May 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Anahim Lake, Attractions
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When we got to Escott Bay Resort, the owner, Bill, said we had to see Precipice Falls and Canyon. He referred to it as the Baby Grand Canyon, so clearly, we just had to see what he was talking about. He led us to an unmarked turnoff on the road and we only had to walk a short distance to see the spectacular view he was referring to.
The canyon opens up in an area you would not have expected it to, filled with lush trees and large scree faces. The fall were stunning, and a surprising amount of water flowed over them, creating a crashing sound that echoed through the valley. We were told the canyon itself and the water flowing through it makes its way down to the Bella Coola coastline.
In all, it was a great stop, but you would definitely need to stop in at the Lodge or at ask a local for directions, as the location is not signed from the highway. It is well worth the effort!
May 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Anahim Lake, Accommodation
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When we arrived at Escott Bay, I thought it would be just a fishing resort but it turned out to be an impressive cowboy experience (and fishing resort!). We not only were treated to a great view of Anahim Lake, but we were delighted when Bill, the owner, demonstrated how to pack a pack horse for an overnight trail ride and shared with us his admiration and enthusiasm for the beautiful area around Escott Bay.
May 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Anahim Lake, Accommodation
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We spent two nights at the Clearwater Lake Lodge, and I must say, it filled my expectations of a perfect, relaxing retreat! The main lodge and suites are comfortable, cozy and complete with a giant, hand built fireplace. The view from the lodge onto the lake is extraordinary and was coupled with various bird sightings throughout our stay.
The host, Gisela and Bernward, were absolutely delightful, and fed our group the most wonderful homecooked meals. Sharing their experiences in the area, they had plenty of local lore and history which added a great value to our stay. Berward was a great tour guide who led us on hikes and brought us to some of the many highlights in the area, such as Tatlayoko Lake. We had great fun learning and exploring with him! He even brought us out to see a nearby osprey nest.
Essentially, after having a great day exploring the Chilcotin, it is wonderful to come back to a place offering luxury, urban amenities with a flourish of great hospitality and company.
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Hiking
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Upon arriving in Bella Coola, we were ready for a short walk, and the Big Cedars Trail was it! Located in Walker Island Park, this short loop trail took only 20 minutes total and provided some time up close to the giant cedar trees famous on BC coast.
It was really neat to see these huge trees, especially after spending some time in the sparser forests east on Highway 20. This rain forest ecosystem was quite nice and lush, and we managed to arrive early enough in the season to
not have to deal with mosquito!
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Bear Watching
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We saw a little black bear along side of the highway on our way into Bella Coola, right after existing Tweedsmuir Park after out decent of the Bill Hill on Highway 20. It was pretty neat to see such a newborn cub, but we made sure to keep our distance, as mama bear was probably pretty nearby!
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Attractions
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We made it out to the inlet at Bella Coola, which is one of three destination access points to the Pacific in BC. What a cool little place! We spent some time exploring the ocean front, hopping from log to log, photographing the port and walking along the shore. It was pretty quintessential BC traveling experience: the ocean, snow capped mountains and lush green valleys!
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Historic & Heritage Sites
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To see some wonderfully preserved First Nation's petroglyphs, Bella Coola has a short guided hike or walk available to see a number of examples. Only a 1/2 hour walk to reach the site, this hike is enjoyable and the end result is fantastic.
I, unfortunately, was only able to do this hike with a private group, but there are guided hikes offered throughout the summer, starting mid-June by a Nuxalk Nation member. I would imaging the interpretation during the hike would add great value to the hike, and I myself would love to go back to get the full details on the site.
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Attractions
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A great little stop in Bella Coola is Clayton Falls. From someone who has spent a lot of time visiting pretty significant waterfalls, Clayton Falls are pretty unique as the water has smoothed the rock it flows over into interesting formations. Good photo stop!
Really easy to get to right at the end of the highway. There is a nice little recreation park with some benches and picnic tables close by as well. Wonderful views into the inlet and back onto the wharf.
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Williams Lake, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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We took a short horsemanship lesson at Chezacut, which turned out to be probably one of my favorite moments of the trip. Dominique, the owner, taught us how to become more in tune with a horse, demonstrating how to get the horse to move forwards and backwards, sidestep and around in a circle. The lesson culminated with all the members of our group managing to load our respective horse into a horse trailer.
I had never experienced something like this before. It was a level of connection and higher learning I've never had working with horses or going on typical trail rides (which I've done plenty of!). Dominique was great too, not letting us back down from the challenge of working with the horses. And to top it off, beautiful scenery!
May 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Farms & Markets
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The night we arrived at the Hills Health Ranch, we spent a bunch of time exploring the beautiful acreage. We met Annie, a newly born (only three days old!) donkey along with the other 4 or 5 donkeys on the ranch. Little Annie was the cutest thing, and a nice touch of reality on this ranch.
Just before dinner, we had a chance to see some of the horses on the ranch. About 12 or 13 of them had broken out of the fenced in area of the ranch and onto the ski hill just behind the main lodge. We took pictures of them from the big balcony just off the 1871 dining room. It was pretty cool to see the diversity of the horses, and funny they believed the ‘grass was greener’ on that particular side of the fence!