The road into Wells Gray Park (Clearwater Valley Road) runs along the top of a plateau.  A trail runs through much of the park below this plateau along the Clearwater River.  There are a number of access points to the trail, allowing the trail to be broken up into manageable sections.  Throughout the spring you can join us as we hike this moderate trail in sections.  The access to the trail is typically down an old road which will switchback reducing the grade.  The trail itself is a good park trail that runs through forest (although called the Clearwater River Trail, you don’t actually see the river that often). Of course once you are down on the trail, you have to come back up.  We will take the trail and associated hike back up at an easy pace.

For each hike, meet up at Paul Lake at 9:00 am to arrange carpooling.  Drive to Clearwater and meet up with the leader at the Wells Gray Info Center about 10:30.  We will be on the trail for about 3 hours with a return time to Kamloops before 4:00.

Clearwater River Trail (Spahats Falls – Natural Bridge)

• From the Info Center drive up the park road and leave a vehicle at the Natural Bridge Trailhead
• Continue up the road and park the vehicles at the Spahats Falls Parking Lot
• Descend (275m) down a very steep trail
• Hike the trail (6 km) and ascend a ridge between the plateau and river
• Drop down into a forested gully
• Ascend (250m) a  steep trail – this trail switchbacks through a talus slope – we will go slow as the footing is loose and the trail is steep
• View the Natural Bridge
• Continue up to Clearwater Valley Road
• Collect the vehicles and head home

This is a good park trail through the forest, we will take our time to enjoy the nature and stop halfway at a viewpoint for lunch.

This is the hardest of all the sections of the Clearwater River Trail and has been given a higher rating.  If you have been hiking during the spring, this should be a more challenging but easily attainable trail.

This is a dog friendly event.  The leader will be bringing a dog.