Canada Guide
Southern British Columbia
Wells Gray Provincial Park
WELLS GRAY PROVINCIAL PARK is the equal of any of the Rocky Mountain national parks to the east: if anything, its wilderness is probably more extreme – so untamed, in fact, that many of its peaks remain unclimbed and unnamed. Wildlife sightings are common – especially if you tramp some of the wilder trails, where encounters with black bears, grizzlies and mountain goats are a possibility, not to mention glimpses of smaller mammals such as timber wolves, coyotes, weasels, martens, minks, wolverines and beavers. Seeing the park is straightforward, at least if you have transport and only want a superficial – but still rewarding – glimpse of the interior. A 63-kilometre access road strikes into the park from Hwy 5 at Clearwater, culminating in Clearwater Lake – there's no further wheeled access. Various trails long and short, together with campsites, viewpoints and easily seen waterfalls, are dotted along the road, allowing you to see just about all the obvious scenic landmarks with a car in a day.
Accommodation in or near the park includes the log cabins at Wells Gray Ranch ( 
250/674-2792, 
www.wellsgrayranch.com ; Price: $101-125; mid-May to mid-Oct) just within the park entrance (26km from Hwy 5) on Wells Gray Park Rd, offering organized horseriding and canoeing trips; or the slightly larger but equally lonely Helmcken Falls Lodge ( 250/674-3657, www.helmckenfalls.com ; Price: $126-175; Dec– March & mid-April to Oct) also in the park itself (35km from Hwy 5), which offers similar facilities and activities at slightly higher prices.
Both the lodge and ranch above have tent pitches ($10–15), but there's far better roadside camping along the park access road at the park's three provincial campsites (all $14; May– Oct). Many other campsites ($5) dot the shores of the park's major lakes and Clearwater Lake Tours operates a water-taxi service which can drop you off at any site on Clearwater Lake and pick you up at a prearranged time.