The District of Clearwater (DOC) and Wells Gray Country Seniors Society (WGCSS) hosted a Thanksgiving weekend ‘Waterfall Tour’ on Saturday, Oct. 12 with 10 local seniors enjoying the ride into Wells Gray Park. Liane Culp, the DOC recreation, culture and events coordinator and DOC councillor and senior’s coordinator, Lynne Frizzle accompanied the tour.
Frizzle, told the Clearwater Times, “It was such a beautiful fall day with the sun shining and the trees showing off their splendour in the park. Everyone really enjoyed the day together.”
The bus tour was a joint initiative sponsored by the District of Clearwater and the WGCSS with snacks provided by the Wild Flour Café and Bakery in Clearwater.
The trip from Clearwater starting at the Wells Gray Visitor Information Centre to Helmcken Falls takes approximately 45 minutes heading into Wells Gray Park along Clearwater Valley Road.
Helmcken Falls is the fourth highest waterfall in Canada with the recent improvements completed over the summer to parking, picnic and seating and the more accessible viewing platform.
The three falls visited during the Thanksgiving Waterfall Tour for seniors are all easily accessible from the road leading into the park itself. Spahats Falls, or as residents may refer to it as ‘Bear Creek’ Falls, is also scheduled to undergo similar improvements in 2025.
The group started the day at the world-famous Helmcken Falls.
“They were very impressed with the new accessible viewing platform and beauty of Helmcken on what was a perfect fall day,” says Frizzle, describing the progression of the trip, “They then made their way to Dawson Falls, which locally we call the ‘mini Niagara’ where they made the short hike to enjoy the close power of rushing water nearby and after exploring the area they continued on to end the day at Spahats Falls for a leisurely hike while taking in the majesty of the falls cutting through the canyon. Many commented they are looking forward to more adventures together in the future.”
