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Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
Follow a wooden boardwalk path through a warm-water swamp and boreal forest to soak in Canada's second largest hot springs. Originally known as Tropical Valley for its lush terrain, Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park in British Columbia encompasses about eight pools, one of which is open to bathers. The thermal waters simmer between 108° and 126°F in the rustic public pool, making the park a popular rest stop for drivers on the nearby Alaska Highway. "The hot springs draw people from all over the world," says Belinda Clark, the park's manager. "Visitors often come for a day the first time and return the next year for an entire week because they enjoyed it so much."
When to Go: The park, pool, and highway are open year-round, and all three are busiest in the summer. Clark recommends winter, the off-season, when traffic is light, the surrounding forest is covered with snow, frost builds steam off the water, and the northern lights add a celestial show to most evening soaks.
How to Get Around: The hot springs are located at Historical Mile 496 of the Alaska Highway. From the campground, walk five minutes on the raised wooden boardwalk over the swamp to get to the pool. Look out for moose and other wildlife feeding in the swamp and surrounding forest, and for the 14 different species of wild orchids nurtured by the thermal waters. Once you arrive at the pool, change into shorts or a bathing suit in the dressing rooms, and store your belongings in one of the 24 cubbyholes. The wooden deck and the stairs into the pool can be slippery in winter, so be careful. There is seating built along the side closest to the stairs, but move around to experience the varying water temperatures. The right side is warmest, so enter by the left-hand set of stairs to ease in gradually. After soaking for a while, cool down by walking or floating back to the left side; a cold spring chills the water at the far left end.
Where to Stay: The adjacent provincial park has 53 campsites with full services May 1 to October 14. Camping is available year-round, with reduced fees and services off-season. You can reserve online. Across the Alaska Highway is the 12-room Liard Hotsprings Lodge, open year-round for accommodation and fuel. The lodge also features camping facilities and 20 pull-through sites for RVs. About a 40-minute drive south, the Muncho lakeside Northern Rockies Lodge offers water-view rooms, suites, and log cabins.
What to Eat or Drink: If you're not camping around the fire pit, the Liard Hotsprings Lodge has a simple restaurant open only during the summer. The Northern Rockies Lodge has a Swiss-themed dining room that's open year-round, even to nonguests; it serves breakfast (muesli and fresh breads), lunch, and dinner that includes schnitzel with mushroom sauce, Hungarian goulash, rainbow trout, and homemade bumbleberry or apple pie for dessert. The tiny nearby Coal River Lodge restaurant seats 24 and also is open all year. If you go, stop by the gift shop to check out the owner's homemade chocolates and jams, all made with berries from the area.
What to Bring: Mosquitoes can be horrendous in summer, so bring repellent. Also, while the pool is open 24/7, the boardwalk isn't lighted. Bring a flashlight for evening soaks.
What to Watch Before You Go: American Experience: Building the Alaska Highway (2005). The PBS documentary tells the story of how U.S. Army soldiers cut pathways through primeval forests in 1942 to build the 1,520-mile highway traveled, in part at least, by everyone who visits Liard Hot Springs. The soldiers also built the original wooden boardwalk leading to the hot springs pool.
Helpful Links: BC Parks
Fun Fact: The tiny freshwater fish darting back and forth under the park's wooden boardwalk are lake chub. Endemic to the park, these small fish are unique among North American minnows because they can survive in such warm water.
Vancouver-based Robin Esrock is author of The Great Canadian Bucket List and was the host of the Nat Geo Adventure TV series Word Travels .Chasing Waterfalls In Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia
Helmcken Falls is a 141 m (463 ft) waterfall on the Murtle River within Wells Gray Provincial Park ... [+] in British Columbia, Canada. The protection of Helmcken Falls was one of the reasons for the creation of Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1939.
gettyOutdoor and nature enthusiasts will love the endless adventures waiting in British Columbia. The majestic province is perfectly located between the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Ocean. B.C is the perfect place to unwind, unplug, and explore the great outdoors in spring and summer. Wells Gray Provincial Park is home to diverse wildlife, hiking trails, five major lakes, two river systems to canoe along, lush green forests packed with plants, and of course the famous waterfalls. With over 1.3 million acres of protected landscape, it's the fourth biggest provincial park in B.C and a real paradise. When I was exploring Wells Gray Provincial Park I stayed overnight in Clearwater, the main gateway to the area and an adorable small town. Wells Gray is often referred to as Canada's waterfall park and there are 41 named waterfalls. Here are five to get you started on your waterfall chasing journey.
Moul FallsMoul Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada
gettyWalking behind Moul Falls was the highlight of my journey at Wells Gray. The cool mist of the rushing water splashed me in the face as I walked between the veil of the falls and the canyon wall. It's about a one-hour hike through the forest to get to the top of the falls for a perfect view. Sturdy shoes with treads are recommended as the ground gets slippery, especially if you walk down to the base of the falls. The route starts at Moul Falls parking lot on Clearwater Valley Road and is a popular hike for locals and tourists that want a challenging waterfall adventure.
Helmcken FallsHelmcken Falls is a 141 m waterfall on the Murtle River within Wells Gray Provincial Park in British ... [+] Columbia, Canada. It is falling into a giant cave and surrounded by lush green boreal forrest.
gettyThe tallest and most famous falls in the park, Helmcken Falls, is also Canada's fourth tallest. Not far from Clearwater Valley Road, Helmcken Falls is truly iconic. Stand on the platform and take in the beauty of the panoramic views of the canyon down below. The impressive falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls on the planet, but because the viewing platform is further away the falls may appear smaller than they actually are. But make no mistake, Helmcken Falls is close to 500 feet tall and drops over the volcanic Murtle Plateau. Over 200,000 years ago a massive lava deposit filled the Clearwater River valley and the plateau was formed by layers of lava. There are nearby hiking trails such as the two-hour hike along the Helmcken Falls Rim Trail. Be on the lookout for wildlife roaming the forest around you.
Spahats Creek FallsSpahats Creek Falls, also called Spahats Falls, is a waterfall on Spahats Creek within Wells Gray ... [+] Provincial Park of British Columbia, Canada
gettyA short hiking trail through a pretty cedar forest leads to Spahats Falls, a tall narrow waterfall spilling into a broad gorge below. There is a viewing platform for all your photo needs or simply admire the beauty and sounds of the plunging waterfall. Spahats Falls was formed by deposits of volcanic rock years ago. There are benches at the far end if you want to sit quietly and bird watch.
Dawson FallsDawson Falls, Murtle River, Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
gettyIt's a ten-minute easy walk through a lush forest on a mostly flat trail to this stunning cascading waterfall, making it great for families with younger kids. Dawson Falls flows over lava beds and across the Murtle River. Murtle Lake is also beautiful and famous for being North America's biggest paddle only lake. There is a second viewpoint at the brink of the falls that is also very pretty and worthy of photos, just take the smaller path and stand at the top and look down.
Mushbowl FallsLocated downstream from Dawson Falls and a short hike away from Helmcken falls, you can witness the Murtle River split into two sections here. The exposed rock formations separating the two cascades of Mushbowl Falls are the oldest rocks in Wells Gray Provincial Park. Although it's a smaller waterfall, it sits in a narrow canyon and is stunning. There is a cave to the left side of the falls that is accessible when the river is not flowing too high. Mushbowl Falls are located in the heart of the Clearwater Corridor of the park and there is a small area for a few cars if you are driving.
Please travel responsibly and leave nothing but footprints in Wells Gray Provincial Park.
"River in Wells Gray Provincial Park, Canada"
gettyA New Hampshire Water Park Is Closing Its Doors
SUPPLY. WE RIGHT NOW AT 645 NEW ON DAYBREAK, A LOCAL WATER PARK IS CLOSING ITS DOORS. THE OPERATORS OF CANDIA SPRINGS ADVENTURE PARK ANNOUNCED ON FACEBOOK THAT THEY MADE THE DECISION AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DELIBERATIONS. THEY WENT ON TO SAY, QUOTE, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE TRY TO AVOID ANY TYPE OF SPECULATION. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT HAVE ULTIMATELY
A New Hampshire water park is closing its doors
Updated: 12:57 PM EST Jan 9, 2024
A local water park is closing its doors for good.The operators of Candia Springs Adventure Park announced on Facebook that they made the decision to close after several months of deliberations."If you can, please try to avoid any type of speculation. There have been a number of factors that have ultimately made us come to this decision. Sometimes, all good things must come to an end," the company wrote.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —A local water park is closing its doors for good.
The operators of Candia Springs Adventure Park announced on Facebook that they made the decision to close after several months of deliberations.
"If you can, please try to avoid any type of speculation. There have been a number of factors that have ultimately made us come to this decision. Sometimes, all good things must come to an end," the company wrote.
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