Clearwater offers several different ways to enjoy a stay: Dutch Lake Park in the heart of town, the Clearwater River Trail, the ice rink at the North Thompson Sportsplex and Clearwater Ski Hill in the District of Clearwater. Clearwater is also the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park. Water, trails and ice sports offer different possible focuses, which you can tailor to your travel dates and interests.
Water at Dutch Lake Park
Dutch Lake Park is a 10.5-acre waterfront park in the heart of Clearwater. You can swim, picnic, canoe and kayak there. Each option offers a different experience: a picnic focuses on a break by the water, while swimming and paddling are activities in the water. You can shape your visit around the kind of experience you want, rather than treating the park merely as a backdrop for another stretch of trail.
The Clearwater River Trail and the landscape
The Clearwater River Trail runs for 7 km back to the town of Clearwater. Along the route are volcanic and fluvial formations. Fluvial describes landforms associated with rivers, so the geological features along the trail are also a highlight, alongside the walk itself. This gives the activities at Dutch Lake and the trail different emphases: water activities at a waterfront park, or a trail route featuring volcanic and fluvial formations. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
Clearwater and Wells Gray Provincial Park
Clearwater is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park. This may be an important factor in choosing where to stay if the provincial park is also part of your trip. Route conditions and park notices may vary. Check for current updates beforehand and plan your visit around the conditions during your travel dates.
Ice activities at the Sportsplex and Ski Hill
The North Thompson Sportsplex offers locals and visitors a regulation-size indoor ice rink, along with changing rooms and spectator platforms. As an indoor rink, the Sportsplex differs from the park and trail options. Programs and seasonal availability may change; check in advance to see what is on offer during your stay.
Clearwater Ski Hill is in the District of Clearwater. It has a fast T-bar lift, runs for all ability levels and a spacious lodge. The Ski Hill began operating as a rope tow in 1965. Its current use depends on seasonal operating conditions; equipment and facilities may also change. Before planning a visit, check whether it will be operating during your travel dates and which facilities will be available then.
If you’re deciding between the ice rink and the ski runs, you can start by choosing the activity you want: an indoor ice surface at the Sportsplex in Clearwater or a lift and runs at Ski Hill in the District of Clearwater.
Discover more destinations: Little Fort, Sun Peaks, Kamloops, Ashcroft, Blue River, Spences Bridge, Lytton, Barrière
For the broader travel overview: Thompson-Nicola.
