WELLS GRAY PARK
Wells Gray Park Logistics and Statistics
Wells Gray Park is in central British Columbia,
Canada. Its southern boundary is 5 1/2 hours north of
Vancouver at Clearwater.
Wells Gray Park was established in 1939
Size: 530,000 hectares. Consider that one in five
Countries will fit inside Wells Gray Park!
Status: Class 'A' Wilderness Park, which means
that
The majority of the park is designated for preservation.
Only a small portion of Wells Gray Park is set aside for
recreation.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The boundaries of Wells Gray Park were chosen to
include the complete watershed of the Clearwater River as far
south as Mahood Lake. The four major lakes that are completely
in Wells Gray Park, Clearwater, Azure, Murtle, and Hobson, are
very deep and the water is very clear. Known as the "Waterfall
Park," it boasts many waterfalls, the most famous of which
is Helmcken Falls. Other waterfalls that are easily
accessible from the southern entrance are: Dawson
Falls, Moul Falls, Stitka Falls, Rainbow Falls, Sylvia
Falls, just to mention a few.
This southern access to Wells Gray Park is surrounded
by a volcanic plateau. At Helmcken Falls you can see
the layers of volcanic rock that have been eaten away
by the Murtle River. At the Mush Bowl you can see
the contrast of relatively new volcanic "pillows" on
one
side of the river while on the other side you can see
ancient rock scrubbed smooth by the receding glacier.
A landmark that can be seen in the distance as you
travel toward Wells Gray Park above the Canyonlands
is Pyramid Mountain, formed in that shape by a
volcanic eruption under the Ice Cap. Other volcanic eruptions
flowed up through the ice and can be seen as more loaf-like mounds.
There are many other opportunities to view evidence of past volcanic
activity within Wells Gray Park.
Surrounding the volcanic plateau are older mountains
that
offer abundant hiking and back country ski
opportunities. Alpine and sub-alpine meadows, with their
abundant wild flowers, lichens, mosses, and wild life invite
the photographic enthusiast to spend many hours! More
experienced hikers can venture to the top of Trophy Mt.,
or even traverse from Trophy to Battle Mountains over
Table Mountain. A local guiding company offers tours
from 5 to 7 days. This can also be done as a winter ski
tour.
Battle Mountain is the home of the southern
most herd of Mountain Cariboo. Wells Gray Park is home to large
and small mammals,
from moose, mule and white tailed deer,
black and grizzly bears, wolf, wolverine,
cougar, beaver, martin, and many more
(56 species have been recorded).
1926 Fire
An extensive forest fire jumped across the Clearwater
River at Third Canyon and swept north into Wells Gray Park. Although
some houses and barns were burned and the area became a wasteland
of burned timber and ash, fortunately no one was killed. This
fire was a contributing factor to the creation of Wells Gray Park.
The new growth of willow after the fire attracted
hundreds of moose and their following of wolves. It is still possible
to see cedar snags still standing so many years after the fire.
In 1947 The Hogue brothers were given permission to cut cedar
snags which they used to build Helmcken Falls Lodge.
For further information about Wells Gray Park,
there are two excellent books.
Nature Wells Gray, by Trevor Goward & Cathie
Hickson, Published by Lone Pine Publishing in Edmonton, AB, CANADA,
and The Friends of Wells Gray Park.
And
Exploring Wells Gray, by Roland Neave, Published
by The Friends of Wells Gray.
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