Towering mountains, epic trails, sun-drenched lakes and sandy beaches – there are hundreds of parks in BC to explore. In 2011, BC Parks is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
From its golden grasslands to its jagged granite peaks, the parks of the Thompson Okanagan region offer everything from the quintessential summer-at-the-lake to challenging mountaineering terrain.
In this region, find: one of Canada's highest mountains, 50 dragonfly species, North America's largest paddle-only lake, the world-famous Adams River sockeye spawning run, volcanic caves and historic ruins. Walk, hike, cycle, kayak, canoe, run the rapids, ride a horse, or relax in a chair and count those dragonflies.
Wildlife in this region includes: black and grizzly bears, moose, caribou, mountain goats and sheep, cougars, lynx, bobcats, beavers, wolverines, timber wolves, mule and white-tailed deer, martens, minks, weasels, squirrels, as well as 182 bird species.
Highlight Parks within the Thompson Okanagan Region Include:
Mount Robson Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Cathedral Provincial Park
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area
Mount Robson Provincial Park
Equally popular with backcountry hikers and RV campers, Mount Robson Provincial Park offers easy access to wilderness terrain with a variety of outdoor adventure activities, both do-it-yourself and guided. This park is also part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO Site, one of the largest blocks of protected land in the world. This is where the wildlife lives – viewers will find their patience rewarded.
What's special
- At a dramatic 3,954m/12,972ft, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson reigns over the park.
- The headwaters of the mighty Fraser River are sourced in Mount Robson's pristine alpine.
- The world-renowned Berg Lake Trail takes in one of the few advancing glaciers in the Canadian Rockies.
- The Moose River wilderness route offers experienced backcountry hikers a demanding, multi-day journey that crosses the Continental Divide.
- Day hikers will find the well-marked Yellowhead Mountain Trail rewards their efforts with stunning lake and mountain landscapes.
- Summer activities include: canoeing, caving, rock climbing, cycling, fishing, hiking, walking, swimming, rafting, and horseback riding.
- Winter snows bring backcountry skiing and snowshoeing to the hiking trails.
Camping
180 vehicle-access sites, some wheelchair accessible. Some sites are reservable. Walk-in wilderness sites – year round.
Close to
Highway 16, also known as the Yellowhead Highway passes directly through the park. The town of Valemount is 35km/22mi from the park entrance via Highways 16 and 5.
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Mount Robson Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park
At 540,000ha/1,334,363ac, Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of the largest parks, with unprecedented access to pristine lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. Paddle or power, self-propelled or tour boating, Wells Gray offers everyone the opportunity to experience the majesty of the mountains from a lakefront perspective.
What's special
- Helmcken Falls is 135m/450ft high – more than twice the height of Niagara Falls.
- Murtle Lake – North America's largest paddle-only lake with 100km/62mi of shoreline.
- Clearwater/Azure Marine – two adjoining lakes, each 22km/14mi long and popular with boaters – power or paddle.
- The Trophy Mountain area includes more than 45 lakes and the most accessible sub-alpine meadows in the province.
- Fishing for kokanee, whitefish, burbot, rainbow and lake trout.
- Corridor Trails feature a volcanic cave, natural swimming hole and abandoned pioneer homesteads.
- Guided tours: horseback, canoe, river raft, fishing and hiking.
- Winter backcountry skiing with groomed cross-country trails in some areas.
Camping
Vehicle-access camping with 164 sites in three campgrounds. Reservations accepted at Mahood campground only. Walk-in or boat-in wilderness camping at 126 sites, year-round.
Close to
From Highway 5, the park is a one-hour drive north of the town of Clearwater.
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Wells Gray Provincial Park
Cathedral Provincial Park
Located between the dense, wet forests of the Cascade Mountains and the desert-like landscapes of the Okanagan Valley, Cathedral Provincial Park rewards those who hike the 16km/10mi to its core with fascinating geological formations, gem-coloured lakes and sun-dappled alpine meadows. With its challenging hiking trails and opportunities for mountaineering, this park is a magnet for serious outdoor adventurers.
What's special
- Quiniscoe, Ladyslipper, Scout, Pyramid, Glacier, Lake of the Woods and Haystack lakes.
- Grimface, the Matriarch and Macabre Tower – mountaineering for experienced climbers.
- Stone City, the Giant Cleft and the Devil's Woodpile define the spectacular geology of the region – columnar-jointed basalt forms and massive, wind-eroded quartz monzonite towers.
Camping
Primarily hike-in camping with a few vehicle-access campsites at the Lakeview Trailhead on a first come, first served basis.
Close to
Adjoining the Canada/US border, Cathedral Provincial Park is a 30-minute drive southwest of the town of Keremeos, off Highway 3.
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Cathedral Provincial Park
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park
Located on both sides of the Adams River, this park is all about British Columbia's iconic salmon. Occurring in early October, the Adams River Sockeye run is one of the largest in North America. Every four years, fish numbers swell, creating a natural spectacle as the brilliant red sockeye struggle up the channel, then spend days sweeping a nest out of the river gravel for their precious eggs. The next dominant run is in 2014.
What's special
- The park offers easy access to the spawning channels.
- Bears and eagles are attracted to the spawning runs, increasing opportunities for wildlife viewing.
- The 26km/16mi trail system is popular for hiking and mountain biking in the summer, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
- Whitewater kayaking, canoeing and rafting on the Adams River.
Camping
There is no camping at this park, but there are 272 campsites at the nearby Shushwap Lake Provincial Park.
Close to
Located just off Highway 1 near the town of Chase, this park is a one-hour drive east of Kamloops.
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Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park is best known for its Texas Creek campground on warm-water Christina Lake. With superb recreational boating and easy access to the quiet, private bays and beaches of this pretty lake, Gladstone Provincial Park is the archetypical summer vacation paradise.
What's special
- Christina Lake is one of the warmest and clearest lakes in Canada – perfect for summer fun in the water.
- Fishing for kokanee, rainbow trout and small-mouth bass.
- Pictographs on the east shore of Christina Lake.
- Troy/Sandner Creek area at the north end of Christina Lake is protected spawning habitat for kokanee and rainbow trout – equally important as habitat for black and grizzly bears during the fish spawn.
- Activities: canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking (48km/30mi of trails), scuba diving, boating and water skiing.
Camping
There are 64 vehicle-access campsites, open over the extended season of April 15 – October 15. Reservations recommended during summer months. Walk-in and marine campsites along the lake are also available.
Close to
The park is located 20km/12mi northeast of the town of Grand Forks on Highway 3.
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Gladstone Provincial Park
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area
A recent (1996) addition to British Columbia's parks and protected areas, the Lac du Bois Grasslands area was created to protect the province's fragile grasslands ecosystems. Long the victim of overgrazing by domestic animals, the grasslands are now protected by a system of rotated pasturing.
Lac du Bois Grasslands offer visitors a unique parks experience – sweeping vistas of green or golden grasslands, dramatic cliffs and canyons, ancient Ponderosa pines and fields full of sunflowers bending in the breeze. The wildlife is specific to the area: California bighorn sheep, white tail and mule deer, moose, waterfowl, rattlesnakes, sharp-tail grouse, flammulated owls, black bear, burrowing owls, western long-billed curlews, harriers, and waterfowl.
Camping
Wilderness camping is permitted, but no facilities are provided.
Close to
This protected area is near Kamloops with four points of access. See location information in the link below for directions.
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Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area Site
Play a part in protecting BC's forests. Abide by local park rules, exercise caution and ensure all fires are extinguished. For more information on BC forest firest click here. To report a forest fire within BC from a cell phone, call *5555.
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