Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of British Columbia's least-known treasures. Located north of Kamloops near Clearwater, it offers dramatic waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, pristine lakes, and world-class canoeing — all with far fewer crowds than more famous BC parks.
If you haven't heard of Wells Gray, you're not alone. That relative obscurity is part of the appeal — and it means campsites here are somewhat easier to get than at Garibaldi or Manning.
Campgrounds in Wells Gray Park
Clearwater Lake Campground The most popular campground in the park, situated on the shores of Clearwater Lake. Excellent for canoeing and kayaking. Reservable through BC Parks.
Pyramid Campground Smaller campground with a more remote feel. Good base for hiking to Pyramid Mountain.
Mahood Lake Campground On the west side of the park, accessible from 100 Mile House. More remote and less visited. A good option when Clearwater is fully booked.
Dawson Falls Campground Near one of Wells Gray's most impressive waterfalls. More of a roadside stop than a destination campground, but conveniently located.
The Waterfalls of Wells Gray
Wells Gray has more waterfalls than almost any other park in BC:
Helmcken Falls — The showpiece of the park. At 141 metres, it's the fourth-highest waterfall in Canada and one of the most dramatic. An easy 1 km walk from the parking area. Don't miss it.
Dawson Falls — Wide, powerful waterfall on the Murtle River. A short walk from the road.
Spahats Falls — Striking waterfall dropping into a deep canyon. Viewpoint accessible right from the highway.
Moul Falls — Requires a 9 km round-trip hike, but you can walk behind the falls — one of BC's best kept secrets.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Wells Gray is a paddler's paradise. The Clearwater and Azure Lake system offers multi-day canoe trips through some of the most beautiful backcountry in BC. Azure Lake, accessible only by boat or floatplane, feels genuinely remote.
For day paddling, Clearwater Lake is excellent — calm water, mountain scenery, and the option to paddle up toward Azure Lake.
When to Visit
June to September is the main season. Wells Gray is further north than most Lower Mainland camping destinations, so summer temperatures are warm but not extreme.
August is peak season for families. July is excellent for wildflowers. September brings fall colours and significantly fewer visitors.
Booking Wells Gray Campsites
Reservations open three months in advance through discovercamping.ca. While Wells Gray is less popular than Garibaldi or Manning, Clearwater Lake campground still fills up for summer weekends.
Cancellations do open up. Campgetter monitors BC Parks availability continuously and alerts you the moment a site becomes available at Wells Gray. Given the park's remote location, it's worth setting up monitoring for all Wells Gray campgrounds simultaneously.
Getting There
Wells Gray is about 3.5 hours north of Vancouver via Kamloops. The park is well signposted from Clearwater on Highway 5. A paved road runs through most of the main park corridor.
For the Mahood Lake area on the west side, the access road is gravel and requires a longer drive from 100 Mile House.
Tips for Planning a Wells Gray Trip
- Build your itinerary around Helmcken Falls — it's genuinely unmissable
- If you can canoe, consider adding a night on Azure Lake
- Pack for variable weather — it can rain even in August
- A two-night minimum stay makes the drive worthwhile
- Check road conditions in early season (June) as some areas may still have snow
Bottom Line
Wells Gray Provincial Park rewards those who make the effort to get there. It's less crowded than Garibaldi or Golden Ears, the scenery is extraordinary, and the camping experience feels genuinely wild.