Canoes & Campfires
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Clearwater
Today you’ll arrive in the Wells Gray Provincial Park region, through winding mountain roads and over narrow wooden bridges. This park boasts ancient forests, gushing waterfalls and the Cariboo Mountains to the north. You’ll spend the night in a lodge near the town of Clearwater on the southern tip of the park.
Day 2 – Canoeing to your camp
Today the real adventure begins. Leaving your main luggage behind, take an overnight bag and meet your small group of fellow travellers for your camping and canoeing trip, waving goodbye to civilisation and connecting with the nature around you. As the road comes to an end, you’ll jump in your colourful canoe and head out onto the crystal water with all your camping equipment for your stay in the wild.
Your experienced local guide will teach you how to glide across the water in your Canadian canoe and inform you of the rules of camping in the land of bears, moose and beavers. As you move leisurely across the lake you might spot deer drinking on the shore or fish jumping up from the water. You’ll stop for a simple lunch on the banks of the lake where you can marvel at the imposing mountain peaks and ancient conifers surrounding you.
After 3-4 hours you’ll reach your campsite, pitch up your tent and help build a fire on the edge of the water before settling in for the night. Your guide will rustle up a simple dinner before you can crawl into your sleeping bag and drift off to sleep with the sounds of the wilderness around you. The bathrooms here are outhouse loos but with this location, you won’t mind roughing it for a night!
Day 3 – Back into civilisation
After a peaceful slumber, you’ll be woken by the sunrise and the birds chirping. Enjoy a morning swim, keeping an eye out for deer and beavers drinking from the lake, and feast on a hearty breakfast before packing up the camp and heading back out onto the water. After a couple of hours gliding along the surface, you’ll arrive back at your starting point.
Pile into the minibus once more, and make a stop at Wells Gray’s highest waterfall, Helmcken Falls before leaving the park. At 137 meters, this is the fourth highest waterfall in Canada and at least twice as high as Niagara Falls! After a busy couple of days you’ll be ready to head back to your cosy log cabin and relax.
Day 4 – Departure from Clearwater
As your camping adventure comes to an end you can head on to the Rocky Mountains to hike in the dramatic peaks or drive south for a spot of wine tasting in Okanagan Valley – cheers!
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Switch to our alternative trip
If you would prefer to stay in a bit of comfort whilst enjoying the hiking, nature and wildlife on offer in Wells Gray Park then this trip is a great alternative. Get back to nature and relax with two days off the beaten track in Wells Gray Provincial Park. Here you’ll stay in a lakeside cabin about 20 minutes drive from the town of Clearwater. You can explore the park by horse, on foot or by kayak. Marvel at the mighty conifers towering above or sit back with a good book and a lakeside view – this is the perfect place to kick back and relax during your Canadian adventure.
