6-Day North Thompson Outdoor Adventure Tour in Wells Gray Provincial Park and Blue River

Summary
Itinerary
What's Included
Accommodations

6-Day North Thompson Outdoor Adventure Tour in Wells Gray Provincial Park and Blue River

This area of British Columbia is famous for its wide open spaces, towering peaks, amazing wildlife and Wells Gray Park, one of the gems of the provincial park system. Known as the "waterfall park", your experiences in and around the park will offer outdoor adventure, clean air, blue skies and few people!

You'll be immersed in the staggering beauty in a part of British Columbia that remains virtually untouched. Raging rivers, craggy peaks, ice fields, lava fields, isolated lakes and over 40 waterfalls make this a trip you won't want to miss. One of the magical spots on this tour is Wells Gray Park and at 540,000 hectares or close to 1.9 million acres of land, is known as one of the finest wilderness parks in North America. Wells Gray also features spectacular Helmcken Falls and at 142 metres, is the fourth highest in Canada. Need we say more?

Day 1

  • You start your day with an early departure from Vancouver on Highway #1. Your journey will see you pass through the fertile fields of the Fraser River valley delta and further inland to a lunch stop at Hell’s Gate Airtram (www.hellsgateairtram.com).
  • Some say Hell’s Gate is the most spectacular attraction in the region. At this juncture of the mighty Fraser River, 1,100 miles of flowing water is squeezed into a 40 metre wide thundering gorge, appropriately named for its ferocity. 200 million gallons a minute of heart stopping rapids thunder through the narrows and is why Hell’s Gate was mentioned in explorer Simon Fraser’s journal as being his biggest challenge.
  • As you make your way further up the Fraser River canyon, you will begin to notice a change in the land as the temperate forest makes way for a climate much drier and hotter. The town of Lytton, located at the confluence of the Fraser and South Thompson Rivers regularly claims many days in the summer as Canada’s hot spot. It is not uncommon for the temperature to be well over 40 degrees (over 100 Fahrenheit!) After passing through Kamloops, the fourth largest city in B.C. and in to the north Thompson Valley, you arrive to the seclusion and serenity of Alpine Meadows Resort (www.alpinemeadowsresort.com). Here you’ll enjoy a pristine wilderness retreat for the next three days.
  • Settle in and kick off your shoes and relax with some western hospitality. After a beautiful lakeside dinner, you can venture out for a twilight back country hike or you may want to try your luck angling on trout-filled Hallemore Lake (the silent, electric powered boats don’t scare the fish) or simply relax after a long day with friends. Tonight will be the first night in a long time where the only sound you will hear is the call of a coyote echoing across the valley.

    Other suggested accommodation: Clearwater Adventure Lodge (www.clearwaterlodge.bcresorts.com)

Day 2

  • After a big alpine breakfast, your day begins with a trip into Wells Gray Park and a canoeing adventure on Clearwater Lake with Clearwater Lake Tours. This glacier fed lake stretches as far as the eye can see and features many waterfalls that cascade into the lake. You are more likely to see wildlife drinking along the shores of Clearwater Lake than in the surrounding forest. Caribou and Elk are known to swim the lake to reach the other side. Many Black Bears and Moose forage around the lake so keep your camera close by because a photo op may happen when you least expect it.
  • An early rise and a morning of paddling make for a big appetite. Kanata Wilderness Adventure Tours (www.kanatabc.com) will serve you a decadent picnic in a remote location. The food today will seem to taste better than anything else in recent memory. This is your first opportunity to sit back and soak up the warm sunshine and breathe deeply the mountain fresh air!
  • Your afternoon journey will lead you on hikes to several of the famous landmarks within the park such as Dragon’s Tooth, Dawson Falls, Helmsmen Falls and Spahats Falls. There are also lava beds, mineral springs, extinct volcanoes, alpine flower meadows and glaciers to see.
  • Dinner back at Alpine Meadows Resort tonight will be slow with lots of tasty dishes to savour. Afterwards, it’s time for a nightcap, a few pages of your novel and some solitude next to the crackling fire.

Day 3

  • Good sleep, fresh air and a clear mind make for a big appetite at breakfast. It’s onward to Helmcken Falls Lodge for a horseback adventure. Constructed with only hand tools in 1948, the lodge has seen many changes since then but foremost still retains its charm and rustic elegance. Climb into the saddle and be friends with your horse as it’s now time for a three hour guided trip to Hemp Canyon and the historic Bee Farm. You will learn of the original settlers and hardships endured and witness some of the remarkable biodiversity of the region. Vistas and scenic lookouts will provide amazing pictures as memories of your trail ride.
  • It is high noon and this means it’s time to travel down the road for lunch in the town of Clearwater. Don’t get too comfortable as you’ll be heading out soon on a wild and wet river rafting adventure. Don’t worry by the description because you’ll have a helmet, the best flotation and years of experience from Interior White-water Expeditions (www.interiorwhitewater.bc.ca). This 3 hour rafting trip will entertain you with classic rapids of the Lower Canyon of the Clearwater River. Highlights on this river safari include the Mosh Pit, the Wall, M-87, Tsunami and Pink Mountain to name just a few. Your guides will also take you to secluded Candle Creek Falls for a rafter’s shower and a laugh.
  • After floating to home base in Clearwater, you will disembark from your raft and travel back to Alpine Meadows Resort. You’ve worked up an appetite for a hearty meal after a busy day. It’s time to celebrate and reminisce about the day’s adventures under a canopy of stars during your last night in the Thompson Okanagan.

Day 4

  • This day’s journey takes you further north for an overnight stay in Valemount and closer to the Rocky Mountains. Here, the mountain tops are even more spectacular with many beginning to take on the classic cathedral shape representative of the Rocky Mountains. Your first destination is Wild West Jets and a river safari on the North Thompson River.
  • As your professionally piloted, hand-built jet boat swiftly skims the glacier fed waterways you will breathe the sweet, fresh mountain air and feel transported into a world of water, wildlife and wonder! Your pilot/guide will share intriguing facts, colourful history and answer your questions as you explore sandy river shoals, stand beneath a misty waterfall or photograph Bears, Moose, Deer, Osprey, Eagles or other woodland creatures that dwell within this forest village. After your tour enjoy a scrumptious lunch at the River Safari dock and browse the gift shop for a memorable souvenir to commemorate your River Adventure.
  • This is the perfect time to catch a little R&R and the best place to do this is in quaint Eleanor Park. Located right in the middle of Blue River, Eleanor Lake Park provides a nice venue for an afternoon dip and snooze.
  • If you thought the view was good from the ground, wait until you check out the sights from a lot higher up! Your last few hours this afternoon will be spent on a fantastic tour of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains in the North Thompson aboard a Mountainview Helicopter. With a 4000 foot vertical rise from the valley floor up to the Grizzly hut you will experience a combination of several tours and much more. Hanging glaciers, waterfalls and the entire valley beneath you will give you breathtaking views you won’t soon forget.
  • Your accommodation tonight will be at the world famous Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing Resort (www.wiegele.com). The self-contained resort village is as magical in the summer as it is in the winter. The amenities that make the ski season unforgettable are available during the summer including the hand crafted log chalet & Bavarian House Estate accommodation, the fine dining experience in the Powder Max Dining Room, the fully equipped Sports Shop, and the Grizzly Hut hiking outpost.
  • We guarantee you that this is one of the most beautiful places in British Columbia. So much so that you may not want to leave. So spend a few more hours in the morning to take in some of the sights or rent a rowboat or a canoe or a racquet to play a game of tennis on the resort grounds. We won’t tell as the rest of the day can be one to slowly and casually take in the sights you may have missed as you journey back to Alpine Meadows Resort in Clearwater.

Day 5

  • Grab a packed lunch from the resort this morning and don’t forget your camera, good shoes and warm clothes because your aspiration to hike up to an alpine meadow is about to be met. You’ll be heading three thousand feet higher to Trophy Mountain located just outside the Wells Gray Park Boundary. The Trophy wildflower meadows are among the best in British Columbia, and during peak bloom they are a natural wonder that is not to be missed.
  • The wildflowers have two blooms, the first in late June just after the snow has melted, and the second from late July to mid-August; but endless views over craggy peaks, alpine lakes and vast forests makes the hike worthwhile anytime, as does the beautiful sub-alpine forest. This is the wilderness home of Caribou and Grizzly Bears. As you pass through sub-alpine forest and wildflower meadows, you will soon come across an old shepherd's cabin that was last used in the 1960's. You eventually clear the tree line and venture into volcanic rubble. The jagged ridge peaks are only another hour away but the views will be worth every effort of your work. Plan for a 6 hour return hike that includes a lunch stop. This is a days work so don’t worry, this is all the activity for today and your return trip to the resort can be spent relaxing and savouring the majesty of the surrounding countryside.

Day 6

  • The last day of your Thompson Okanagan trip begins early to make your way homeward. The journey home could see you retrace your steps down the mighty Fraser River on Highway #1 or take the faster route to Vancouver on Highway #5 - the Coquihalla Connector. As an option, there are daily flights from Kamloops Airport to Vancouver or Calgary International Airports

For additional accommodation listings, visit http://totabc.com/trellis/accommodations_all

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