Bella Coola Wildlife Tours
Bald eagle, Tourism BC photo
Wildlife viewing opportunities abound in Bella Coola. The Bella Coola Valley supports a truly rich environmental habitat ranging from rivers, estuaries, old-growth forests and provincial parks to mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and more.
A huge number of animals make their homes here, so encounters are common. Check out the fish hatchery or get right in the water and snorkel with the salmon. Take a bear watching tour, and don’t forget to look up to see the area’s diverse bird life.
Salmon and Fish in Bella Coola
For fish fans, the area's rivers and streams are teeming with life. Visit Bella Coola during the right part of summer (mid-July to mid-August) and take a fascinating "Snorkel with the Salmon" tour. Kynoch Adventure Tours equips visitors with wet suits and takes day-trippers right into the water to swim and snorkel with the spawning salmon. Guides are expert river guides and fisheries biologists, and the tour is one of only a couple offered within BC.
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For those seeking more information on the local fishlife, free daily guided tours are offered at the local Fish Hatchery, just 9 kilometers east of Bella Coola. See eggs harvested, feed the fry or watch the tiny fish receive their "mark," which identifies them as hatchery-raised.
Wildlife Hikes and Tours
For a more diverse wildlife experience, a number of companies offer drift guiding on the Atnarko and Bella Coola rivers from late August to late September, when the bears and eagles can be found along the shoreline feasting on the abundance.
Alternately, hire a guide for short day-hikes and look for a range of locals – from the powerful grizzly and black bears, to foxes, deer and mountain goats. Bear watching is incredibly popular within Bella Coola and a number of guided tours are offered in the area. Increasingly rare and also dangerous, locals also have spotted mountain lions/cougars within the valley.
Seasoned hikers may opt for a self-guided trip and a comprehensive Bella Coola Valley Trail Guide can be picked up at the Visitor Information Booth in town. The guide contains descriptions and maps of the most popular trails.
Wildlife Watching Reminders
- The Bella Coola Valley is a temperate rain forest and rain should always be expected during wildlife walks. Dress in layers, and bring appropriate rain gear and mosquito repellent in summer.
- If hiking without a guide, it is strongly recommended that visitors familiarize themselves with appropriate bear and wildlife safety precautions and let someone know of their planned route.
- Bear pepper spray can be purchased locally at Kopas store in Bella Coola, and at Hagensborg Shop Easy in nearby Hagensborg, 14km/9.5mi east of Bella Coola.
- Drivers should always be on the lookout for deer, which often dart out onto the road. Be particularly careful at dawn and dusk when the light is tricky and animals are out feeding.
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Bella Coola Mountain Lodge
Bella Coola, British Columbia
V0T 1C0
Join our tours with professional biologists to float tranquil rivers in search of wild grizzly and black bears. We may also see eagles, salmon, and other wildlife roaming and feeding in coastal streams and inlets from our expedition rafts & boats or on our 4x4 alpine hiking tours. For something different & exciting, try our eco-rafting or salmon snorkel tours. Kynoch Adventures & Bella Coola Mountain Lodge provide premier wildlife & wilderness tours throughout Bella Coola Valley & can arrange full itineraries including accommodation, meals, transfers & tours. From our beautiful lodge, to the majestic scenery & wildlife, BC's central-coast will be the highlight of your holiday.
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Eco-raft Adventure in Bella Coola Valley.
Book 4 eco-raft seats, save 25% on group. Book 1-3 seats, save 25% on 1-seat.
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7001 Corbould Rd
Bella Coola, British Columbia
V0T 1C0
Our Grizzly Bear Viewing trips run early September through October. This is when the local rivers are host to teeming numbers of Salmon which draw the Grizzly Bears hoping to fatten up for the winter. At this time of the year the Grizzly Bears are intent on fishing and are more tolerant of both other bears and people and are therefore much easier to observe.
Accompanied by an experienced guide, our drift trips are the perfect way to see the bears and wildlife of the Bella Coola valley.
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Save up to $528! Grizzlies/Skiing/Fishing
Save up to $528*/person! 10% off Grizzlies, Fishing, First Nations Experiences, Float/drift trips and Heli-Skiing.
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