Ministry of Environment - North Thompson River

Parks Listed Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

A lovely campground situated at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Thompson Rivers. Popular with travellers on Hwy #5, with young families, or as a base camp for visitors exploring Wells Gray Park and the Clearwater area.

Park Size: 126 hectares

Special Notes:

At a viewpoint overlooking the meeting of the two rivers, the green of the Clearwater can be easily distinguished from the muddy brown of the North Thompson.
Services such as gas, propane and food may be found in Clearwater. Information on Wells Gray and other provincial parks can be found at the Wells Gray Travel Information Centre in Clearwater.
Attractions in the area include a miniature railroad, gallery, museum, river rafting, guided horseback riding, rowboat rentals, bike rentals, mini-golf and 18-hole golf, boat tours and hiking.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Approved Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan.

Location:

Location Map

5 km south of Clearwater, just off Hwy #5.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Location Map
Brochure (204 kb pdf)

Nature & Culture:

History - Established in 1967.
Cultural Heritage - Traditional use by Shuswap First Nations is indicated by the remnants of kekuli (pit houses) and food cache pits along the riverbanks.
Conservation - The park is on the boundary between the drier south and the wet interior. Visitors will find Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine and juniper next to cedar or spruce. Beneath the trees, soopolallie, wild rose, hazelnut, Saskatoon and devil's club can be found.
Wildlife - Squirrels, deer mice and shrews are common with the occasional visits from marten, coyote, deer, moose and black bears. Birds include chickadees, varied thrush, woodpeckers, flickers, swallows and jays. Bald eagles and ospreys can be seen fishing for Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and chinook salmon.

Visitor Safety:

A wading and swimming area is located on a back eddy where the Clearwater River flows into the North Thompson River. During flood season in June and July, currents can be very fast and powerful in the main part of the river.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

Blackwell Park Operations Ltd
E-mail address: info@explorewellsgray.com
Phone: (250) 674-2194
Click here to view a non-government web link for additional information.

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis - campsite reservations are not accepted.
Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $7.50 per senior's couple/night

Campground Hours of Operation All dates are subject to change without notice
Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)	May 1 - September 30 Gate is closed during the off-season.
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	May 1 - September 30 Off-season: day-use area is open.
Campground Reservable Dates:	Not applicable
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:	61
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served)	Not applicable
Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.

No wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.

No group campsites.

This park has a day-use/picnic area.

Some facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible.

Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season.

This park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets.

No showers.

A sani-station/dump is available during the collecting season.
Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

There are four easy, short trails within the park. Northside Trail 1.1 km 20 minutes; Southside Trail 0.5 km 10 minutes; Campground Loop 1.2 km 25 minutes (including trail from parking lot to campground); and the Terrace Loop 1.3 km 30 minutes. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

Excellent adventure playground for small children.

There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. A wading/swimming area is located on a back eddy where the Clearwater River flows into the North Thompson. During flood season, the current can be very fast and water icy cold. For lake swimming, try nearby Dutch Lake. Although the lake sometimes has "swimmer's itch", there are shower buildings in the adjacent picnic/playground area and a shower after swimming is advised.

No launching facilities are provided. Locals occasionally canoe the North Thompson between Clearwater and Kamloops in the low water of late summer.

This park does not have a boat launch.

For anglers who enjoy river fishing, there are several vantage points easily accessible within the park. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

No horseback riding.

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.

Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

No wildlife viewing opportunities.

No winter recreation opportunities.

No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

No windsurfing opportunities.

No waterskiing opportunities.

No hunting in the park.

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.