This was my last full day in Jasper and I had planned on going up Mount Edith Cavell to check out the glacier and ice cave but to my disappointment the road was closed. Instead I made my way to Athabasca Falls and then to Sunwapta Falls.
Below the falls
Sunwapta Falls is difficult to get any decent photos of because it seems that every angle something seems wrong so never really got any photos I was really happy with, the following photo is of the canyon just after the falls.
After a busy day the day before we decided to go check out the Miette Hot Springs. The hot springs are up a winding mountain road which was very beautiful and seemed to have a large population of big horn sheep.
After enjoying a relaxing time in the hot springs I decided to explore some of the trails near the town of Jasper. The trail I was on made it’s way up a steep hill with a great view of the town and surrounding mountains.
Stormy skies of the town of Jasper
Looking out from a cliff top, the town of Jasper is to the left.
One of the rivers that winds through the park near the Town of JasperI was woken up early by the lovely sound of heavy rain on my tent, in a brief pause in the rain I packed up camp and started on my way towards Jasper. On my way out of Wells Gray I did stop at a few places. One of those was a viewpoint overlooking the valley that the road follows.
My next stop was at another well know waterfall, Spahats Falls which has carved into the volcanic rock before it tumbles off a cliff into a raging creek.
The rest of the day was a pretty uneventful drive up to Jasper and then setting up camp.
The day started out as a dull overcast day with the odd promise of sun that never really seemed to come true. I spent much of the day hiking with little success in the photo department but after sitting out the days rain storm I made my way of to Baileys Chute which is named after one of the engineers that was responsible for putting the road in, he unfortunately died down stream in a boating accident.Near the chute there are a number of small waterfalls (rapids?) which where very formidable looking.
Baileys Chute
One of the waterfalls upstream from Baileys Chute
The trail running along the Clearwater river to view the waterfalls
A sand and gravel beach below one of the falls
This was my last full day in Wells Gray park, tomorrow I pack up and head to Jasper National Park in Alberta.
This was my first real day at Wells Gray park and although it was warm out the weather was a mixed bag of rain and sunshine which was not ideal.
I decided to go and check out the most well know waterfall in the park, Helmcken Falls which tumbles 141 m (463 ft). This is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada and was spectacular to see.
My next stop was Ray farm, this was the site of the only homestead in the park and was donated when the owners passed away about 50 years ago. Since then nature is slowly returning the site to its natural site but most of the original buildings are still standing.
A trail through what was one of the fields
