Day 19: Al Excellent Adventure: Chasing Waterfalls and Mountains
From Sun Peaks to Wells Gray Provincial Park: A Waterfall Wonderland
I left the alpine village of Sun Peaks after a final deep breath of that crisp mountain air. The road to Wells Gray Provincial Park took me through dense forest, winding past quiet lakes and rolling hills until I reached Clearwater, the park’s unofficial front door.
Once inside Wells Gray, it was a waterfall-palooza. My first stop: Spahats Creek Falls, where the water plunges dramatically into a deep volcanic canyon. It was a very steep walk from the parking lot, but the view was amazing.
Next up: Moul Falls—a proper hike. I trekked through forest trails, swatted at a few bugs, and eventually found myself face to face with the roar of the falls. Don't people walked behind the waterfall. It was loud, wet, but totally worth it a couple days. I was good with staying dry and not falling.
I continued to Dawson Falls, often called the "Mini Niagara." And honestly, it lived up to the name, wide, powerful, and thundering through the trees.
I ended the waterfall tour with the showstopper: Helmcken Falls. Towering at 462 feet, it’s one of the highest in Canada and looks like something straight out of a fantasy movie. I just stood there for a minute in silence, watching the mist rise like smoke.
i made my way north toward Jasper. The landscape shifted gradually from forests to towering peaks as i followed Highway 5.
I had amazing views of Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towering over everything like it owned the place.
Crossing into Alberta, I finally rolled into Jasper National Park, where the mountains somehow got even more dramatic. Jagged peaks, glacial rivers, and endless sky. Jasper was like stepping into a painting. The rivers were an unbelievable shade of green, and it was so many mountains, I am thinking this might be my favorite Park.
I spotted a massive male moose on the side of the road, he was huge, with antlers that looked like they could pick up satellite signals. Of course, by the time I even considered taking a picture, it was too late. And honestly, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to pull over, get out, and risk becoming part of some National Geographic "man vs. moose" episode.
I have a long day tomorrow, going through Jasper, seeing a lot of lights, what a fools and glaciers, then on to Banff!