Bella Coola Things To Do

Air & Land Activities:

Bella Coola is, and always will be, an ideal base for wilderness adventures because of its proximity to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, BC's largest at 981,000 ha (2.4 million ac). The park is divided into two main areas, each with an impressive network of alpine hiking trails. Experienced backpackers can also follow in the footsteps of a famous explorer on the 350-km (217-mi) outback portion of the Alexander Mackenzie/Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail. It takes three weeks to complete and requires a prearranged, mid-hike food drop. Trails for mountain biking and horseback riding abound in the area and camping options range from full-service, drive-in campgrounds to self-sufficient, pure-wilderness experiences.

Architectural & Structural:

Some of the most interesting buildings and structures in the Bella Coola Valley were built by pioneers. Sons of Norway House, for example, was built by an early Norwegian settler in an area that is now known as Hagensborg. It's been completely restored, complete with period furnishings and household articles. The Bella Coola Museum operates out of two, turn-of-the-century log houses. The main house, or P.K. Pedersen Building, was once a schoolhouse. It was built in 1898 by Rasmus Levelton in lower Bella Coola and was moved to its present site off the main highway. The secondary house, now the foyer of the P.K. Pedersen Building, was one of the first permanent houses built by a European in Bella Coola. It was erected by Captain Thorsen, a surveyor, in 1892.

The pioneering spirit was alive and well in the Bella Coola Valley as late as 1953, when local people built themselves a "Freedom Road" over the Coast Mountains. Frustrated by the provincial authorities' refusal to build a road that would link the valley to the provincial highway system, they took the formidable task upon themselves. Also referred to as the "Hill," the road runs through Heckman Pass (elevation: 1,524 m (5,000 ft) and includes treacherous switchbacks and grades of up to 18 per cent.

Arts, Culture & History:

In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie arrived in the Bella Coola Valley and became the first European north of Mexico to cross North America. Local sightseeing boat charters can take you to see Mackenzie Rock, upon which he wrote: "Alex Mackenzie from Canada by land 22nd July 1793." Mackenzie used existing Aboriginal trade routes, as well as knowledgeable Nuxalk and Carrier guides, to achieve his goal. For this reason, the trail that traces the last leg of his journey today is called the Alexander Mackenzie/Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail. If you're an experienced backpacker, you can hike the grueling outback portion of it in about three weeks. The Bella Coola Museum has some excellent Mackenzie exhibits, as well as local archaeological artifacts, household articles from early settlers and historic records.

Other places of historical interest include the Thorsen Creek Petroglyphs, the Tallheo Cannery and the Sons of Norway Heritage House in Hagensborg. The petroglyphs number more than 40 in all and are located just outside the village. You can arrange for a guided tour with the Nuxalk First Nation band office or the local tourism office. The cannery, built in the 1920s and recently restored, is just 10 minutes from the village by boat. In summer, you can stay in bed & breakfast accommodation there. Sons of Norway Heritage House was built by Andrew Svisdahl at the turn of the century. It's stocked and furnished in a manner typical of Norwegian pioneer households.

To see works by contemporary local artists, visit the Art House in Hagensborg.

Attractions:

There are three terrific attractions just outside Bella Coola: the Thorsen Creek Petroglyphs, Clayton Falls and Tallheo Cannery. The petroglyphs were made by local Aboriginal peoples that pecked and abraded rock surfaces with stone tools in order to create lasting designs. The falls can be accessed using a 200-m (656-ft) trail that starts near the Clayton Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station. The restored cannery, just 10 minutes from town by boat, features historic buildings and artifacts, hiking trails, bed & breakfast accommodation, a restaurant and a gift shop.

Just a short drive east of Bella Coola is the charming community of Hagensborg, which was founded by Norwegian-Minnesotans in 1894. Its Sons of Norway Heritage House was built and furnished in the style of a typical, turn-of-the-century Norwegian home. A 2-km (1.2-mi) local trail through old-growth forest leads to a viewpoint directly in front of Odegaard Falls. The Snootli Creek Hatchery, just west of Hagensborg, raises and releases approximately 10,000,000 Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon and Steelhead Trout into local rivers each year.

Entertainment:

While the main entertainment around Bella Coola is Nature herself, you can have a pretty good time doing "town" things, too. Year-round, you can browse for locally made crafts at the Sunday market on the Fair Grounds. In summer, you'll find fruit and vegetable stalls there as well. Beautiful Aboriginal artwork is widely available year round. The Petroglyph Gallery, for example, houses a collection of Northwest Coast Aboriginal art with an emphasis on works by Nuxalk artists. Most local artists run galleries out of their own homes and you can arrange viewings with them directly.

The Bella Coola Valley Little Theatre mounts two productions each year, one in spring and one in fall. You can also see shows by touring artists brought in by the Bella Coola Valley Arts Council four times a year. All stage shows are presented in Lobelco Hall, at the Fair Grounds. The Fair Grounds also host the annual Discovery Coast Music Festival in mid-July. Music, dancing, storytelling and other entertainment is provided by local and international performers.

Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife:

If you're prepared to be self-sufficient, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park offers pure wilderness experiences beyond compare. At 981,000 ha (2.4 million ac), it's the largest wilderness park in BC and the range of landscapes, waterways and wildlife there is truly breathtaking. Experienced and well-equipped backpackers can spend days or even weeks on its backcountry trails. Many visitors make a point of hiking the Rainbow Range, a volcanic mountain range of vivid reds, violets and yellows. It takes three to five days to paddle and portage through the park's scenic Turner Lake Chain, which features crystal-clear water, mountain vistas and excellent Cutthroat Trout fishing. Hunlen Falls, one of Canada's tallest falls, is just a short walk from the beginning of the chain.

In a setting as wild as Bella Coola's, it's only natural that wildlife should be very much in evidence. At the Bella Coola Estuary, you can see a wide variety of bird species, including Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans and Great Blue Herons. On a bear watching trip, you're almost as likely to see Cougars, foxes, wolves and Moose as you are to see Blacks and Grizzlies. For a glimpse of the rare Kermode Bear, head to Princess Royal Island. Kermode, or Spirit, Bears are simply Black Bears with a recessive gene for white fur from both parents. BC's central/north coast is the only place they're found and, on the island, about 1 in 10 Black Bears is a Kermode. Princess Royal Island can only be accessed by boat or floatplane.

Other natural sights of note include Clayton Falls and the grove of immense cedar trees in Walker Island Park.

Water Activities:

Some of Bella Coola's most memorable sights and experiences require a boat trip. Charter a fishing boat to angle for summer run Steelhead Trout on the Dean River or catch trophy-weight salmon at Hakai Pass. There is also excellent fishing - and river rafting - very near town, on the Bella Coola and Atnarko Rivers. You can spend three to five days paddling and portaging through the spectacularly scenic Turner Lake Canoe Chain. Hunlen Falls, one of Canada's highest falls at 253 m (830 ft), is a short walk from the beginning of the chain. On a sightseeing/wildlife viewing charter, you can visit a hot spring, see one of BC's biggest western redcedar trees, inspect an 18th century explorer's inscription on Mackenzie Rock, and view aquatic wildlife, such as Orcas, Humpback Whales, Grey Whales, seals, sea lions and dolphins.

Winter Activities:

The mountains around Bella Coola receive a thick blanketing of snow in winter. Two heli-skiing companies operating at opposite ends of the Bella Coola Valley will get you to the best, deep-powder areas. Half an hour from town, at East Branch, there are trails suitable for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.