Hut to hut alpine hiking tours in Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC

Day 1

We will meet you in the morning at your accommodation, between 9:00 and 9:30AM, or at the Wells Gray Adventures office at 9:00 am. After introductions, we drive about an hour up the Wells Gray Park road, which accesses the Fight Meadow trailhead at 1400 m (4500 ft). The first forty five minutes of the trail is uphill and after reaching the Philip Lake, a pretty mountain lake on the edge of the Alpine plateau, you will have gained most of your elevation for the day, about 250 m (800 ft). At Philip Lake you will stop to enjoy the scenery and have a snack. Now the trail is a gentle uphill grade through forest and then into the vast meadow system of Cariboo and Fight Meadows. It will take between three and four hours to hike through the meadows and forests to reach Fight Meadow Chalet at 6300-ft (1920 m). There is a large lake near the chalet, which is a historic site where two Indian Tribes fought for Caribou hunting rights. Today's hike is 10 km. and it takes 4-5 hours of easy walking.

Day 2

Today you climb Battle Mountain. From the Chalet we hike across 52 Ridge, which is really a thuya, the name given for the landform created when a volcano erupts under glacial ice. As we walk this ridge, we can still see the craters created when the hot lava met the cold ice. Form 52 Ridge we drop into Bull Valley where we are treated to an incredible vision as all the colours of this spectacular wildflower meadow blend and separate as far as the eye can see. From the valley we hike up Battle Mountain. On top of Battle, one can see into the far north of the park. The Monashees, the Cariboos, the Premieres, and the Rockies are also visible from this incredible vantage point. We return to Fight Meadow Chalet via a different route. The return trip is six hours.

Day 3

You hike out to the vehicle via Battle Creek. This takes you off the high plateau and down into the Clearwater River valley. After four hours of downhill hiking through four different vegetative zones, you lose over 1200 m and cover about 9 km ( 5 1/2 miles) to arrive back at the trailhead. 

Day 1

We pick you up at your accommodation in Clearwater, B.C., or meet at our office, and drive one hour up a dirt road to the trailhead at 5300 ft. (1630m). The trail goes up through mature forest and into lush meadows of alpine flowers. It is pure alpine from here to the Trophy Mountain Chalet which sits at 7000 ft (2153m). The view from the Chalet is superb, and the area has great hiking with small peaks, lakes, and flower meadows everywhere. The hike from the road takes about two and a half hours and we gain 1700 ft. (523m) over 4 km. After lunch you will take a short day hike to start and explore the Trophy Mountains.

Day 2

On this day you do a long hike in the surrounding Trophy Mountains, climb a few peaks in the range, and swim in the numerous lakes. Fantastic views all day with an incredible feeling of wilderness. If you take a longer lunch, there is very little elevation gain perhaps 400 feet for the day, if you join the group for a hike to the top of Ptarmigan Peak then the elevation gain for the day is about 800 feet and the distance travelled about - 7 km.

Day 3

Today you hike north to Discovery Cabin. The route is through total wilderness and a guide with a map, compass, and good knowledge of the area is needed. After a couple of hours in the alpine you drop down into the mature forest and lose altitude until you come into the Valley of the Lakes. Lunch here and then continue into alpine meadows until we cross Eagle Pass at 6700 ft (2061m). From the top of the pass to the cabin is only 45 minutes of gentle down through glades. The cabin is in a very remote and wild valley. The hike today is 11 km over about a 1000 foot elevation gain and takes 6-7 hours including a refreshing swim!

Day 4

Today you may choose a more relaxing day at Discovery cabin, or you can join the group for a day hike into remote lakes and along mountain ridges. You will gain approximately 950 feet in five hours of hiking over 6 km.

Day 5

You continue northward up and over Table Mountain. Today a good trail takes us through some of the finest flower meadows in the world. The trail leads us up the Ridge of Table Mountain, and then descends into the forest to the Philip Lakes. (If you are on the five-day trip, you have a three-hour downhill hike from here to the top of a small dirt track where a shuttle awaits to take you back to civilization.)

Day 1

We pick you up at your accommodation in Clearwater, B.C., or meet at our office, and drive one hour up a dirt road to the trailhead at 5300 ft. (1630m). The trail goes up through mature forest and into lush meadows of alpine flowers. It is pure alpine from here to the Trophy Mountain Chalet which sits at 7000 ft (2153m). The view from the Chalet is superb, and the area has great hiking with small peaks, lakes, and flower meadows everywhere. The hike from the road takes about two and a half hours and we gain 1700 ft. (523m) over 4 km. After lunch you will take a short day hike to start and explore the Trophy Mountains.

Day 2

On this day you do a long hike in the surrounding Trophy Mountains, climb a few peaks in the range, and swim in the numerous lakes. Fantastic views all day with an incredible feeling of wilderness. If you take a longer lunch, there is very little elevation gain perhaps 400 feet for the day, if you join the group for a hike to the top of Ptarmigan Peak then the elevation gain for the day is about 800 feet and the distance travelled about - 7 km.

Day 3

Today you hike north to Discovery Cabin. The route is through total wilderness and a guide with a map, compass, and good knowledge of the area is needed. After a couple of hours in the alpine you drop down into the mature forest and lose altitude until you come into the Valley of the Lakes. Lunch here and then continue into alpine meadows until we cross Eagle Pass at 6700 ft (2061m). From the top of the pass to the cabin is only 45 minutes of gentle down through glades. The cabin is in a very remote and wild valley. The hike today is 11 km over about a 1000 foot elevation gain and takes 6-7 hours including a refreshing swim!

Day 4

Today you may choose a more relaxing day at Discovery cabin, or you can join the group for a day hike into remote lakes and along mountain ridges. You will gain approximately 950 feet in five hours of hiking over 6 km.

Day 5

You continue northward up and over Table Mountain. Today a good trail takes us through some of the finest flower meadows in the world. The trail leads us up the Ridge of Table Mountain, and then descends into the forest to the Philip Lakes. (If you are on the five-day trip, you have a three-hour downhill hike from here to the top of a small dirt track where a shuttle awaits to take you back to civilization.) The trail now is a gentle uphill grade through forest and then into the vast meadow system of Cariboo and Fight Meadows. After hiking through these two meadows we come to Fight Meadow Chalet at 6000 ft (1845m). There is a large lake near the chalet, which is a historic site where two Indian Tribes fought for Caribou hunting rights. The 5 km hike to lunch gains about 800 feet. The remaining 11-km drops to the lake valley and then gains about 950 feet. 

Day 6

Today you can enjoy the expansive meadow view from the chalet or experience the incredible 360 degree view from the top of Battle Mountain. From the Chalet you hike across 52 ridge and drop down into Bull Valley. From the Valley you hike up Battle Mountain an elevation gain of 1800 feet. On top one can see into the far north of the park. The Monashees, the Cariboos, the Premieres, and the Rockies are also visible from this incredible vantage point. You return to Fight Meadow Chalet via a different route. The return trip is six hours.

Day 7

You hike out to the vehicle via Battle Creek. This takes us off the high plateau and down into the Clearwater River valley. After four hours of downhill hiking, we arrive at our pick up point. Total distance of the trip is 65 km.

Accommodation in mountain chalets. Trophy Mountain Chalet is a comfortable and efficiently designed building that will sleep ten people in full comfort and has no problem with twelve. Downstairs is the living area with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area, a drying area with drying racks and a shelf full of books and games.  The oven, stove and furnace are all propane. The lights are solar powered.  There also is a small washroom with a shower.  

Attached to the chalet is a change room with a sink and a fantastic cedar sauna. The interior of the cabin is finished in beautiful white pine and has large windows for the wonderful mountain views. Upstairs is the sleeping area which is divided into two person berths with mattresses, duvets, pillows, and blankets. 

Fight Meadow Chalet is an identical building to Trophy with a couple of small differences.  Fight has propane lights, not solar and it has a regular outhouse.

Discovery Cabin was built in 1995, this is a beautiful wood building that has a very cozy feel. Downstairs is the living area with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a drying area with drying racks. The oven, stove, and furnace are all propane. The emergency equipment and the lights are run off of solar panels. The interior of Discovery Cabin is finished in beautiful spruce and cedar and has large windows for the wonderful mountain views. There is a private double bed downstairs and upstairs is the main sleeping area with a ¾ loft.

None of the buildings have running water as we feel a septic system would prove too intrusive to the environment. Outside is an environmentally friendly composting toilet system which is very clean and comfortable.