Tag Archives: Wells Gray
Sylvia and Goodwin Falls
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Continue reading...Birch Bluffs Rim Trail
In June we traveled to Wells Gray Park to hike one of the lesser-known trails in the Hemp Creek Canyonlands. The trailhead for the Birch Bluffs Rim is the Moul Falls Trail parking area. We followed the main trail for 1.6 km, then turned onto a side trail which crosses Grouse Creek on a bridge. Grouse (Moul) Creek was rushing … Continue reading…
In the East Trophy Range
Trophy Mountain is the best hike in our area, so we plan at least one hike there each year. In 2019, we hiked into the Trophy Meadows in June and in July we did Trophy Mountain (Two) Summit. In some years, we have the long traverse over to Cwem Cwem Lake and over the upper rim in a long and … Continue reading…
Candle Creek to Clearwater River Trail
While camping in Clearwater, we did 3 days of hiking in the Clearwater River Valley and in the Trophy Range. For a half day hike we drove up the Clearwater Valley Road for 4.3 km to the Candle Creek Trailhead (Triple Decker Falls). We hiked down the trail to an eclectic turn-around spot and then back on the same trail … Continue reading…
Trophy Meadows in June
The snow clears off the Trophy Mountain meadows and the alpine ridges above by July, but we can hike into the open meadows in mid-June most years. The Trophy Mountain Road should be clear, although it may not be graded until mid-month. The first 2.3 km of the trail is in the forest so snow drifts often linger in … Continue reading…
Silvertip Falls
The trail to Silvertip Falls is off the Spahats Creek Road. Take the Trophy Mountain Road, but stay right at 4.3 km and continue on for another 2.5 km. Where the road crosses Silvertip Creek is the Silvertip Falls Recreation site (just before the bridge). A short, rough road then leads up to 2 primitive campsites and the hiking trail … Continue reading…
Through the Hemp Creek Canyonlands
There are a number of trails in the Hemp Creek Canyonlands, but most are done as a down and back hike. The most frequently hiked trail is the Moul Falls Trail on the south end of the Canyonlands. Other trails that see some hikers are the Flatiron Trail and the trail down to McDiarmid Falls. There are linking trails though, … Continue reading…
Trophy Mountain 2016
The hike to the top of Trophy Mountain is the premier route in our region. We started going up the mountain in 1976 and we have returned every year. The month for our hike varies, but we always go up through the meadows to Plateau of the Lakes and from there we vary the route – up to Long Hill, … Continue reading…
Natural Bridge to Triple Decker Falls
The Clearwater River Trail follows the river and lava flows all the way from the town of Clearwater up to the Canyon Creeks. Along the length of the trail area a number of access points that provide day hiking opportunities. We started at the trail to the Natural Bridge on the Wells Gray Corridor Road. There is no designated parking … Continue reading…
Murtle’s Rivers
Murtle Lake sits in a basin deep within Wells Gray Park. It is North American’s largest non-motorized lake and a destination for many paddlers. We launch out of the lagoon and spend a few days of paddling, camping, and enjoying the remote rugged scenery. The lake was created when a lava flow from the northwest dammed the Murtle River and … Continue reading…
Murtle River Trail
The Murtle River Trail follows the south bank of the Murtle River upstream to the Majerus Farm and beyond to Pyramid Bay. It is also part of a bigger loop that includes the cross-country ski loppet trail from Helmcken Falls Lodge, over McLeod Hill, down to the river, past Majerus Farm and then south to Blackwater Creek. For winter visitors, … Continue reading…
Caligata Lake
Caligata Lake Provincial Park is a remote area in the upper Spahats Creek Valley. The lake lies in a small cirque basin at the foot of one of the outlier peaks of Raft Mountain. To get to this park, drive up the Trophy Mountain Road for 4.2 km then stay right and follow the Spahats Creek Road for another 9.3km. … Continue reading…
A Guide to the West Arm of Murtle Lake
For 4 days in the fall we paddled the whole shoreline of the west arm of Murtle Lake. This was a return trip having done it twice before, but this time I was determined to follow the contours and go into every bay and creek mouth as far as the terrain would allow. On Day 1, we paddled over to … Continue reading…
Trophy Tarns
In June, the Trophy Meadows start to clear of snow and the first wildflowers are blooming. By the end of June we can usually hike onto the upper ridge to Plateau of the Lakes. In 2015, the snows melted early and the route to the summits was already open. When we hike to the Trophies, we can go to the … Continue reading…
Dawson Falls Trail
Wells Gray has a number of waterfalls for us to visit, explore, and photograph. Dawson Falls is most often viewed from a platform on the south shore of the Murtle River, but there is also a trail that goes right to the edge of the falls on the north side of the river. The trail starts at the Pyramid Campground. … Continue reading…