Road Trip Time!

Pack the snacks, turn on the tunes and marvel at the scenery along the Yellowhead Highway. It’s time for your road trip on Hwy 5, also known as the Yellowhead Highway. Sprawling ranch land hugs the banks of the North Thompson River in the shadow of the rounded slopes of the Monashee Mountains. As you travel north, the river snakes back and forth and mountain peaks morph from gentle mounds covered in ancient timber to jagged peaks capped by glaciers.

The Yellowhead Highway — Wilderness Just a Step Away

It’s time for a spin with wilderness just a step away. Take as much or as little time as you want, just remember to stay within those speed limits. Every turn in the road enhances the feeling of freedom as you follow the road to your next adventure.

Dazzling Landscapes

The Yellowhead connects major BC and Alberta cities to the Canadian Rockies. It’s a corridor for accessing grand adventure. Get off the asphalt, get out and stand in awe at the panoramic views of the wilds of British Columbia. Hwy 5 is your gateway to amazing recreational highlights. Hike, raft, ski or just relax and watch for wildlife. No matter which exit you take, or which turn you make, an adventure is waiting just off the blacktop.

Clearwater
& Wells Gray

As you move north along Hwy 5, past Clearwater, rounded, smooth mountains encroach on the highway. Clearwater is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park and home to more waterfalls and wilderness than most people can envision.

Drive 35 kilometres (22 miles) along the Clearwater Valley Road for park access. As you drive along, dense forests come into view. The accessible walking trails from the main roads lead into a mystical rainforest where you can hike the Rim Trail to famous Helmcken Falls. There are over 42 named waterfalls here for you to enjoy.

Take the time to explore Trophy Mountains. In the spring and summer wildflowers paint the inclines. Those bound for water-filled expeditions can raft the legendary Clearwater River. For something quieter, launch your canoe into the soothing waters of Clearwater and Azure Lakes.

Blue River

The jagged slopes of the Cariboo Mountains come into view as you drive towards Blue River. This is the home of Mike Wiegele’s Heli-skiing in winter. In the warmer months this is where you start your get-away with kayaking or canoeing the golden shores of Murtle Lake, the largest paddle-only lake in North America.

Valemount

The village of Valemount is a cozy community nestled in the ruggedly wild landscape of the Cariboo, Monashee and the Rocky mountain ranges — including the Canadian Rockies’ tallest peak Mount Robson. Valemount is near the Fraser River’s headwaters which is the gateway to Jasper National Park. Brave hikers find their passion hiking the famed Berg Lake Trail, where the 22 km (14 mi) hike in leads you to the turquoise blue waters of Berg Lake. You can hike both ways or ride a helicopter to the lake and hike back down.

For an easier journey, amble through the bird sanctuary of Cranberry Marsh, where ungroomed trails lead you to observation towers with a panoramic view of the wetland.

This website is the official travel website for the North Thompson Valley, British Columbia, Canada and is sponsored by the North Thompson Valley Marketing Committee; a partnership of Tourism Wells Gray, Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Tourism Valemount.