Bella
Coola, British Columbia
Although
it is not on the coast, the village of Bella Coola, British
Columbia, has the distinction of being on salt water.
A
sport fisherman's dream, this village is located
in the strategic position where the Bella Coola River joins
with the salt water of the Pacific. A great many adventures
and sights open up to those who find their way to this western
terminus of Highway 20.
Bella
Coola serves as a major port between Vancouver,
BC, and Prince Rupert.
At any time the port will be host to anything from fishing
boats to pleasure craft travelling BC's Centra Coast. Canneries,
log sorting and loading sites and tidal flats are all located
in the port area along with facilities such as a restaurant.
This
area was first settled because of the trade in oolichan grease
for furs, hides and tools from inland. In the late 1800s,
Norwegians established Hagensborg just east of Bella Coola,
in the Bella Coola Valley. The communities of Bella Coola
and Hagensborg share a number of facilities, accommodations
and services.
Tweedsmuir
Provincial Park, to the east of Bella Coola, provides
a wilderness setting for a number of outdoor adventures including
hiking the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail. (contact BC
Parks for more information).
The
nearby communities of Bella Bella, Shearwater and Ocean Falls
can be accessed by water to explore British Columbia native
culture, experience kayaking and explore numerous inlets and
waterfalls.
| Bella
Coola & Area Accommodations & Adventures |
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Bella Coola Grizzly Tours:
We’re home to some of the worlds largest Grizzlies & Mountain Goats. Summer and Fall spawning Salmon, a natural food source for Grizzlies & other wildlife, return to the Bella Coola River. We offer Grizzly & Wildlife viewing, Eco Tours, Hiking Fishing, and m... more |
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Bella Coola Motel & Campground:
The most established name in the Bella Coola Valley with clean, quiet, downtown location We offer spacious rooms with the comforts of home, satellite TV & fully equipped kitchens. There’s RV parking, campsites, washrooms with showers, and light boat launch. more |
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Brockton House Inn:
Lounge on our decks or gardens or be treated to a wilderness adventure by our in-house tour operators, Kynoch Adventures. beautiful suites and rooms complimented by stunning mountain scenery and country-style living are sure to please the adventurous or relaxe... more |
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Kynoch West Coast Adventures:
Experience outdoor adventures on BC’s Central Coast &West Chilcotin with Kynoch West Coast Adventures & Brockton House Inn. We offer tours & excursions to ancient rain forests, snorkeling trips with Pacific salmon, bear viewing, mountain biking, hiking & more... more |
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Pacific Coastal Airlines:
There’s daily scheduled service to Vancouver, Cranbrook, Williams Lake, Victoria, Comox, Campbell River, Penticton, Trail, Kamloops, Penticton, Terrace, Powell River, Port Hardy, Bella Coola, Anahim Lake, Masset, Klemtu & Calgary. Charter & cargo service also... more |
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Sharp Wings Air:
Charter us for fishing, camping, hiking, sightseeing, photography. Our Floats, wheels and skis will get you almost anywhere you want to go. Sharp Wings is an air-taxi operation with flights to and from Bella Coola daily, and flight training is also available... more |
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Shearwater Marine Group:
Fish for Salmon, Halibut, and Bottom fish .. or enjoy our eco-adventure at the Gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest. We have fly-in packages or arrive on BC Ferries. We also offer guided fishing tours, boat rentals, moorage, lodging, pub restaurant, and an RV ... more |
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Tweedsmuir Lodge:
Abundant wildlife, rugged mountains, sparkling rivers and pristine wilderness. The lodge is remotely situated on 60 acres and just steps from the Atnarko River. We are within Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the largest protected park in British Columbia. Guests st... more |
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Westwind Tugboat Adventures:
North America’s original tugboat adventure. Enjoy wilderness fishing for trophy salmon and halibut plus Luxury cruising on the beautiful "Inside Passage" of BC. Follow the Fish to Langara Island, Prince Rupert and Bella Bella regions. Only 8 & 12 guests. more |
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Main
Industries: fishing, forestry, tourism
Access:
Bella Coola, British Columbia, can be accessed by land
or by water. This scenic 440 km (272 mi.) trip across BC's
Chilcotin Country from Williams Lake (1,000 km from Vancouver)
becomes quite spectacular when you drive the steep hill into
the Bella Coola Valley.
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"The
Freedom Road" as it once appeared.
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The
Hill: The famous Bella Coola hill is the point on Highway
20 where the Coast Mountain Range begins and the descent
into the Bella Coola Valley starts. At Heckman Pass - the
highest point - drivers reach an elevation of about 1524 m
(5000 ft.). Approximately 30 km (20 miles) of winding, narrow,
unpaved road precede the hill. 'The Hill' itself consists
of one 10 km (6 mile) stretch of switchbacks, with grades
to 18% in that section.
The
Hill was once called the "Freedom Road" because
it provided a route out of the Bella Coola Valley. In the
1950's, the provincial government refused to build this section
of the road, so valley residents built it themselves. Outsiders
said it couldn't be done, but on Sept 26, 1953, two bulldozers
- one pushing east, the other pushing west - actually met.
The
steep incline and hairpin turns afford a panorama view of
the changing scenery of mountains and valleys. Commercial
air service is available to the airport in Hagensborg, but
charter airlines will fly to most areas.
