Trips, Bella Coola BC Area?

S

SVal

New member
Anyone cruised the Bella Coola, Ocean Falls or Bella Bella inside passage areas? Looking to go possibly this 2016 late June season. Any ideas?
About a 175 mile loop with fuel I am told in the Bella Bella area.
 
It's been ten years, but we enjoyed some fine scenery and lovely anchorages not far from Bella Bella and Shearwater, and north and west from there. From there up toward Prince Rupert is about as remote as it gets on the Inside Passage. A good source on anchorages is the Douglass guide Exploring the North Coast of British Columbia.

We had fine fishing too - giant halibut out toward Queens Sound, S and W from Bella Bella. Ocean Falls was a fun stop. Haven't been all the way up Burke channel to Bella Coola - we came to Bella Bella from the south. Haven't driven the road from Williams Lake to Bella Coola, but friends tell me there's one heck of a steep hill coming down into Bella Coola. Also, watch for the inflow and outflow winds in Burke and Dean channels - they can whip up a significant chop.
 
Are you planing at launching at Bella Cola? I have been to Ocean Falls 4x, and find it a most festinating place. I suggest anyone doing the inland passage go there. The town was deserted years ago, leaving the generating plant, paper mill, logging equipment and most buildings intact. The population was 3500 in the 1950's The houses were going into decay, and the BC government gave them away for a song--with the caveat that the house be fixed up. Great hikes, interesting community, and well worth the visit. At times satellite TV and power has been available at the dock.

Read: "The Story of Ocean Falls - Rain People" by Bruce Ramsey.

No problem if you watch your fuel, With displacement speeds, 200 miles is fairly easily doable. I cannot think of any specific dangers, or safety issues.

Enjoy!
 
Shearwater Resort is near Bella Bella and has fuel, food, propane, moorage, a pub, hotel, laundromat, a marine store, and haulout with repairs. This is about half way around the loop starting at Bella Coola. Be sure to check out the road conditions in advance if trailering down from Williams Lake. Very, very steep, many switchbacks, used to be a gravel road.
 
I did 7 trips to Hakai Pass area in the last 3 years, during August. Hakai is about 30Nm south of Bella Bella.
My Wife and I love the scenery, good fishing and generally
quiet weather up there.
We cross Queen Charlotte sound from Port Hardy with sufficient
Ice and Fuel to last 5 days.
Hakai does not have any marine services other than fishing Charters.
Although we have yet to go that far North, Bella Bella or Shearwater would enable you to stay in the area for an extended
period of time. Five days is about our max without more ice and fuel.
If you care to know more just say so.
Enjoy !
 
Thanks to all, we have driven to Bella Coola a few times. The drive from Williams Lake to 'The top of the Hill' (above the valley into Bella Coola) is paved and a decent two lane road. The hill is a story all by itself, gravel steep, tight switch backs and narrow. If you type (search) "images of road into Bella Coola" you can see pictures of the road and hill. Short semi-trucks deliver into the valley communities and it is beautiful. We have taken our truck with camper there and would not hesitate to do a repeat trip. The valley road is paved to the government docks and all services are available.
Your information on the water is valuable. SV
 
Check Active Captain also. Namu is perhaps a little out of the way (depending on your route), but is also an interesting place. We were there back when the store was open and selling off what was left. The docks are often in disrepair.

Hakai Pass area (Calvert Island) is also a very wonderful place to visit as mentioned by Arend--we were there before some of the lodges were built, but the beauty cannot be spoiled. Again, with some good planing it is within the range of the C Dory 22, with displacement speeds from Bella Cola.

Don't forget the hot springs along the way. (For example Eucott cove and hot springs) Also a couple of warm lakes for bathing.

You know the road--which used to be an obstacle. I believe that Bella Cola should have fuel most of the time now--in the past it was "iffy at times"
 
The locals refer to the steep grade as "the Hill." We visited a number of years ago in our PU camper. I put it in 4wd to descend the hill. It had just been treated with MagCloride for dust abatement and it was "greasy". I felt nearly out of control letting myself down the hill. Looking over the side and seeing 3 switchbacks below you was also interesting. I've spent my life working in the mountains and am used to steep winding roads, but that one was truly special. On that trip my truck had a standard transmission and was in low gear which held back very well. My present truck is an auto trans and even when locked into low it does not hold back until about 20 mph which is frighteningly fast when you want to go 5 mph. I've thought about trailering Two Bears there, but "the Hill" gives me caution. In any, case, you would not want to trailer down this his with surge breaks = you would not have any trailer brakes left by the bottom. As I remember you are looking at 20 to 25% grade for quite a distance. Talking to the locals it is quite an experience going "outside" in the winter. And, they run 18 wheelers up and down it.

Chuck
 
Years ago, I heard from a local in Bella Coola that there was a tow truck that could be hired to move trailers up and down 'the Hill'. He had a special 4WD tow truck to do the job. I wonder if he is still in business?
 
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