May 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Arts, Culture & History Tours
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Visiting the Petroglphys at Bella Coola is a must do. Our group was a bit early in the season to obtain the services of a guide, but we did manage to find our way to the site without too much effort. It’s a short drive off the highway, but I would have preferred a guide as it is so much more interesting to learn about the history of the First Nations people in this area who would have made the rock carvings so very long ago. Another couple of weeks i.e. mid-May and on you can find a local guide at a number of locations in Bella Coola. The petroglyphs are located upstream from the highway to the south on Thorsen Creek - its only about a ten minute walk if you drive up as far as you can along the creek road.
It’s a easy walk to get in, but there are several sections of huge tree roots that you have to work your way over to get to the top. It would be easy to trip over them or the rocks so we took our time. The walk its self is amazing because as you get to the top you are walking through an old forested area with huge boulders and deep green ferns that grow in thick clumps along the ridge above the creek. On the way back I took up the rear and could easily imagine the ancients watching from amongst the trees to ensure we did not take anything or damage the carvings.