Bella Coola

Bella Coola is a small community along the Central Coast of British Columbia. The entire Bella Coola Valley had a population of 2,010 (2016). Located within the Great Bear Rainforest, it is the only port between Vancouver and Prince Rupert providing road access to the Interior of BC.

Understand

Bella Coola is a community in the Bella Coola Valley. Bella Coola usually refers to the entire valley, encompassing the settlements of Bella Coola proper ("the townsite") (population approximately 148), Lower Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Salloompt, Nusatsum, Firvale, and Stuie.

The name "Bella Coola" is an exonym and corruption of the Heiltsuk bḷ́xʷlá, meaning "somebody from Bella Coola" or "stranger". The Nuxalk endonym for the local region is Nuxalk, and the endonym for the specific village site of Bella Coola is Q'umk'uts. The name Bella Coola has been used to refer to the entire Bella Coola valley, and at times to the entire ethnic region not to any village in particular. Increasingly the term Nuxalk Territory is used for the entire region, and Bella Coola refers specifically to the river valley.

Climate

Bella Coola's climate is a moderate oceanic climate due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, falling exactly on the borderline with the warm-summer humid continental climate and close to the warm-summer Mediterranean climate and the warm-summer continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Dsb). However, its summers are warmer than coastal places much further south due to its semi-inland position. The maritime air is made warmer by the passage of the outer islands, but is stronger in terms of winter moderation. This results in a climate that far belies its northerly latitude in North America.

Get in

By car

There is a 454 km mostly paved road connection by Highway 20 to Williams Lake. Construction of the last section of road, known as "the Hill" or the Freedom Road, has become local legend. Built in 1953 by residents of Bella Coola and Anahim Lake because the provincial government wouldn't build it, it features an 18 km ascent from the Valley floor to the Chilcotin Plateau, gaining in elevation to the summit at Heckman Pass. "The Hill" is still gravel with a number of steep grades and switchbacks and very few guard rails — some drivers may find it nerve-wracking.

The drive to/from Williams Lake is approximately 6-8 hours and about 12-14 hours between Bella Coola and Vancouver.

The few communities near Highway 20 are tiny and consequently the only portions of the highway with mobile wireless service are in Williams Lake and the last 20 km of the highway in and around Bella Coola.

By plane

Airport

Bella Coola Airport (IATA: QBC), 1685 Airport Rd, Hagensborg (14 km E of Bella Coola), +1 250-982-2225. Has scheduled flights. Charter services by both plane and helicopter are also available. 2022-07-13

Airlines

Pacific Coastal Airlines, +1-604-273-8666, reserve@pacificcoastal.com. Operates flights primarily in the south coast area of British Columbia with its hub in Vancouver. 2022-06-28

By boat

BC Ferries - Bella Coola ferry terminal, 52.37496°, -126.79532°. BC Ferries services communities around coastal British Columbia. 2022-08-25
- Routes operating to Bella Coola:
- - Vehicle ferry from Port Hardy on North Vancouver Island (10 hours crossing), operating 2 to 3 trips per week from mid-June to end of September. Travel from Port Hardy is also possible throughout the year by taking the ferry route traveling between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert on trips that stop at Bella Bella (some trips stop along the way instead or also at Klemtu), and transferring at Bella Bella, though is a much longer duration journey.
- - Vehicle ferry connecting Bella Bella (McLoughlin Bay), Shearwater, and Ocean Falls, and Bella Coola, traveling most of the year between these communities in the listed order and in the reverse of the listed order. For most of the year, travel time between Bella Bella and Bella Coola is 9.5 hours operating once per week. During the summer, trips go directly between Bella Bella and Bella Coola (5.5 hours), and Shearwater and Ocean Falls can only be reached via Bella Bella. During the summer, there are up to two trips per week between Bella Bella and Bella Coola, and reservations are recommended.

Get around

See

Bella Coola Valley Museum, 269 Hwy 20, 52.37149°, -126.75892°, +1 250-799-5767. 2022-06-28
Clayton Falls Recreation Site, 52.371°, -126.8141°. An impressive amount of beauty packed into a small area. From the parking lot, it's a short walk to picnic tables with a stunning view of the mountains and North Bentinck Arm. The falls are visible from a short trail next to the hydro sub-station. 2022-07-27
Snootli Creek Hatchery, 1450 Hwy 20, Hagenborg (12 km E of Bella Coola), 52.37733°, -126.6087°, +1 250-982-2214. M-F 9AM-3:30PM. Breeds and releases chum, chinook and coho salmon to the Bella Coola River. Other programs include monitoring the spawning success of wild salmon and monitoring wild fry migrations so that hatchery fry can be released to coincide with wild fry migrations. 2022-06-28
Tallheo Cannery (Bella Coola Cannery), Tallheo (private ferry service from Bella Coola wharf; 2-mile boat ride), 52.39°, -126.83501°, +1 604-992-1424, info@bellacoolacannery.com. Only accessible by boat, the Tallheo Cannery reflects the history of a thriving canning industry that began in the late 1890s. Guest House available on site. 2022-06-28

Do

Bella Coola Heli Sports, +1 604-905-4994, reservations@bellacoolahelisports.com. early December to late April. Bella Coola Heli Sports offers 3.55 million acres of heliskiing and heliboarding. 2022-07-05
Fishing − Bella Coola offers both ocean and freshwater fishing.
Hiking – The Bella Coola Valley boasts many hiking trails, from easy to moderate.
Ocean Tours – there are a number of outfitters that offer ocean sightseeing tours
Wildlife Viewing – the Bella Coola Valley is home to lush meadows, dense forests and high mountain ranges are home to grizzly & black bear, blacktail deer, wolves, cougar & mountain goats.

Buy

Bella Coola offers a few art galleries, grocery stores, and a general store.

Eat & drink

Bella Coola Valley Inn Restaurant & Pub, 441 MacKenzie Street (inside Bella Coola Valley Inn), 52.3708°, -126.75534°, +1 250-799-5316. 2022-07-05
Cafe Bella, 1103 Hwy 20 (entrance from the parking lot at the NE corner of Eagle Lodge), 52.36599°, -126.65483°, +1 250-799-5587. Tu-Su 8:30AM-4:30PM. Coffee shop with some lunch and snack options. Drink choices include coffee/expresso drinks, teas, smoothies and bubble tea. Food options include baked goods, sandwiches and wraps. $5-12 for food items 2022-07-26
Freddy’s Restaurant, 614 Cliff Street, 52.37216°, -126.75734°, +1 250-799-5854, freddysrestaurant614@gmail.com. Daily 7AM-9PM. 2022-07-05
My Lunch Stop, 1680 Hwy 20, 52.3861°, -126.5813°, +1 250-982-0095, mylunchstop@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. A good-sized menu of sandwiches, plus some soup and salad options. There is also a small selection of cookies and baked goods. Food is primarily for take-out as there is limited seating. $7-15 2022-07-26

Sleep

Camping

Bella Coola Valley Campground & Cabins, 1875 Hwy 20, Hagensborg, 52.39091°, -126.55343°, +1 250-644-3524, bellacoolavalleycampground@gmail.com. 2022-07-05
Firvale Wilderness Camp, 4330 Hwy 20, Firvale (40 km E of Bella Coola), 52.44089°, -126.28295°, firvalewildernesslodge@gmail.com. 2022-07-05
Rip Rap Campgrounds & Cabins, 1854 Hwy 20, Hagensborg, 52.39143°, -126.55819°, +1 250-982-2752, amberriprap@gmail.com. 2022-07-05

Lodging

Bella Coola Eagle Lodge, 1103 Hwy 20, 52.36603°, -126.65509°, +1 250-799-5587, info@eaglelodgebc.com. 2022-07-05
Bella Coola Mountain Lodge, 1900 Hwy 20, Hagensborg, 52.39155°, -126.54826°, +1 250-982-2298, info@bcmountainlodge.com. 2022-07-05
Bella Coola Valley Inn, 441 MacKenzie Street, 52.37076°, -126.75527°, +1 250-799-5316, valleyinn@outlook.com. 2022-07-05
Cumbrian Inn, 619 Cliff Street, 52.37182°, -126.75653°, +1 250-799-5731, info@cumbrian.ca. 2022-07-05

Connect

Bella Coola Valley Tourism (Visitor Information Booth), 442 MacKenzie Street (in the Copper Sun Art Gallery), 52.37124°, -126.75530°, +1 250-799-5202, info@bellacoola.ca. Jun-Sep: daily 8AM-7PM. 2022-07-05

Bella Coola - human settlement in British Columbia, Canada