SUN PEAKS RESORT | BARRIERE | CLEARWATER | BLUE RIVER | VALEMOUNT NORTH THOMPSON VALLEY VISITOR GUIDE NORTH THOMPSON VALLEY Wilderness...Wilderness. ..just just a astep step away away NorthThompson.ca | #norththompsonNorthThompson.ca | North Thompson Valley | 1 Elevate your heart rate in the Sun Peaks alpine West Ridge Trail Photo Blake Jorgenson 2 | North Thompson Valley | NorthThompson.ca NorthThompson.ca | North Thompson Valley | 3 Blue River, the Jewel of the Yellowhead View of Mud Lake and the town of Blue River Photo Dylan Kristian 4 | North Thompson Valley | NorthThompson.ca NorthThompson.ca | North Thompson Valley | 5 CONTENTS WILDERNESS… JUST A STEP AWAY www.barrieretimbermart.ca • 4287 Yellowhead Hwy. 5 • 250-672-9323 BBAARRRRIIEERREE You can do anything Emperor Falls along the Berg Lake Trail, Mount Robson Provincial Park • Lumber & Plywood • Hardware • Tools • Landscaping & Gardening • Electrical • Insulation Mouldings • Housewares & Appliances • Painting Supplies • Hunting/Fishing Licenses & Supplies Our Story 8 NORTH THOMPSON OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE VALLEY Sun Peaks 14 Copyright 2019 © North Thompson Valley Marketing a partnership Specializing In: Barriere/Lower North Thompson 20 of LowerWi Northlderness Thompson. .Tourism,. just Tourism a step Sun Peaks, away Tourism Wells Gray, Tourism Valemount and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Gabion Retaining Walls • Gabion Mattresses Map 24 Design: Roger Handling terrafda.com Copywriting: Darcy Nybo alwayswrite.ca Printing, layout, advertising sales and ad design by Black Press • Gabion Cladding • Landscape Applications Clearwater/Wells Gray 28 Photography: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Glowing Earth, Dylan Kristian, BG Smith, Björn Alberts, Nat An eld, Tourism Blue River 34 Wells Gray, Dan Roberts Photography, Kelly Funk Photography, Blake Jorgenson, Reuben Krabbe, Sam Egan/Cedar Line Creative, Shawn Fadear Ri Stills, Holly Louwerse Photography, Boosted Imagery, Valemount 40 Connie Falk, Jill Hayward, Mike Wiegele, River Safari Cell: 250.319.2166 • Off: 250.672.9753 Cover photo: Mount Robson; Kelly Funk Photography Fax: 250.672.9753 Events 45 [email protected] Photo Kelly Funk Photography Kelly Funk Photo 6 | North Thompson Valley | NorthThompson.ca NorthThompson.ca | North Thompson Valley | 7 OUR STORY WILDERNESS… JUST A STEP AWAY OUR STORY Lock eyes with a black bear on Safari in Blue River Photo DylanPhoto Kristian Adventure abounds on the South peak in the Canadian Rockies. Witness Thompson, North Thompson, the spectacle of 39 named waterfalls Clearwater and Fraser Rivers. We in Wells Gray, British Columbia’s have hundreds of lakes that vary in size fourth largest provincial park. Our from small fi shing holes to ones with beauty lies in our diversity, and it’s all seemingly endless shorelines. Explore here in the North Thompson Valley. from the ranchlands to the mountains as they climb higher and higher until Learn more about the North you reach Mount Robson, the highest Thompson at norththompson.ca Top Experiences of the North Thompson Valley 1 Catch the big one year-round at lakes along horse whisperer near Pinantan Lake Hwy 24 (BC’s Fishing Highway) or at one of 9 Hike hut-to-hut on guided excursions the many other lakes in the region through the wilds of Wells Gray Provincial 2 Get up close and personal with bears and Park Wilderness… Just A Step Away other wildlife on a Safari tour in Blue River 10 Hike through the wildfl owers at Sun Peaks Come and write your own adventure story. The North Thompson Valley’s 3 Paddle a Voyageur canoe through the and Wells Gray Provincial Park geographical and ecological wonders have enchanted visitors for hundreds of waters of McGillivray Lake in Sun Peaks 11 Take a backcountry snowmobile tour in years. Discover the world’s only inland temperate rainforest. Explore our alpine 4 Enjoy the tranquility of Murtle Lake: Valemount, Blue River and Sun Peaks paddles only, no motors allowed 12 Downhill and cross-country skiing at Sun and sub-alpine forests. Experience the tundra at the base of a glacier. This is 5 Ride the rapids, or fl oat down one of our Peaks, Canada’s second largest ski area Canada’s wild kingdom where wilderness is just a step away. Watch for grizzly and rivers at a leisurely pace 13 Hike or heli-tour Mount Robson, the black bears, wolves, moose, eagles, deer, salmon and more along the way. 6 Stand in awe of Helmcken Falls and other highest peak in the Canadian Rockies waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park 14 Experience untracked snow heli-skiing in A rainbow forms over Dawson Falls in 7 Hold your breath as you watch the eight Blue River Wells Gray Provincial Park second ride at the North Thompson Fall Fair 15 Discover the winged beauties at Cranberry Photo Björn Alberts and Rodeo in Barriere Marsh in Valemount 8 Live the ranch life and learn how to be a 8 | North Thompson Valley | NorthThompson.ca NorthThompson.ca | North Thompson Valley | 9 OUR STORY OUR STORY WILDERNESS… JUST A STEP AWAY WILDERNESS… JUST A STEP AWAY Whether it is water adventure or snowmobiling Blue River has what you are looking for Sun Peaks Blue River In the south, you’ll find Sun Blue River lies on the edge of Peaks, Canada’s second largest the world’s only inland temperate ski area. Like the rest of the rainforest, at the confluence of the North Thompson, it’s a year round North Thompson and Blue Rivers. playground. In the winter, explore In winter, there’s an exceptional the Nordic and snowshoe trails or snow pack, perfect for world-class glide down the slopes. Experience heli-skiing, CAT, cross-country our backcountry via dog sled or and backcountry skiing, and snowmobile. Cut a hole in the ice snowmobiling. In the warmer months and try your hand at ice fishing. go on a safari! There are jeep and Once the snow melts, there’s more river safaris where you have a front outdoor fun with hiking, biking, row seat to lumbering moose, burly golfing, canoe tours, outdoor bears and majestic elk in their own concerts, and other great activities. back yard. Commune with nature Photo Boosted Imagery Boosted Photo Come stay in the alpine village Sun Peaks hosts a wide variety of events all year long as you paddle Murtle Lake, located and connect with the locals in this Anfield Nat Photo within Wells Gray Provincial Park, the abilities will find a trail just right for Icefields Parkway is as real as it gets. friendly community. largest non-motorized lake in North them. At Cranberry Marsh you can There’s easy access to the trail. Learn about the Simpcw rich cowboy history and aboriginal America. Take the time to hike our go birding, hiking or canoeing. Come Columbia Icefields from Valemount (people of the North Thompson culture. You can get both at the Fall Barriere/Lower North 15+ kms of maintained trails, enjoying back in the winter to skate, ski or in the North Thompson along Hwy River), and the Tk’emlúpsemc Fair and Rodeo, held every Labour Thompson scenic views along the way. snowshoe on the pond. 16 east to Jasper. Take your time and (people of the confluence), who Day Weekend. Bounded by rivers and home explore Banff and Jasper National have lived here as far back as to over 100 lakes, Barriere/Lower Valemount North Thompson and Parks. Marvel at the stunning vistas, recorded history. Experience North Thompson has some of the Clearwater/Wells Gray Valemount lays claim to majestic Columbia Icefields Loop wildlife and over 100 glaciers. the yearly Kamloopa PowWow, For wildlife and adventure, you best freshwater fishing in the world. Mount Robson, the highest peak This circle tour is much more Visit the largest natural lake in the hosted by the Tk’emlúpsemc te can’t beat Clearwater, located on Lush ranchland, forests, and the in the Canadian Rockies, and the than a drive through the mountains. Canadian Rockies. Maligne Lake Secwe’pemc (formerly known as the edge of Wells Gray Provincial rounded slopes of the Monashee Berg Lake Trail. In the winter, This picturesque wilderness loop will is also home to the world-famous the Kamloops Indian Band). Come Park. Helmcken Falls is Canada’s Mountains are a perfect backdrop enjoy snowmobiling, snowshoeing, take your breath away. This is the Spirit Island. Make your return trip stay at our year-round ranches, fourth highest waterfall and just one for your outdoor adventures. For dogsledding, cross-country and quintessential Canadian road trip. via the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 and lodges and fishing camps. It’s time of over 41 named waterfalls you’ll something more laid back, explore backcountry skiing. Check out Your journey through the North connect to the North Thompson at to experience a land steeped in find in Wells Gray. In the winter, our golf courses and our new wine powerboarding at Crystal Ridge, Thompson Valley and Columbia Kamloops. witness the wonder of Wells Gray’s the only sled-assisted ski hill in the frozen waterfalls, break trail with Venturing into the ice age – hiking on the flanks of Mount Robson The lakes of the lower valley are a fishers’ paradise world. It’s all part of winter fun. your snowshoes, and ski tour the Our striking snow-capped backcountry from hut-to-hut in the mountain peaks create a perfect Trophy Mountains. Take a snow-taxi backdrop for your epic adventure. up to Clearwater Lake, then cozy In the warmer months, cast your up by a roaring fire. Bring your line and reel in Rainbow and Bull binoculars and view wildlife and birds Trout and Whitefish from one of year-round. Once the snow melts, our rivers or Kinbasket Lake. Marvel come and hike ancient forests, at the Chinook Salmon Run, the paddle pristine lakes, and raft on second longest inland migration in some of Canada’s fiercest rapids.