Inner Coast Inlet Tours offers a variety of personalized tours and water taxi service to remote locations along the coastal fjords of the central coast. Leave your troubles and cares behind as step aboard the M.V. “Slim Jim”, our 27ft welded aluminum lifetimer cabin cruiser. This sea worthy vessel is equipped with GPS, chart plotter, life vessel, back up engine, life jackets, heated cab, stereo system and fishing rods.

Your skipper Garrett Newkirk is a born and raised Bella Coola local with extensive knowledge of the area. For those who wish to try their luck jigging or fishing for prawns or crabs, Garrett's many years of experience working as a commercial prawn fishermen through these remote inlets has taught him many secret fishing “hot spots”.

Trip Highlights:

Sightings of

• eagles

• harbour seals

• humpback whales

• pacific white sided dolphins

• bears foraging in intertidal zones

• minks, otters

• as well as shorebirds such as blue heron and kingfisher.

Although rare, guests may be lucky enough to see the occasional Humpback or Orca whales.

Visits to:

• natural hot springs and secluded bays,

• one of the largest cedar trees on the west coast

• fishing hot spots to jig or set traps for prawns and crabs

   

Half Day Options:

Trip One: Historic Tallheo Cannery

• *minimum of 2 guests

• *departing any time of day

• *approx 3hrs

• Inquire for price

Situated on Neinamiaus creek resides the historic Tallheo Cannery. Your guide will take you on a historic walking tour of the cannery buildings and surrounding property. Providing interesting insight and history of early cannery operations and life. A light snack with tea and coffee is provided. After visiting the cannery we deliver you back across the inlet to the harbour.

Trip Two: North Bentinck Arm Tour

• Max 8 guest

• Inquire for prices

• Approx 2hrs.

This is a fantastic half day adventure exploring the magnificently glacial carved fjords. Depart from the Bella Coola Harbour, skirting along the edge of the Bella Coola river estuary, looking for harbour seals and eagles. During salmon season, mid June-late August, eagles congregate along the North Bentinck Arm to feed on the salmon returning to the spawning grounds of their birth. Guests can expect to see multiple eagles and their giant nests along the tree tops. Then we cruise past the historic Tallheo Cannerylooking for wildlife and enjoying beautiful scenery.  

Trip three: Hot Springs Direct Tour

• *up to 8 guests

• *departing early morning

• *approx 3hrs

• Inquire for prices

Depart the Bella Coola Harbour in the early morning to take advantage of calm seas, and travel west out the North Bentinck Arm. This direct trip provides guests with an excellent chance of seeing harbour seals, eagles, dolphins and the occasional humpback whale or bear. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the natural hot springs, surrounded by old growth rainforest with stunning views of the coastal mountains. This unique tour is truly an adventure.

Full Day Options:

Tour One: Full Day Inlet Excursion and Tallheo Cannery

• *up to 8 guests

• *departing early morning

• *approx 6hrs

• *inquire for price

Also departing from the Bella Coola Harbour, journey along the North Bentinck Arm, taking a turn down South Bentinck Arm heading for Larso Bay. Our first stop is the giant cedar tree which is one of the largest ancient cedar trees on the west coast. We anchor the boat, and head off for a 20 minute moderate walk up an old logging road to the giant tree. This tree dwarfs all other trees in the area, taking more that the arm spans of eight people to encircle it! Upon returning to the vessel, we head across the inlet to a beautiful cascading waterfall, straight from the glaciers above (which can be seen even in the summer months). After this we travel northwest to one of the many natural hot springs that dot the British Columbia coastline. The cozy rock pool is heated by the emergence of geothermal heated groundwater from the earth's crust. We pause here for 1-2 hours so you have lots of time to have a relaxing soak, enjoy the view and to have lunch. On our return we stop by the beautiful Green Bay, named for the gorgeous green colour of the water, for a possible glimpse of black bears foraging in the inter tidal zone, or provided guests have purchased a salt water fishing license, a little jigging for bottom fish. From there we travel back along the North Bentinck Arm, keeping our eyes and cameras ready for a glimpse of harbour seals, eagles and dolphins with a final stop by the historic Tallheo Cannery where your guide will take you on a historic walking tour of the cannery buildings and surrounding property providing interesting insight and history of early cannery operations and life.

Tour Two: Mackenzie Rock and Hot springs

• *up to 6 guests

• *departing early morning

• *approx 6hrs

• *inquire for price

Depart from the Bella Coola Harbour and journey along the North Bentinck Arm and Burke Channel around the locally famous “Mesachie Nose” through the Laboucher Channel and into the Dean Channel. During this trip your chances are far greater to see marine life such as dolphins, humpback and killer whales, as many of these mammals tend to stay along the outer coast of British Columbia. Our first destination is MacKenzie Rock. This is the historic spot marks the ending of Alexander MacKenzie's cross Canada quest to reach the Pacific Ocean. It was here that he wrote “Alex MacKenzie from Canada by land 22nd July 1793” in a reddish paint made from vermilion and bear grease. Today the memoir is engraved into the rock, and a memorial cairn is visible from the boat. From there we turn around and head back up the Dean Channel to a natural hot springs located in a secluded bay. We stop here for approx. one hour with plenty of time for a relaxing soak, lunch and to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Heading back towards Bella Coola, we once again pass by Mesachie Nose* on our way to the Bella Coola Harbour.

*Note: the waters around the Mesachie Nose can be notoriously rough in certain weather conditions. This may lead to a possible wait until afternoon winds calm down. Also, due to unpredictable and occasionally rough seas, this tour may not be suitable for those who are pregnant or have serious back or neck injuries.

Water Taxi Service:

• *up to 8 guests

• *inquire for prices

Inner Coast Inlet Tours offers a variety of personalized water taxi services throughout the central coast. Which includes water service to Bella Bella, Shearwater, Klemtu, Dean River, Ocean Falls and Hakai Pass or any other surrounding areas within the central coast. We also offer kayak drop off and pick ups.

What to bring:

• Packed lunch & drinking water

• Bathing suit and towel

• Proper footwear (no flip flops), and proper clothing(be sure to dress appropriately, as the weather can change quickly on the BC coast)

• Optional salt water fishing licenses (can be purchased online or at the local Hagensborg Shop Easy or Kopas store)

• Your camera of course!

Disclaimer:

All tours are subject to weather conditions.