Helmcken Falls / Wells Gray Provincial Park

From the end of the Mush Bowls road a path leads to the marvelously spectacular Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park. The hike to Helmcken Falls is called the Helmcken Brink Trail and is approximately 8 km (5 mi.) long.

The many volcanic features found in Wells Gray Park (e.g. cooled lava beds, volcanic cones and craters - the youngest between 4000 and 400 years old) point to almost continuous volcanic activity during the last 500,000 years. About 7000 to 8000 years ago, a 15 km (9 mi.) long lava flow issuing from the now inactive volcanic cone east of Ray Lake blocked the valley of the Clearwater River and led to the creation of the present Clearwater Lake. Wells Gray Park can also be entered by a road branching off Hwy. 5 just north of Blue River (altitude 680 m (2231 ft); population 1000), about 100 km (62 mi.) north of Clearwater.

This south-eastern section of the Park, which includes the Murtle Lake, is a Nature Conservancy Area enjoying total protection. Vehicles must be left at the entrance (24 km (15 mi.) down the gravel access road) from where a 21/2 km (11/2 mi.) footpath leads to a bay on the lake - considered one of the loveliest in the whole of Canada. For the experienced canoeist this is the start of some superb canoe routes.

Access to the western part of Wells Gray Provincial Park is by way of an 88 km (55 mi.) long approach road. The 35 km (22 mi.) long Canim Lake, charmingly situated in the mountains, and Mahood Lake - which is 19 km (12 mi.) long, with a camp site at its western end, and forms part of the provincial park - are very popular with canoeing enthusiasts.

Mahood and Canim River Falls, together with Deception Falls, are favorites with walkers.