Region
North Thompson and Robson Valley
Base in Clearwater for Wells Gray, Valemount or McBride for Mount Robson; drive Highway 5 north, don't backtrack.
Key facts · Canada
- Best months
- May–Aug
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD, $)
- Language
- English and French
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−3:30 to UTC−8
Rules in force · 10Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
- British Columbia ↗BC Ferries: reserve a vehicle sailing in summer; foot passengers just turn up.
- British Columbia ↗Interior wildfire smoke can hit July–August; keep plans flexible and check air quality.
- Thompson-Okanagan ↗A car is the practical default; provincial highways are good, but park access can mean gravel forest service roads.
- Thompson-Okanagan ↗Prices are shown before sales tax; BC adds GST and PST at the till.
Two valleys, one road. Highway 5 runs northeast from Kamloops up the North Thompson to Clearwater (Wells Gray waterfalls), then on to Valemount and Tete Jaune Cache, where it meets Highway 16 in the Robson Valley. Clearwater is the Wells Gray base; Valemount and McBride are the Mount Robson and Fraser River bases. Pick one end and drive through, or you spend the trip doubling back.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- ClearwaterPlanned
Wells Gray gateway; fuel, groceries and the most beds in the North Thompson.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- ValemountCity guide
Closest beds to Mount Robson; salmon viewing in autumn.
Best Jun, Sep, Dec–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND - McBrideCity guide
Robson Valley town on Highway 16; museum and quieter rooms.
Best Jun, Aug–Sep, Dec–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- Tete Jaune CacheCity guide
Highway 5/16 junction; rafting put-in and salmon spawn views.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Clearwater 2 — one full day in Wells Gray
- 3 nights
- Clearwater 1 + Valemount 2 (Mount Robson day)
- 4 nights
- Clearwater 2 + Valemount 1 + McBride 1, driving through to Jasper or Prince George
- Clearwater to Valemount is roughly 2.5 hours of driving with few services between — fuel up in Clearwater or Blue River.
- Cell coverage drops on long stretches of Highway 5; download offline maps.
- Winter tires or chains are needed on Highway 5 from roughly October to April.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Gray Provincial Park | Clearwater | 45 min | unknown | Helmcken Falls is on the main access road; the park road is long — check fuel and gate status before going deep. |
| Mount Robson Provincial Park | Valemount | 30 min | unknown | Visitor centre and trailheads off Highway 16; the summit is often in cloud. |
| Tete Jaune Cache | Valemount | 20 min | unknown | Rafting launches and the Fraser River; salmon run August–September. |
| McBride | Valemount | 45 min | unknown | Local history museum and Robson Valley views east on Highway 16. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding here; you carry your own bags between valley towns.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valemount | go | go | go | × | ok | go | ok | ok | go | ok | × | go |
| McBride | go | go | go | × | ok | go | ok | go | go | × | × | go |
| Tete Jaune Cache | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| Thompson-Okanagan (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | – | – | go | ok | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Thompson (Clearwater)Highway 5 valley | cold | cold | ok | ok | best | best | best | best | ok | ok | cold | cold |
| Robson Valley (Valemount, McBride)Highway 16 valley | cold | cold | cold | ok | ok | best | best | best | ok | ok | cold | cold |
- North Thompson (Clearwater)
- Wells Gray's access road can hold snow into May; summer days reach the mid-20s °C.
- Robson Valley (Valemount, McBride)
- Colder and wetter than the North Thompson; Mount Robson is clearest on crisp mornings, often June and September.
July and August are the reliable months for both parks; September brings fewer people and the salmon run.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamloops | Clearwater | Drive Highway 5 north | ~1 h 30 | The usual start; Kamloops has the nearest scheduled flights (YKA). |
| Jasper | Valemount / McBride | Drive Highway 16 west | ~1 h 15 to Valemount | The Rockies end and the Robson Valley begins. |
| Prince George | McBride / Valemount | BC Bus North, twice weekly | check | Stops in McBride and Tete Jaune Cache; book ahead, seats are limited. |
| Toronto / Vancouver | Clearwater, Blue River, Valemount | VIA Rail The Canadian, up to three times weekly | check | Clearwater, Blue River and Valemount are flag stops — arrange with staff. |
| Prince Rupert / Prince George | McBride | VIA Rail Jasper–Prince Rupert train, daytime | check | Overnight stop in Prince George; you book your own room there. |
Regional passes
BC Parks day-use
buyWells Gray and Mount Robson day use is free; you pay only for camping, which books out in July–August.
Parks Canada Discovery Pass
skipThese are BC provincial parks, not Parks Canada — the pass does not apply. It does apply next door in Jasper.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside diner burgers and fries | Clearwater, Valemount, McBride | Kitchens in the small towns often close by 20:00; eat before you drive the last stretch.Kitchens in the small towns often close by 8:00 PM; eat before you drive the last stretch. |
| Salmon and local fish | Robson Valley towns | Availability is seasonal; ask what came in locally. |
| Grocery-and-cooler picnic | Clearwater or McBride supermarkets | The reliable option inside the parks — services are thin between towns. |
Go next
Jasper
Highway 16 east, ~1 h 15 from Valemount
The Rockies' largest park; carry on for the Icefields Parkway.
Thompson-Nicola
plannedHighway 5 south to Kamloops
Sun Peaks and the South Thompson.
Okanagan
Highway 5 south then Highway 97
Wine country and lake towns.
North Coast-Nechako
Highway 16 west via Prince George
The long run toward Prince Rupert.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source