Plan Your Trip

Your adventure to Tweedsmuir Park Lodge begins long before you arrive—it starts in the sky.
From Vancouver’s South Terminal, you’ll board a Pacific Coastal Airlines flight bound for Bella Coola. In just 70 minutes, you’ll trade cityscapes for an aerial tour of British Columbia’s infinite coast. Below, the land ripples into steep fjords, ancient forests, and remote inlets. On clear days, Mount Waddington—the highest peak in B.C.—makes a rare and breathtaking appearance.

The South Terminal is a quieter, more relaxed gateway just five minutes by taxi from YVR’s main terminal. If you’re coming from downtown Vancouver, give yourself at least an hour to get there—and plan to arrive at least 60 minutes before departure.

When your wheels touch down in Bella Coola, our team will be waiting to welcome you. From there, it’s a scenic 45-minute drive through the valley to the lodge—a journey that’s every bit as captivating as the flight. Transfers are included with our Bella Coola Explorer and Grizzly Bear Safari packages, so you can relax and soak in the views.

Note: Pacific Coastal Airlines allows 50 lbs (23 kg) of luggage per passenger—pack light, pack smart, and bring your sense of wonder.

Sometimes, the journey is the destination—and driving to Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is one of those rare routes where the road tells a story.

The drive from Vancouver takes 12 to 14 hours, winding through changing landscapes that echo the rhythm of the coast itself. From the sea-swept city, you’ll head north along Highway 99—through the alpine villages of Whistler and Pemberton, across the stark beauty of Lillooet, and into the dry sagebrush country beyond.

Five hours in, you’ll reach the junction with Highway 97 near Cache Creek. From there, continue north to Williams Lake—your final major stop before heading west into nature’s heartland. This is your last chance to refuel, resupply, and check your messages—there’s limited cell service between here and Bella Coola.

From Williams Lake, Highway 20 stretches west for nearly four hours across the Chilcotin Plateau. It’s a landscape of open sky and wild country—forests of lodgepole pine, sprawling ranchlands, and glacial rivers cutting through rolling hills.

The final stretch is legendary. Known locally as “The Hill,” a 15-kilometre descent drops 5,000 vertical feet from the Chilcotin Plateau to the valley floor—built by the hands of Bella Coola’s own people in 1953 after being told it couldn’t be done. This is the Freedom Road—a path not only through wilderness, but through resilience and community.

Once you reach the valley floor, it’s a short 17-kilometre drive to the lodge. Watch for signs. Our team will be eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Note: If you’re driving electric, rest easy—we offer a complimentary NEMA 14-50 charging station for guest use.

For those craving a maritime journey, the coastal route to Bella Coola delivers a spectacular blend of ocean, rainforest, and remote communities shaped by the tides.

Start on Vancouver Island, winding your way north through Nanaimo, Campbell River, and Port McNeill. These communities, connected by ocean, echo the rhythms of coastal life—where fishing boats bob in quiet harbours and Indigenous stories are carried on the wind and waves.

From Port Hardy, board the BC Ferries’ Northern Sea Wolf, embarking on an unforgettable 10-hour voyage through the heart of the Inside Passage. This route threads through an intricate network of fjords, inlets, and steep-sided islands that define the Great Bear Rainforest.

As you glide past waterfalls, hidden coves, and cedar-draped cliffs, keep your eyes on the water—whales, dolphins, and sea lions often travel alongside the ship.

When the ferry docks in Bella Coola, the lodge is a scenic 63-kilometre drive away, following the winding path of the Bella Coola River through the heart of the valley. Watch for signs. Our team will be eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Note: If you’re driving electric, rest easy—we offer a complimentary NEMA 14-50 charging station for guest use.