Access
Clearwater Valley Road (commonly called Wells Gray Park Road) starts at the Yellowhead Highway in Clearwater and extends north along the east side of the Clearwater Valley for 68 km (42 mi) to Clearwater Lake. Almost all Wells Gray Park's tourists drive this road as the major attractions such as Spahats Falls, Trophy Mountain, Helmcken Falls and Clearwater Lake are reached by this route. However, during the first 49 km (30 mi) this road is either high above the Clearwater River or at least 4 km (2.5 mi) east of it, so river access is only by hiking trails. This road is paved to Helmcken Falls, then gravel in good condition for the remaining distance to Clearwater Lake.
Trails to the river from Clearwater Valley Road (distances from Yellowhead Highway)
- km 8.6 - Natural Bridge
- km 10.2 - Bottom of Spahats Falls
- km 13.2 - First Canyon
- km 16.7 - Canyon Creeks
- The above 4 trails all connect with the Clearwater River Trail which follows the east side of the river.
- km 20.5 - Moul Falls (trail continues to the river through private property and permission should be obtained from Wells Gray Tours)
- km 29.2 - Flatiron and Hemp Canyonlands
- km 35.9 - Green Mountain and White Horse Bluff
- km 42.2 - Helmcken Falls side road, then trail to Gattling Gorge or scrambling route into Helmcken Canyon
- km 52.0 - The Horseshoe
- km 56.6 - Bailey's Chute, Marcus Falls and Myanth Falls
- km 63.6 - Norman's Eddy
Clearwater River Road starts in Clearwater and extends north along the west bank of the Clearwater River for 38 km (23.6 mi) to the confluence with the Mahood River. This road is seldom out of sight of the Clearwater River and can even be closed in May or June due to high water. This road is usually maintained by its users and is rough and slow. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. The Kettle, a major rapid, is reached by an unsigned trail at km 8.0. Sabre Tooth Rapids are below the road at km 21.1. Another unsigned trail starts at km 32.6 and leads to a beach on the river with White Horse Bluff opposite. At the end of the road, a trail leads to Sylvia Falls, 3.5 km up the Mahood River.
Read more about this topic: Clearwater River (British Columbia)
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