Before reaching Helmcken Falls, the access road parallels the Murtle River for several kilometers, and one should stop to visit Dawson Falls first. Dawson is a broad cascade a mere 20 meters high, and still very impressive - until you've seen Helmcken. A bit beyond, the road crosses the Murtle at the Mushbowl, a series of swirling potholes in the riverbed. From the parking area at Helmcken Falls, a trail leads along the brink of the river canyon to a viewpoint over the meeting place of the Murtle and the larger Clearwater River far below. Here Spahats Creek tumbles over columnar basalt cliffs only a short walk from a lovely campground set in an old growth forest of red cedar and hemlock.
Water flows over the falls peak in spring and early summer, but they're awesome anytime.
Admission to all of British Columbia's provincial parks is free. From Clearwater, Highway 5 follows the Thompson River 216 km north to the Yellowhead Highway. Jasper is across the Yellowhead Pass in Alberta.