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Introducing Bella Coola Valley
Leaving the dry expanses of the Chilcotin, you’re in for a surprise when you reach the bottom of the hill. The Bella Coola Valley is at the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, a lush land of huge stands of trees, surging white water and more bear than you can count. It almost feels like Shangri-La – without the monks. But it is a spiritual place: Nuxalk First Nations artists are quite active here, and for many a creative type from elsewhere this is literally the end of the road.
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The valley stretches 53km to the shores of the North Bentinck Arm, a deep, glacier-fed fjord that runs 40km inland from the Pacific Ocean. The two main towns, Bella Coola on the water and Hagensborg 15km east, almost seem as one, with most places of interest in or between the two.
Bella Coola Valley Tourism (250-982-2212; www.bellacoola.ca; Co-op Store, cnr Mackenzie St & Burke Ave, Bella Coola; 8am-5pm Jun-Aug, shorter hr Sep) can help you sort out the many joys of the valley. Most places aimed at visitors are open May to September, check for dates beyond that. Both the visitor center and your accommodations can point you to guides and gear for skiing, mountain biking, fishing, rafting and much more. Services like car repair, ATMs, laundry and groceries are easily found.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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