The West Chilcotins.
10 DAYS · SELF-GUIDED OR FULLY GUIDED · COMMITTED
The Nemaiah Valley, Tatlayoko Lake, Tatla Lake, Kleena Kleene, and the long fall down The Hill into Bella Coola. Mount Waddington country: the biggest peak that lives entirely in BC, over ranchland and glacier rivers that have barely heard of pavement.
Williams Lake to Bella Coola and everything in between.
The Nemaiah Valley, Tatlayoko Lake, Tatla Lake, Kleena Kleene, and the long fall down The Hill into Bella Coola. Mount Waddington country: the biggest peak that lives entirely in BC, over ranchland and glacier rivers that have barely heard of pavement. The most honest big-empty in the province.
The log updates itself as bookings land. Dates don't fit? Ask about a custom window. The season flexes for longer trips.
Day by day
Every day is a card: where you wake up, what the road does, where you sleep.
DAY 01Williams Lake westward
Fuel, groceries, and the last reliable cell bars for a while. The Chilcotin opens up and does not really stop.
DAY 02The plateau proper
Ranch country running to the horizon: grasslands, wild horses if you are lucky, and a lake camp with loons on the night shift.
DAY 03Into the ranges
The Coast Mountains start standing up ahead of you and refuse to sit down again. Camp where the ice fields first show.
DAY 04Tatla country
Between the giants: Tatlayoko and its neighbours, blue-green and wind-brushed. A paddle day if the lake allows.
DAY 05The Waddington view
As close as a road gets you to the biggest peak entirely in BC. Binoculars out, jaws down.
DAY 06Rest at the lakes
A planned nothing day. Fish, read, bake something ambitious. The Chilcotin does not reward hurry.
DAY 07Heckman Pass
Up onto the pass through Tweedsmuir, rainbow ranges glowing like spilled paint.
DAY 08The Hill
Down the famous 18 percent switchbacks into the Bella Coola valley, geared low and grinning. The day this trip is named for, briefed fully beforehand.
DAY 09The valley floor
Old growth cedar, petroglyphs, grizzlies fishing the flats in season. Salt air at the end of a thousand kilometres of dust.
DAY 10The slow goodbye
Bella Coola walkthrough, a dock beer, and either the ferry out or the climb back up The Hill, twice as proud.
The route geek sheet
The planning detail behind the line. For the spec-curious, and for knowing exactly what you're saying yes to.
TERRAIN & DRIVING
FUEL, RESUPPLY & COMMS
CAMPS & WATER
PERMITS, SEASONS & ADD-ONS
The Chilcotin doesn't do crowds. Neither do you.
Send us your dates and crew. We match the truck, finish the plan, and hand you the keys.