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Lake canoeing in Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC

| CA-WG302

Explore the many lakes and waterways that make up Wells Gray Provincial Park on these canoeing adventures

Overview

These trips take the visitor up the Clearwater Lake and on the longer trip, Azure Lake, two of the premier canoeing lakes in British Columbia.

Highlights

  • Wells Gray Provincial Park
  • Clearwater Lake
  • Azure Lake
  • Battle Mountain

More than that they are the heart of a totally protected watershed. The massive Wells Gray park protects the Watershed of the Clearwater River. 

A trip on these lakes offers you the chance to swim, paddle and enjoy one of the most pristine bodies of water in the world. Wildlife viewing on both lakes is excellent as wolf, deer, and moose are frequently seen. No canoeing experience is needed as our guides are also instructors and all trip members will have the opportunity to perfect Canadian canoeing techniques.

Canoe & Hike Combo Adventures

For people who like a little of each!

You drive to Clearwater Lake where we load up the canoes and paddle to a lovely beach camp. Here you can go fishing, hiking and swimming. The camp is gorgeous and the food is great; what more can you ask for?  No canoeing experience is needed as our guides are also instructors and all trip members will have the opportunity to perfect Canadian canoeing techniques. On the third day, we paddle back to the pickup, and after touring the famous Wells Gray waterfalls, we head for the lovely dinner waiting at our bed and breakfast accommodation.

The next morning, you hike into the high country to spend three days at a secluded mountain hut. You will never see more amazing alpine flower meadows than on 52 Ridge or a more beautiful view than the one from Battle Mountain. 

  • Personal Experience
  • Trusted Tour Operator
  • Local Guides
  • Small group
Availability June - Aug
Duration 3 / 6 days
Departs From Clearwater, BC
Difficulty Easy / Moderate Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Group maximum 10
Meet on Location Yes
Pick Up No
Region British Columbia

From

528
Per
Adult
  • Best Price Guarantee
  • International number: +1 778 348 1676

Availability (2025):

3 day tour: $740 CAD

  • June 25
  • July 3, 10, 16, 29
  • August 5, 12, 19, 26
  • Sept 1, 8

6 day tour: $1530 CAD

  • Custom dates available.

6 day tour, canoe and hike combo: $1564 CAD

  • July 13, 26
  • Aug 2, 9, 16, 23
  • Sept 7

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What's Included

Find out what is included and what to bring.

Included

  • Camping equipment
  • Canoe and equipment
  • Tents

Suggested Clothing & Items

  • Hiiking boots
  • Sneakers
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Hat
  • Gloves
  • Wool or fleece sweater
  • Other clothing suited to variable temperatures
  • Camera
  • Daypack
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen
  • Water bottle

What to bring

  • Sleeping bag
  • Duffel bag or backpack
  • Towel
  • Flashlight

Contact us for more Information about this tour

INTERNATIONAL NUMBER: +1 778 348 1676

You can also send an email to info@adventures.com, or use the contact form here below.

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Itinerary

Find out more details about the tour and its highlights

Information

Guide information:Ian has been a mountain guide for 35 years, leading trips all over the world including over 50 major trips in the Himalaya. Tay was raised on a ranch bordering Wells Gray Park and has been guiding for over 25 years. Tay is also an accomplished naturalist.

Restrictions: These tours require on past paddling experience.

Transportation: Trips originate and end at the town of Clearwater, BC. Clearwater can be reached via Highway 5, about 130 km north of Kamloops or west of Jasper, Alberta on Highway 16, then south on Highway 5, about 320 km.  

Weather: Average daytime summer temperatures here range between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius.  

Requirements: Sleeping bag, duffel bag or backpack, towel, flashlight.

Accommodations: Accommodation in tents at shoreline campsites. All camps have outhouses, tables, fire pits and tent sites. On the canoe and hike combo tour the hiking portion is 3 days in an alpine mountain hut.

Meals & Dining: All meals are icluded and meals are prepared by your guides. 

DAY 1

We will pick you up at your accommodation, or meet you at our office and drive 1 hour to the canoe dock on Clearwater Lake. We then paddle approximately 2.5 to 4 hours to our beach campsite. All campsites have outhouses, tables, fire-pits, and tent sites.

clearwater lake in british columbia

DAY 2

Today there are many options. We can pack a lunch and explore up lake for fishing holes or paddle to the end of the lake where the Clearwater River pours into the lake and forms a small lagoon. You may choose to swim or sit in the sun and read or choose a combination of all these activities. 

 

DAY 3

Today we have a leisurely start. After breakfast and a swim, we can start to take camp down. We load up the canoes and paddle down the other side of the lake to the canoe dock. We then start back down the Wells Gray Road for a tour of the famous waterfalls. We will visit Helmecken Falls (the fourth highest in Canada) and walk into Dawson Falls. You will be awed by your Wells Gray wild waters experience. 

DAY 1

After a pickup at your accommodation in Clearwater or our office, you have a scenic one hour drive to Clearwater Lake and the trips starting point. You start with a bit of canoe instruction and then paddle approximately four hours to a beautiful sandy beach campsite. All campsites have outhouses, tables, firepits, and tent sites.

powerful clearwater river stream

DAY 2

Paddle north up Clearwater Lake for two hours and reach the mouth of the Clearwater River. You take one hour to paddle up the river to the portage site, and then carry the gear and equipment across the portage to Azure Lake. The portage is only 1 mile and will take two hours to unload, carry the route, and reload the canoes. Another one hour paddle brings us to our camp, a beautiful beach surrounded by an old growth forest of giant cedar trees.

 

DAY 3

You paddle for three hours along the south shore of Azure Lake. Azure Lake is so different from Clearwater Lake you will be amazed. The crystal clear water of Clearwater contrasts sharply with the sky-blue glacier fed waters of Azure Lake. The terrain changes also, with the easy shorelines of the Clearwater giving way to spectacular cliffs and snow capped peaks of Azure Lake. As we paddle, we pass small streams cascading over the cliffs into the lake, and the views are spectacular. Finally, you glimpse the crescent of white sand where the rainbow falls plunges into the Azure lake. This gorgeous spot will be your home for two nights.

clearwater lake in british columbia

DAY 4

A rest day at Rainbow Falls provides the opportunity to fishing and hiking in the area surrounding the falls.

 

DAY 5

A good days paddle along the north shore of Azure Lake and down the Clearwater River. This is a safe river run, which gives the now experienced canoeist a feel for moving water. You arrive on Clearwater Lake and camp on the west shore.

helmcken and dawson falls in british columbia

DAY 6

A four hour paddle back to the put-in-point and the vehicle. You get off the lake in the early afternoon. On the return drive you stop in and see the famous Helmcken and Dawson waterfalls along the way and also visit Green Mountain lookout to get a feel for the immensity of this wilderness park.

Total distance of the trip is 60 miles.

DAY 1

CANOE - After meeting at our office at 9:00 or a 9:15 to 9:30 am pickup at your accommodation, we will cover pre-trip information and sign liability waivers. We then have a scenic one-hour drive to Clearwater Lake and the trips starting point. You start with one and a half-hours of canoe instruction, and then paddle approximately three hours to a beautiful sandy beach campsite.

clearwater river in wells gray park

DAY 2

CANOE - Today you get an early start on the lake and paddle up the western shore to the mouth of the Clearwater River. There is also an old trapper's cabin hidden beside a lagoon that you can visit. We follow the afternoon sun and travel down the eastern shore past gorgeous creeks and beaches. Our guide will instruct you in various canoeing techniques.

 

DAY 3

CANOE - After a big breakfast and coffee tea, or hot chocolate on the beach, you paddle back down the other side of the lake enjoying the quiet beauty of nature. You get to the vehicle and go to a local Bed and Breakfast for the night and breakfast.

 

DAY 4

HIKE - We pick you up at the B&B and drive to the trailhead. From here the trail takes us through mature forests into the alpine meadows. Our chalet for the night is in the high mountains. The chalet is very comfortable with all necessities supplied so the packs are very light.

 

DAY 5

HIKE - Venturing into the surrounding alpine areas around the chalet, today you will walk through some of the finest alpine flower meadows in the world. Your destination is top of Ptarmigan or Battle Mountain for incredible views of the surrounding area, and into the northern portion of Wells Gray. This area is pristine wilderness with fantastic views of the Cariboos, Monashees, and Rocky Mountains. The elusive Woodland Caribou is found in this area along with the Grizzly Bear.

 

DAY 6

HIKE - From the Chalet, you hike through the western finger of Fight meadow following Battle Creek. This is a trip back into the lush forest of the valley. During this hike, you pass through four different vegetative zones as you descend and it makes for a fascinating hike. Keep an eye out for signs of wildlife. The hike takes us back to the guest ranch. 

Payment Details

Deposit and Taxes

  • Pricing does not include: 5.00% GST. 
  • A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your reservation.
  • Balance of payment is due 45 days before trip commencement.

Cancellation Policy & Details

Cancellations of summer trips after 45 days prior to departure will lose all monies paid.

If we are unable to run your trip due to a Wells Gray Park closure, we will rollover 90% of fees paid to the next season. A 10% non-refundable booking fee will be retained.

Your guide reserves the right to cancel any trip within 30 days of the departure date for a full refund. No refunds were given on guiding or accommodation for schedule changes due to weather or other natural events.

We do not give refunds for schedule changes due to weather or other natural events. If you are worried about heat, rain, smoke, snow, aged parents, getting sick, your kids, or any other natural phenomena preventing you from going on your trip, please get cancellation insurance.