ranches, clearwater lakes and some of the finest camping spots we’ve ever experienced await. For fans of the hit series Alone, know that one of the seasons was shot near this area, with competitors setting up camp near Chilko Lake. The towns of Williams Lake and Alexis Creek serve as perfect spots to stock up on supplies and amenities but also for jumping off points if travel along a logging route sounds appealing. Should you decide to stick to the beaten path, fear not as “The Hill” awaits on the western edge of the highway. Created when locals took things into their own hands and started bulldozing from either end, The Hill or Precipice lies within 137 km of Canadian gumption. Much of this portion of the route remains unpaved but is arguably the best part. Numerous switchbacks reward drivers with incredible vistas of the Coast Range via the Heckerman Pass. Peaking at just under 1,500 m, the descent into Bella Coola lasts around 9 km with grades of up to 18 per cent. While not for the faint of heart, the journey will surely im- print as one most memorable.
Chilcotin Bella Coola Highway – British Columbia
While the Sea to Sky Highway may be the most popu- lar road for drivers in British Columbia, we’d argue that the Chilcotin Bella Coola Highway is actually its best for its mix of breathtaking landscapes and adventur- ous terrains. Running for 457 km, the Chilcotin is the only artery that connects the picturesque and tiny town of Bella Coola on B.C.’s central coast to its in- terior, terminating at Williams Lake along the Fraser River. There are two ways to get to the mighty Chilcotin: a roughly seven-hour drive from Vancouver to Williams Lake (which will put you on the old Sea to Sky) or, our preferred route, via the Northern Sea Wolf ferry run- ning from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island into Bella Coola – because every adventure deserves a ferry ride – and this will be an adventure. The Chilcotin is the main artery for many a small town within B.C.’s central interior. As such it is sparse- ly populated for its entirety and extremely pictur- esque. Forests, mountains, desert canyons, sprawling
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