Road Trip – Wells Gray Provincial Park
Exciting Adventures near Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada
Here are five unique highlights from our recent #ehroadtrip to Wells Gray Park in BC
Journey to Wells Gray Provincial Park – Not long ago, we managed to take a break from our busy work lives and embrace the spirit of adventure. Before heading to Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada, where we would immerse ourselves in the wilderness, we first went on a Vancouver Island Road Trip to reconnect with family and enjoy beach camping along the breathtaking Pacific Ocean.
ehCanadaTravel.com Waterfall Video
Road Trip to Wells Gray Provincial Park
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably heard about the devastating forest fires in 2021. So, you can imagine our delight when the rain began to fall on our first day in Wells Gray Provincial Park. The rain turned a previously dreary landscape into a scene of bliss. With smoky skies replaced by vibrant blue, the once choking smoke dispersed, allowing the fresh forest scents to return. The hazy horizons cleared to reveal the stunning BC mountain ranges. It felt like a postcard of British Columbia brought to life.
Moul Waterfall (Highlight #1)
The Moul Falls Trail in Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of the park’s most popular waterfalls. Other stunning waterfalls include Helmcken, Dawson, Spahats, and the unique Triple Decker Falls. For now, let’s focus on the beloved Moul Falls. This roundtrip hiking trail stretches for 5.5 kilometers and is well-trafficked, making it a moderately easy trek for most adventurers. The path begins along a decommissioned gravel road, which connects to a single-track trail leading to a canyon viewpoint after 1 kilometer. From there, you continue left along the cliffside until you descend about 40 steps into the canyon to reach the Moul Waterfall.
Experience the Falls Up Close
Moul Falls is truly breathtaking and surprisingly accessible, allowing many to appreciate its natural beauty. One of the most exciting aspects of this waterfall experience is that you can walk behind the falls. If you bring your swim trunks, you can even take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool. Just be cautious, as the mist makes the trail slippery. The canyon also offers lovely spots for a picnic, perfect for extending your adventure.
A Black Bear Encounter (Highlight #2)
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
Black Bear Sighting
Colin and I are known for choosing the road less traveled, as it often leads to exciting new experiences. On our way back from Moul Falls, we decided to check out a footbridge and take a short 1-kilometer hike to McDiarmid Falls. Instead of rejoining the main trail, we followed a lesser-used path along the Clearwater River. Suddenly, a black bear emerged from the bushes, just 10 meters away. We froze in place. Colin started taking photos while I raised my arms to appear larger. It was a mesmerizing moment in nature.
Golf ‘Till You Drop (Highlight #3)
As avid golfers (or should I say enthusiastic hackers), we appreciate the exercise that comes with walking the golf course. With our Maple Leaf Bomber RV, we’ve developed a fondness for RV and golf campgrounds. It’s a fantastic lifestyle, allowing us to hit hiking trails in the morning (when crowds are smaller) and finish our day with 18 holes of golf. On average, we covered about 10 kilometers a day!
Campground Golf Courses – RV Friendly
That’s why we were thrilled to book a site at the Wells Gray Golf & RV Resort. We enjoyed playing 54 holes, losing over 20 golf balls, and occasionally shouting “fore!” Our scorecards were full of bogeys, a few pars, and some birdies. I think I finally got the hang of my 3 wood! Oh, and we were fortunate to play hole 7 with a Cinnamon Black Bear watching us from the fairway. Hats off to the new owners, who were wonderfully friendly and welcoming hosts.
Community Connections in Wells Gray Park (Highlight #4)
We believe that it’s the people who make a place special. Whether at accommodations or attractions, a friendly host can enhance any vacation. The interactions you have contribute to a destination’s overall reputation. During our journey, we met many wonderful individuals, especially our hosts at the campground. The best part was our trip to Clearwater Lake, where we stumbled upon a coffee shop owned by Ray Jones from Clearwater Lake Tours. We enjoyed coffee while discussing kayaking, tourism, boating, camping, wildlife, and life in general. In the distance, we spotted a fly fisherman standing on a sandbar in the lake, much to Colin’s envy.
Unexpected Challenges and Laughs (Highlight #5)
For those who enjoy road tripping, it’s no shock that not everything goes as planned. As enthusiastic explorers, we know that panic and negativity won’t help any situation. Colin, my brother, and I have come to embrace the inconveniences, mishaps, and surprises that come with any adventure. Interestingly, many of our blunders have turned into the best campfire stories. They might have been frustrating at the time, but looking back, they were entertaining.
This journey to Wells Gray Provincial Park was no exception. As we rolled into Clearwater, BC, our first stop was, as usual, a coffee shop. However, our trusty jeep seemed unhappy about this, as it started leaking radiator fluid. Yes, our jeep developed a small radiator leak, and to make matters worse, our tow lights for the jeep stopped working. Did the jeep spill on the connection out of protest? Quite the headache!
Parking Lot Chronicles
We were the early birds that day, which meant the only auto parts store wasn’t open yet. The large parking lot across from the store beckoned us, so we parked the Maple Leaf Bomber and began evaluating the situation. I should mention, Colin took the reins here; I’m not exactly a car expert. Our hope was to plug the leak instead of replacing the entire radiator, while also fixing the broken tow light connectors. Thankfully, this part of our adventure turned out well, and we were back on the road to the park in no time.
Conclusion – Road Trip to Wells Gray Provincial Park
Adventures Await Near Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada
Written by: Greg Girard
Greg Girard is a Co-Founder of ehCanadaTravel.com, an award-winning adventure and travel website and blog. He is also a co-founder of the EH? Tourism Marketing Group and the host of the popular EH? Travel Talk Show. As a highly regarded Canadian and global travel blogger, Greg enjoys public speaking and collaborating with numerous small and rural communities across Canada.
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