This huge lava deposit in the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field was erupted from nearby fissures starting 200,000 years ago and filled the wide valley of the Clearwater River. Helmcken Falls drops over the western escarpment of the Murtle Plateau. A trail from the main Helmcken Falls viewpoint accesses this gorge and takes about 1.5 hours each way. It is at the head of Helmcken Canyon, upstream from the confluence with the Murtle River. Gatling Gorge trail: Gatling Gorge is the narrowest point of the Clearwater River, about 20 m (66 ft) across. Helmcken Canyon: A 30-minute walk west from the main viewpoint follows the rim of Helmcken Canyon to an overlook of the meeting of the Murtle and Clearwater Rivers, about 250 m (820 ft) below. There are no fences at the end of this trail so caution is important, especially with children and pets.

This walk takes about 1 1⁄ 4 hours each way. A viewing platform on the rim of the canyon provides a panorama of the falls and canyon.īrink Trail: A 4-km long trail starts near Dawson Falls and follows the south bank of the Murtle River to the brink of Helmcken Falls. : 110 Access and trails Ī short paved side road from the main Wells Gray Park road leads to Helmcken Falls. Helmcken died in 1920 at the age of 95, but never actually saw the falls himself. He helped bring British Columbia into Canadian Confederation in 1871. This name honoured John Sebastian Helmcken, a physician with the Hudson's Bay Company who arrived in Victoria in 1850. Three weeks later, Lee received a reply from the Premier stating that the waterfall was instead to be called Helmcken Falls.

He was so impressed that he wrote a letter to Sir Richard McBride, Premier of British Columbia, requesting that the falls be named 'McBride Falls'. On July 24, 1913, he walked west along the Murtle River from his remote camp and reached the top of the waterfall. By 1913, he was working south of the Murtle River laying out lots for homesteaders. In 1911, Lee was awarded a four-year contract to survey lands in the North Thompson and Clearwater Valleys. Credit for discovering Helmcken Falls goes to Robert Henry Lee (1859–1935), a land surveyor working for the British Columbia government. The Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors in the 1870s passed to the north and made no mention of seeing the falls. Meadow Falls is very difficult to view, except by air. Majerus, Horseshoe and McDougall Falls are accessed by trails. Only Helmcken, The Mushbowl and Dawson can be reached by road. The others are The Mushbowl, Dawson Falls, Majerus Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Meadow Falls and McDougall Falls. There are six other waterfalls on the Murtle River, upstream from Helmcken Falls. Higher Canadian waterfalls are Hunlen Falls in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, and Della Falls in Strathcona Provincial Park, all in British Columbia. Helmcken Falls is the fourth highest waterfall in Canada, measured by total straight drop without a break. The protection of Helmcken Falls was one of the reasons for the creation of Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1939. Helmcken Falls is a 141 m (463 ft) waterfall on the Murtle River within Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park

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