seasons. Majerus Farm, King Hut, and Stillwater Road have been popular areas for cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing is popular in the Corridor area.If you plan to go backcountry skiing in Wells Gray Park, be prepared to travel in avalanche country. Before heading out, ensure you have all the necessary skills and equipment, and check the Avalanche Canada forecast.Riding a snowmobile is not allowed in Wells Gray Park unless you have a special exception from a park official.

Facilities

• 24:Accessibility information Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:Clearwater CorridorClearwater LakeFalls CreekMahood LakePyramidSpahats CreekVisitor Centre
• 24:Boat launch A boat launch is available for visitors to the Clearwater/Azure Marine area. It is at the end of Wells Gray Park Road, near the southern end of Clearwater Lake.A second boat launch is available in the Mahood Lake area, next to the frontcountry campground.If you are parking overnight at this boat launch, please let the park operator know when you plan to return.For park operator details, see the contact section. For a map of boat launch locations, see maps and location.
• 24:Campfires Campfires are allowed only in the fire rings provided at frontcountry campsites. We encourage you to protect the environment by minimizing campfires and bringing a camping stove for cooking.Do not gather firewood from anywhere in the park. This is an offence under the Park Act. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals. It also adds valuable organic matter to the soil.If you bring your own firewood, buy it locally or in the park. Wood from other areas can spread invasive species. Please contact the park operator for information about buying firewood.
• 24:Drinking water Cold-water taps are available in some areas of Wells Gray Park. Specifically, taps are available at Spahats Creek day-use area and the Clearwater Lake/Falls Creek and Pyramid campgrounds.Taps are not provided in the Corridor and Mahood Lake day-use areas. Drinking water is not provided anywhere in the Clearwater/Azure Marine, Mahood Lake, and Murtle Lake Marine areas.Mahood Lake Campground has a permanent boil water advisory. Also, always boil or otherwise purify lake or creek water from anywhere in the park before using it for anything.
• 24:Picnic areas There are picnic areas throughout Wells Gray Park. Day-use visitors can use picnic areas in the Clearwater/Azure Marine, Corridor, and Mahood Lake, and Spahats Creek areas.Clearwater/Azure MarineDay-use picnickers can use the marine campsites closest to the boat launch when these are not occupied by campers.CorridorThere are 10 day-use areas in the Corridor area, with several picnic tables at each. Campfires are not allowed in these picnic areas.   Mahood LakeThere is parking for approximately 40 vehicles in the Mahood Lake day-use area. Campfires are not allowed in the day-use area, and water is not provided.Spahats CreekThere is parking for approximately 40 vehicles in the day-use area at the Clearwater Valley viewpoint.
• 24:Pit or flush toilets Spahats day-use area has flush toilets. The rest of the park has pit toilets only.
• 24:Playground Mahood Lake has an excellent adventure playground ideal for small children. This area also has a horseshoe pit next to the campground and a large, grassy playing field for ball games.
• 24:Sani-station A sani-station is available when campgrounds are operating. The sani-station is in the Corridor area, between Falls Creek and Clearwater Lake campgrounds.Fees (per use)Sani-station$5

Location

52.19789, -120.09016 · Thompson Northern Forests

Open in Google Maps

Photos