 Helmcken Falls, Wells Gray Provincial Park
You're guaranteed to find a trail to suit your skill level in the Thompson Okanagan, whether that means a short, easy nature walk or a strenuous backcountry hike that will test your orientation and survival skills.
Learn more about the hiking trails in the Thompson Okanagan region:
Rules and Safety
A word or two on your excursion:
- Please leave the area you visit undisturbed and be sure to carry out your garbage
- If travelling with pets, be aware that restrictions may apply
- Obey posted signs and keep to designated trails
A word or two on safety:
- Cougars, bears and other wildlife inhabit the region
- Be sure to dress appropriately, stay on marked trails and allow adequate time for a daylight return.
Choose a Trail
- Monashee Park: Beginners will enjoy the forested trail that runs from the parking lot to the Spectrum Lake area
- Mount Robson Provincial Park: There is a hike to suit every level of ability in this UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Wells Gray Provincial Park: A variety of ambling, level trails lead hikers through old-growth forests, past lakes and waterfalls and even to a pioneer homestead.
Intermediate
- Cathedral Provincial Park: Azure lakes, fascinating rock formations and a stunning variety of vegetation are some of this park's defining features
- Wells Gray Provincial Park: One of the most exhilarating hiking destinations in BC, this park offers a choice of trails suitable for hikers of all levels.
Advanced
- Cathedral Provincial Park: Experienced hikers with map reading and orienteering skills can opt for one of several challenging cross-country routes
- Monashee Provincial Park: Little Peters Trail is narrow and gains elevation rapidly but the reward is a nice view of Spectrum Lake
- Mt Robson: Berg Lake Trail is the park's most famous route which features one of the only advancing glaciers in the Canadian Rockies
Hiking Trail Highlights
Cathedral Provincial Park
Cathedral is a mountainous wilderness park between the dense, wet forests of the Cascade Mountains and the desert-like landscapes of the Okanagan Valley. Azure lakes, fascinating rock formations and a stunning variety of vegetation are some of its defining features. There are three well-marked hiking routes into the park's main area. You can also take a shuttle from the park entrance to Cathedral Lakes Lodge, located in the main area, from whence there are a great many trails to choose from. If (and only if) you're an experienced hiker with map reading and orienteering skills, you can opt for one of several challenging cross-country routes. Although most of the park's trails are quite strenuous, there is one leisurely, 30-minute amble around Lake Quiniscoe that is within easy walking distance of the lodge.
Cathedral is a 30-minute drive southwest from Keremeos off Highway 3.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Rated: intermediate to advanced with one easy route
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: June to September
- User fees in effect from June to September
> Cathedral Park website
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Monashee Provincial Park
Monashee Provincial Park is a wilderness park that will thrill anyone that enjoys exploring undeveloped mountain and valley landscapes. It offers endless opportunities for experienced hikers and a few options for beginners, too. Hike through old-growth forest, alpine meadows and some of the oldest rock formations in western Canada. Native wildlife species include pika, mule deer, ground squirrel, moose, grizzly bear, owl, eagle, hawk, osprey and gray jay. There’s a detour for Rainbow Falls shortly before you reach the parking lot. An easy, five-minute walk leads to a viewing platform at the base of the falls.
Beginners will enjoy the forested trail that runs from the parking lot to the Spectrum Lake area. Little Peters Trail (difficult) is narrow and gains elevation rapidly over steep switchbacks and rocky terrain. It offers nice views of Spectrum Lake. Big Peters Trail (difficult), a continuation of Little Peters, passes through a sub-alpine evergreen forest on its way to Big Peters Lake. From the lake, you can extend your hike even further by taking one of the Alpine Routes (difficult -- maps recommended): Margie Lake, Fawn Lake, South Caribou Pass or Mount Fosthall, a 1,000-m (3,000-ft) climb that sometimes requires additional equipment.
Monashee Provincial Park is a 1-hour drive northeast from Lumby, off Highway 6. The best weather for hiking occurs from May through October.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Rated: advanced with a few easy to moderate trails
- Time required: 3 – 10 hours
- Trail maps are available from the Lumby Visitor Centre
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Mount Robson Provincial Park
Hike through any portion of Mount Robson Park and you'll soon understand why the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated it a World Heritage Site. Its namesake and central feature, Mount Robson, rises a dramatic 3,954 m (12,972 ft) over the western entrance to the park. An exciting variety of wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, mountain goats, mule and white-tailed deer, as well as 182 bird species, inhabit the area for at least some part of the year.
The well-marked and hard-surfaced Mount Fitzwilliam Trail offers wonderful mountain views for day and overnight hikers. Experienced backcountry hikers will enjoy the Moose River wilderness route, a demanding, multi-day journey along creeks and rivers and across the Continental Divide. The park's most famous route, Berg Lake Trail, traverses three geoclimatic zones and features Berg Glacier, one of only a handful of advancing glaciers in the Canadian Rockies.
Mount Robson is a 20-minute drive northeast from Valemount via Highways 5 and 16.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Rated: easy to advanced
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: mid May- late October
- User fees in effect
> Mount Robson Park website
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Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of the most exhilarating hiking destinations in BC. It contains many lakes, rivers and streams as well as a number of waterfalls, including the spectacular Helmcken Falls, which is more than twice the height of Niagara Falls.
Hiking opportunities in the park run the gamut, from ambling, level walks to challenging, sub-alpine treks. Breathtaking views of river valleys, highland plateaus and mountain ranges can be had from a number of elevated viewpoints on the Corridor Trails, which also feature a volcanic cave, a natural swimming hole, abandoned pioneer homesteads, a lake, and excellent vantage points for viewing moose and mule deer.
Wells Gray is a one-hour drive north from Clearwater via Clearwater Valley Road.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Rated: easy to difficult
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: late May - late September
> Wells Gray Park website
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