Discover the Central Coast: Wilderness, Trails and History

The Central Coast offers a wide variety of experiences: a historic long-distance trail runs through the wilderness, a path leads to waterfalls, and a multi-day canoe trip winds through a mountainous landscape. There are also estuary landscapes, forest trails and ferry connections from Bella Bella. As you plan your trip, it’s worth first considering which of these experiences you want to shape your stay. That way, you can search more purposefully for a vacation rental without combining different places and activities into a single itinerary.

Wilderness and History

The Alexander Mackenzie Heritage (Grease) Trail is a historic long-distance trail through the wilderness. It ends at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Park, which is accessible by boat. The park is home to a rock bearing an inscription by Alexander Mackenzie from 1793.

The Bella Coola Museum also connects history to a specific place: it is housed in a former school and surveyor’s residence built in 1892. The building’s former uses give the museum a distinctive historical setting. Those interested in the history of a place will find a different focus here than on a hike or canoe trip.

Another point of interest in the landscape is the Bella Coola Estuary Conservancy. It lies where the freshwater of the Bella Coola River flows into the North Bank Arm. The Great Bear Circle Route passes through the Great Bear Rainforest and the Bella Coola Valley.

Ferry Connections, Park Access and Waterways

Ferries from the Bella Bella terminal connect to Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, with onward connections to Shearwater, Ocean Falls and Bella Coola. If ferry connections are important to your trip, check the current schedule and booking options before making plans; routes and bookings may change.

Tweedsmuir Park can be reached by the Discovery Coast Passage Ferry, by floatplane or via backcountry hiking trails. The Turner Lake Canoe Circuit is located in the park, south of Highway 20. The canoe trip takes three to five days and passes through a striking mountainous landscape. This timeframe makes clear that it is a multi-day experience, not a short detour. Salmon, char, trout and whitefish are also caught in the Bella Coola and Atnarko rivers in the park.

Nature viewing and landscape stewardship come together at the Belarko Wildlife Viewing Area, which is jointly managed by BC Parks and the Nuxalk Nation. This is a distinct aspect of the trip, alongside activities on the water or on foot.

Trails and Waterfalls

At the Clayton Falls Recreation Site, a 200-metre trail leads to the waterfalls. There is also a 300-metre park loop and a viewing platform. The recreation site is near the Bella Coola townsite.

The Lost Lake Trail is a moderately challenging route, two kilometres each way. It passes through old-growth forest to a small lake and viewpoints overlooking the valley. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a vacation rental on the Central Coast, you can start by weighing the experiences you’d like to include: ferry connections from Bella Bella, trails near the Bella Coola townsite, the multi-day canoe trip in Tweedsmuir Park or the historic long-distance trail. These examples offer different planning scales—from specified trail distances to a trip lasting three to five days.

Discover More Places

Discover the Central Coast’s places too: Stuie, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Denny Island and Hagensborg.

Discover more destinations: North Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, Central Okanagan.

Return to the main travel overview: British Columbia.