During September a few years ago, we traveled to Murtle Lake before smoky conditions in smothered the area and we decided to shorten our time there once the smoke moved in. On the second day we paddled the west end of the west arm of Murtle Lake. We launched from Birch Beach and paddled past Smoker Island. The wide bay …Continue reading…
The Clearwater River Road goes from Clearwater up the Clearwater River (west side) all the way to the Mahood River. It is a bumpy 38.5 km gravel road, but it provides access to a number of scenic locations and some trails and routes to hike. km 5.4* – Entrance into Wells Gray Park km 8.1 – Trail to the Kettle …Continue reading…
On a late fall day we hiked to Moul Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park. From the parking lot, we hiked 3.3 km through the forest and by the creek to the brink of the falls. Paperbark birch, trembling aspen, spruce, and douglas fir trees are found in a mixed forest along the route. A double track angles toward Grouse …Continue reading…
On a hike out to White Horse Bluff in late spring, we drove to the top of the Green Mountain Road and climbed up the viewing tower. On a clear day we had a good view of the Trophy Mountains to the southeast. We have climbed to one of the summits over 50 times. To the northeast Battle Mountain …Continue reading…
We camped at the end of the Clearwater Valley Road by Clearwater Lake and paddled the lake and hiked some trails, then, on the way back we hiked the North Dawson Falls Trail. A sign marks the trailhead not far from the Pyramid Trailhead. A loop route can be hiked, but on this occasion, we hiked in and back out …Continue reading…
To get to Murtle Lake, we have to drive to Blue River, then drive up into the mountains for 23 km. At the trailhead we have to load the kayaks onto carts and portage for 2.5 km. At the boat launch on Murtle Lagoon, we then paddle for 12 to 14 km to camp at a marine campsite. On this …Continue reading…
The Clearwater Lake Campgrounds are at the end of the Clearwater Valley road in Wells Gray Provincial Park. From the campground are several tails which go east and north. The trailhead for the Osprey Lookout starts right at the campground. The signed and well-maintained trail is also the trailhead for the Sticta Falls and Dragon’s Tongue, the Osprey Loop, …Continue reading…
From the Clearwater Lake campsites there are trailheads to several trails, including the Sticta Falls and Dragon’s Tongue Trails. In the morning we we hiked on the trail which goes through a cedar-hemlock forest. A junction is reached with the left fork going up to the Osprey Lookout and the Chain Meadows Trail and the right …Continue reading…
In mid-August we we watched the smoke conditions forecasts (firesmoke.ca) and spotted a clearer day in the Trophy Mountains, so with one day’s notice, we got an early start to drive to the trailhead at the end of the Trophy Mountain Road. Only one other vehicle was parked there and they were camping at Sheila Lake so we hiked the …Continue reading…
Every year in June, we hike a different trail in the Wells Gray Park corridor area. We have done them all more than once so we pick ones we haven’t done for a while. I had hiked White Horse Bluff twice before, but not for some years, so we looked forward to our hike this year. On our previous hike …Continue reading…
The trail from the Wells Gray Corridor Road to Bailey’s Chute and beyond to Marcus Falls, Myanth Falls, and back past West Lake is a fine km hike in the forest by the Clearwater River. We hiked the 5.3 km loop route in June when the river was at its fullest. There is a viewing platform at Bailey’s Chute which …Continue reading…
Back in 1979 I did a solo backpack to Battle Mountain. I took some photos with a cheap disposable camera, but lost the photos over the last 40 years. Recently I purchased a device to scan old negatives and found a few images. I did the backpack again in 2019 (link to the article). In 1979, I parked at the …Continue reading…