Bella Coola, BC Put In

K

kennharriet

Member
Just wondering if anyone has used Bella Coola as a put in point for the Inside Passage trip. I spent most of August on a wildland fire assignment in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region for the BC Forest Service and gained some familiarity with the area. It is much less drive (Hwy 20 from Williams Lake) than a put in at Prince Rupert from the lower 48. It also avoids Queen Charlotte Sound. Has anyone done this?
 
Looks like an interesting possibility; and near one of my favorite places "Ocean Falls."

I've launched several times at Prince Rupert but haven't been to Bella Coola.

Doing a little surfing - I found some pictures of the "harbor" out near the Canada Ferry dock. There are several of boats, and many in the trailerable sizes, so my guess is there is at least a minimal launch ramp nearby.

I just sent an email to the "Bella Coola Harbor Authority" ( bcha@belco.bc.ca ) so hopefully will have an answer before too long.

Initially I thought the road into BC might be an issue, but according to my (1995) map it's a "Major Road, paved" so that's good thing!

Best,
Casey
 
Its been a few years since I've driven the road from Williams Lake to Bella Coola but it is a decent paved road. One lane each direction. For most of the road it is about a 80 km (50 mph) speed that would be comfortable pulling a boat. Lots of people living in central BC trailer and launch their boats in Bella Coola for their ocean destination so it should not be a problem to launch or park but I haven't actually trailered Meander there so I don't have first hand experience. The big hill just before Bella Coola is very long and very steep with lots of switch backs. Be sure you have excellent brakes and take it very slow. My cousin trailers his 26ft bayliner to Bella Coola and descends this hill in 4 wheel drive low range to help hold back and save the brakes. The hill is about 13km long as I remember it.
I think it took us about 7-8 hrs to drive from Williams Lake to Bella Coola but like I said its been a few years and my memory isn't what it used to be.
Cheers
Ron
 
I have never been to Bella Coola, but am also interested in launching there. Some of my contacts have said the road and particularly the hills can be a challenge especially during inclement weather. I will be interested in following the responses to your query.
cheers!
wapiti
 
I just received a reply from "Barney" at the Bella Coola Harbor Authority.

Barney advised that launching a 23' vessel is not problem; he even sent a picture of the ramp! It appears completely adequate, and isn't high angle like the ramp in Prince Rupert. (Sorry, I don't know how to include his picture here, but I'll try to put it in my album for a while.)

I'm going to send Barney the URL for this thread, maybe he'll pitch-in to answer any other questions.

Best,
Casey
 
Ron is right on about the hill between Williams Lake and Bella Coola. My family and I still talk about it 20 years after and think about the number of outbound trucks and cars pulled off to the side of the road with steaming radiators. If I remember right there are turnouts with water available along the hill.

Its worth the trip if you have the right rig and take your time.
 
Thanks to Casey:

Bella_Coola_Launch_Ramp.sized.jpg


For Casey, right click the full size photo in your album, select properties and copy the URL. Then it's easy. It's inserted just as you see in the box below.


Code: 
[img]http://www.c-brats.com/albums/Katmai/Bella_Coola_Launch_Ramp.sized.jpg[/img]

Don
 
If you do a YouTube search for Freedom Road Bella Coola, there are a number of recent videos, most of which include the section that is called "The Hill". 18% grade :shock: Worth a look see.

It has been years since I have been out Hiway 20. It is mostly paved now. When I was there is was gravel almost all of the way. The Chilcotin is beautiful country.

Robbi
 
One question to ask is secure parking. This is a bit of a problem at Prince Rupert--and either inside, or a locked facility is the solution. Not sure what is available at Bella Colla--we have only been there by water.
 
I just watched a couple of the YouTube episodes Robbi suggested. Interesting. It appears they have something against guard rails, eh?

http://www.vanc.igs.net/~roughley/bike_bc.html is a website by a fellow who is obviously an avid BC bike tourer. He mentioned that the 18% grade on Heckman Pass was resigned a few years ago to 15%. If I read it correctly the highway department didn't change the road; they just resigned it; probably helps tourism....

Best,
Casey
 
It's been 6yrs. since I last went out to Bella Coola. They were working on the hill at that time. Trying to widen some of the worst spots. They did manage to drop a good section of the road into the valley.It is one of the more interesting drives in BC, if you don't mind heights.It was gravel from Anahim Lake to the bottom of the hill 60 odd Km. 4 wheel drive low range and stay off the brakes as much as possible. I took my 21' MH down with the tin boat behind without much trouble. Though it got a little hot coming up.
I've talked to friends who go out there often and they advise an early start as the channel can get nasty in the afternoon.There is an excellent Tourist Advisory in Williams Lake for maps etc.
 
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