May 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Sightseeing Tours
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The trip over the mountains to Bella Coola is not as bad as I thought it might be, however, if you have someone with you who is nervous it can be a bit scary on some of the hairpin turns and switch backs. The grade is up to 17% at times and it is a long way - close to 22 kilometers of mostly downhill. Make sure you stay in a low gear to save wear and tear on the brakes as you’ll need them as you go down the hill.
On the upside, the scenery is awe inspiring and we simply had to stop at various points to take pictures. It’s a bit difficult to account for the scale of the mountains in pictures but if you frame a tree in the foreground it helps a lot. I was excited to take on this section of the highway as I’ve been on these types of roads before and wasn’t at all nervous about the heights or drop offs. I did take my time though and the frequent stops gave extra time to cool the brakes.
May 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Sightseeing Tours
Our trip from Clearwater Lake to the Bella Coola area was an amazing journey through majestic mountains. The famous Bella Coola “Hill” is a great adventure but do make sure that you have good breaks and enjoy the ride! This was my first trip to Bella Coola and I wish that I had more time to take advantage of the recreational opportunities in the area. The docks are filled with fishing boats and active fisherman and an old Cannery.
Bella Coola has a very unique water fall with a very smooth rock surface, Clayton Falls which is located at the end of Highway 20 this is a must see. I can not wait to return to Bella Coola it is BC's hidden gem.