Boasting the title of the largest paddle-only lake in North America, Murtle Lake is a lava dammed lake with over 100 kilometres of shoreline to explore, set within the beautiful Wells Gray Provincial Park. With a lack of boating traffic and countless backcountry campsites set amongst soft golden sand and backed by dense forest, Murtle Lake is truly a remote and serene paradise.
Located just north of the town of Clearwater and southwest of Jasper, Wells Gray Provincial Park offers endless outdoor adventure opportunities. The Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map features a zoomed in map of Murtle Lake, with lake depths and clearly marked canoe routes, access points, campsites, cabins, portage trails, and fish species. On the other side is a more comprehensive map that includes Murtle Lake, Anderson Lake, Blue River, Diamond Lagoon, Henrietta Lake, McDougall Falls, Murtle River, and all of Wells Gray Provincial Park.
Paddle along Murtle Lake, sleep under the stars in one of many campsites, hike through alpine meadows, fish for rainbow trout or salmon, or hike to the sub-alpine meadows of the Trophy Mountains where you can enjoy panoramic views of mountains, volcanos, forested valleys, and Skyline Ridge. No matter where your Wells Gray Provincial Park adventure takes you, we have you covered with the Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map.
Paddle
Free from boating traffic and secluded enough to not draw crowds, Murtle Lake is a true paddler’s paradise. Accessed by a 3 km (1.8 mi) portage from the nearest parking lot, explorers can paddle the West Arm, North Arm, or both. The West Arm stretches about 15 km (9 mi), while the North Arm is 20 km (12 mi). Several remote and scenic wilderness campsites and secluded beaches with beautiful golden sand exist along the shores of Murtle Lake.
Another great paddling route in the Wells Gray Provincial Park is the Clearwater and Azure Lake Chain. From the end of the park road, put-in at the Clearwater Lake boat launch. Both lakes are 25 km (15 mi) in length, connected by a 1 km (0.6 mi) portage. There are 16 wilderness campsites located along the route, as well as three backcountry trails to stretch your legs. Features of this route include rainbow trout fishing, the beautiful turquoise waters of Azure Lake, and a neat old trapper cabin at Rainbow Falls.
The 61 x 94 cm (24 x 37 in) Adventure Map is displayed at 1:35,0000 scale on either regular, water-resistant paper, or a durable waterproof, tear-resistant material and features all the paddling routes, portages, campsite locations, and number of tent sites in Wells Gray Provincial Park. The perfect size to carry in your pocket, dry bag, or backpack, the Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map is the perfect companion to any paddling adventure.
Hiking
Ancient volcano fields, glacier fed lakes, beautiful alpine meadows, and jagged peaks and cliffs make Wells Gray Provincial Park a wild wonderland, with hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails to explore. The Trophy Mountain Meadow Trail is one of the most popular in the park. This moderate, 1 km (0.6 mi) one-way hike takes you to a beautiful sub-alpine meadow that offers vast views of the Trophy Mountain range. From here, it is possible to continue to the Skyline Ridge, which is a challenging 6 km (3.5 mi) one-way hike with panoramic views. Other great hikes include the short one-hour hike to Moul Falls, or the interesting Majerus Farm Trail, which is up to 32 km (20 mi) one-way and offers views of Pyramid Mountain, which is a volcano that exploded under a glacier, and eventually passes by the Majerus Farm, one of several abandoned farmsteads in the park that is being reclaimed by nature.
The Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map features clearly marked multi-use trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing, with parking areas and trailheads.
Camping
In addition to the scenic and remote backcountry campsites that can be found along the paddling routes and lengthy hiking trails in the park, Wells Gray Provincial Park offers over 150 vehicle-accessible frontcountry sites in four different campgrounds: Clearwater Lake, Falls Creek, Mahood Lake, and Pyramid Campground. With easy access and comfortable amenities, the whole family can enjoy all that Wells Gray Provincial Park has to offer. Clearwater Lake, Falls Creek, and Mahood Lake Campgrounds offer some sites that are reservable through the BC Parks Reservation Service.
Whether you are looking for a wilderness site to spend a night under the stars along one of the many paddling routes and backcountry hiking trails or a vehicle-accessible site with direct access to amenities and outdoor recreation, countless points of interest and campsites are clearly marked on the Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map.
Fishing / Wildlife Viewing
From sparkling streams filled with rainbow trout, salmon, and Dolly Varden to black bears, deer, and mountain goats wandering through valleys and along mountain ridges, Wells Gray Provincial Park is just teeming with wildlife. Grab your fishing rod and binoculars and get ready to enjoy all the fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities in this beautiful park. The Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map shows you all the hot spots for fishing and wildlife viewing, including fish species and boat launches.
Are you ready to start planning your next spring and summer adventure in Wells Gray Provincial Park? Pick up a copy of the Murtle Lake – Wells Gray Provincial Park Adventure Map today. Also, be sure to check out the Thompson Okanagan BC Backroad Mapbooks or GPS Maps, and the BRMB Maps App. Make sure you tag us on social media at @backroadmaps or #BRMBLIFE on your favourite Wells Gray Provincial Park adventure photos!