Canoe Safari Coast Mountains
Canoeing in Canada with Wild Earth Adventures
Highlights
- Scenic float plane ride over coastal mountains and glaciers
- A journey along the route of the Gold Rush Heritage Highway
- Great wildlife viewing opportunities
- A unique Native Indian cultural tour of 5000-year old native rock carvings
Full Description
Take a float plane into this remote and magical wilderness of alpine lakes, old growth forest, secluded beaches and spectacular mountain backdrops. This is a real escape from the daily grind and a unique insight into the wilderness haven of Tweedsmuir Park. These lakes offer true wilderness paddling in a stunning setting, surrounded by the Coast Mountains. It is suitable for both novice paddlers and seasoned adventurers.
The trip starts at a hotel meeting point in Vancouver. This is a fantastic location on the Pacific Ocean with the mountain backdrop of the Coastal Mountains. The group will meet the guide(s) late in the afternoon for a briefing on trip essentials and to answer any questions. Dinner and a social gathering will follow. It is a very early start the following day for the journey north along the Gold Rush Heritage Highway by one of our 15 passenger vans. The route follows the Fraser Canyon into central British Columbia and then west over the Chilcotin Plateau. This plateau is a real wild west frontier, home to sporadic settlements and ranches.
At Nimpo Lake, a boat plane will transport the group to a chain of lakes set high in the Coastal Mountains. The snow-capped, glaciated peaks of the Coastal Mountains dominate the Pacific coast of British Columbia.
This is a unique canoeing adventure providing a rare opportunity to paddle and explore remote alpine wilderness. The chain of lakes takes 3-5 days to paddle. The lakes are linked by short rough trails that will have to be negotiated with canoes and packs to add to the adventure. There are also numerous hiking options including the Ptarmigan Lakes trails. Good trout fishing can be found at the outlet You will also visit Hunlen Falls, with a single drop of 260 metres, it is the third highest in Canada.
In Bella Coola Valley, the temperate rainforest covering the lower slopes and valleys is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet, rivaling even that of the Amazon rainforest. The area is known as the ‘Great Bear Rainforest' due to the high density of both grizzly and black bears. During late summer and autumn the annual salmon spawning migrations occur and bears can be found congregating along the riverbanks to feast. Other mammals that inhabit the area include wolves, moose, deer, caribou, bighorn sheep, cougar (mountain lion), lynx, mountain goat, marmots and the mysterious wolverine.
Once in the Bella Coola valley we will explore temperate rainforest, rivers and creeks, visit salmon spawning grounds, and look out for bald eagles circling over head in the shadow of snow-capped peaks. There will also be a tour to ancient rock carvings with a local Native Indian guide.
After discovering Bella Coola Valley, you will take a day to return by road to Vancouver. You may decide to fly back to Vancouver from the small airport in Bella Coola or extend your travels by taking the ferry to Vancouver Island.
This trip is also available as a Deluxe Experience Package which includes the Discovery Coast Ferry and/or flight from Bella Coola back to Vancouver, and as an Ultimate Escape Package which includes an optional free guide consultation the day before departure, a flight from Vancouver to the trailhead and an opportunity to take the Discovery Coast ferry and/or flight from Bella Coola direct to Vancouver.
Includes:
- Lodging/camping once at your destination until the last day of the trip
- Permit fees
- Camping equipment
- Additional transport included in the itinerary e.g. float plane
- A guide(s) and any additional local guide services
- Most meals
- Park fees.
Excludes:
- International flights
- Accommodation in Vancouver
- Travel arrangements to/from
- Lunch and snacks while in transit
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature e.g. souvenirs, tips etc
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Vancouver
This is arrival day. The group will meet at a convenient Vancouver hotel. Some guests will choose to arrive prior to this day but today the whole group will be met in the afternoon by the guide for a welcome and briefing. Dinner will be arranged for the evening.
Accommodation: Vancouver Hotel
Food provided: Dinner
Day 2: Gold Rush Heritage Highway/Chilcotin Wild West
Today, we enjoy an exciting 10-hour overland journey along the stunning Sea to Sky Highway through dramatic mountain scenery and join the Gold Rush Heritage Highway heading north. Once at Williams Lake, we leave civilization behind and head west across the Chilcotin Plateau following the Freedom Highway through a land which whispers of a fascinating past: the Chilcotin Indian wars were fought here and the first English families settled here to become cattle ranchers. The area is a wilderness of horse ranches, old homesteads and forest and meadows stretching into the horizon. You will overnight at a lakeside resort cabin to watch the sunset over Nimpo Lake and enjoy an evening BBQ.
Accommodation: Lakeside cabins
Food provided: Dinner
Day 3: Fly to Lake Chain
On this day we fly into the lakes over mountains, lakes and glaciers. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a real scale of the wilderness and some great photos! The tour guide will set up camp kitchen, discuss camp safety and environmental practices. There will be a short hike to Hunlen Falls, which are the third highest in Canada!
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 4: Junker Lake
Paddle and portage to Junker Lake and a fantastic beach side camp. The views get increasingly impressive throughout the day.
Day 5: Kidney Lake
Paddle and portage to Kidney Lake and a scenic campsite with beautiful views of Talchako Glacier and the Coast Mountains.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 6: Widgeon Lake
Today we leave camp set up and paddle and hike to Sunshine Lake, the last lake in the chain. It is a beautiful walk through old temperate forest to a stunning lake with impressive views. Return to camp for lunch and decamp before heading to Widgeon Lake and a beautiful beachside campsite.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 7: Turner Lake
Paddle and portage back to Turner Lake for a final wild camp before a return to civilization.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 8: Fly Out/Bella Coola Valley
The group will be picked up by float plane in the morning before being transferred into Bella Coola Valley. This valley is a unique wilderness frontier with a fascinating history and thriving indigenous culture. We will all go to a local restaurant for your choice of meal.
Day 9: Native Indian Rock Carving Tour/Forest Trails
Breakfast is provided at the guesthouse. There will be a unique Rock Carvings tour by a Native Indian guide. You will be shown the local native art gallery before visiting the estuary and local waterfalls for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon there will be a chance to tour the fascinating frontier town of Bella Coola. Dinner will be your choice at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Bella Coola lodge, double rooms, private bathroom
Food provided: breakfast and lunch, snacks
Day 10: Salmon Spawning and Rainforest Trails
You will explore the salmon spawning grounds of the Atnarko and other local rivers, for an interpretive look at the salmon spawning area where you may see Grizzlies fishing for salmon. We will then have a picnic lunch before a tour of some of the forest trails exploring the rich ecosystem of the ancient temperate rainforest. We will have a salmon BBQ for this last night together.
Day 11: Vancouver
We will leave Bella Coola early in the morning and drive over the Chilcotin Plateau on our way back to the lower mainland. This is a 12 hour drive from the valley and we will drop guests off by 8pm at the original Vancouver hotel.
Accommodation: no
Food provided: no
About The Operator:
Wild Earth Adventures
Headquarters:
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Why choose a trip with Wild Earth Adventures?
A journey with Wild Earth Adventures will bring you to the heart of a remote and vast pristine wilderness. Our fun-loving spirit, excellence in guiding, and the deep silence of our remote locations are a powerful combination to bring you a sensory awakening experience in the best tradition of wilderness travel. You will leave Canada with body mind and spirit re-energized in a way only the wilderness can do. Our trips have been developed in areas where we have a close connection to the local communities. This relationship has enabled us to create unique adventures that give a real insight into the places, using local resources that benefit the meager local economy. By joining this trip you will not only enjoy exposure to a remote and pristine wilderness but the people who live and work on the land. You will be learning about and integrating with the local community, their local environment and benefiting the local economy. We believe we can leave more than just our foot prints and strive to make a positive difference in everything we do. From organic home-dried produce and feasts serving the local delicacies we make sure that our guests get a fully nutritional and locally sourced menu. These are added expenses that other companies choose not to include in their itineraries.
Staff
Wild Earth Adventures is a small team consisting of a network of highly experienced guides and outdoor professionals from both Canada and the UK. The tour guides working on any of the trips are local professionals with remote care first aid training and an intimate knowledge of the area.
Ethics
The guiding principles behind Wild Earth are sustainable tourism and education. Wild Earth seeks to create an awareness and respect for the environment through exposure to wild places. Promoting responsible tourism, sustainability and supporting local community initiatives in areas where the company operates. We believe that eco-tourism can benefit the natural world through education. Through the exploration of wilderness settings it is hoped that we may nurture a greater awareness and appreciation of our natural surroundings.