|
Pacific Grizzly Nautical Adventures | | The M.V. Pacific Grizzly |
Welcome Aboard! The Motor Vessel "Pacific Grizzly" is a great platform to gather your Friends, Family or Co-workers for an unforgettable Marine-Eco Wilderness Adventure. Bella Coola is the premier departure point and mainland port of the "Great Bear Rainforest" and offers water and air access to the entire Central Coast. The Breathtaking scenery and Wildlife flourishes in this pristine wilderness area of the BC Coast. Take your pick of accommodations onboard the classic MV Pacific Grizzly at the Bella Coola waterfront or Luxurious Log Cabin accommodations at our landbased Bella Coola Grizzly Tours Resort. Once you get settled in our afternoon will start at 4:00 p.m. on the main deck of the MV Pacific Grizzly with introductions of the crew and guests and a Tour of the Classic Vessel. Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served to our guests onboard and your Barbequed Wild Salmon Dinner will be underway by 6:00 p.m.  | | One of our 20 foot tour boats. |
The MV "Pacific Grizzly" was built by Boeing Aircraft in 1936 at Vancouver, British Columbia to serve as a Commercial Fishing Vessel. It fished on the BC Coast for all its life and accommodated many hard working fishermen over the years. She was a "Highliner" Purse Seine boat in her day and was well known on the coast as a top producer of Salmon and Herring. The Skipper and crew always caught their share of fish and she provided a bountiful catch and a good living. The Pacific Grizzly has travelled the BC coastline from Vancouver to Alaska many times in her 70 years of fishing seasons and has certainly seen her share of bad weather on the rugged, unforgiving B.C. Coast.  | | A Hearty Catch of Prawns |
Very few of these classic Double Deckers remain in service on the coast today and we take great pride in maintaining this one. The Pacific Grizzly always brought her Skipper and Crew back to their Families safe and sound and has always been a very seaworthy vessel. Bella Coola Grizzly Tours purchased the vessel in 1997 from BC Packers during the decline of the Salmon Fishing Industry. We have now restored the Heritage Vessel and will keep her in service as a liveaboard to host people who never had the opportunity to stay on a fishing vessel or fish for a living. The vessel now lends itself perfectly to entertaining and accommodating people wishing to experience part of the life of a West Coast Fisherman. By spending a couple of days with us you will get to experience first hand how the Fishermen lived onboard the Ocean on a daily basis.  | | Jumbo Prawns! |
The Pacific Grizzly will remain tied to the Government Wharf in Bella Coola as your Mothership/Livaboard while you enjoy the Day Tours out the Inlet in our faster welded 24 foot aluminum skiffs. Aboard the M.V."Pacific Grizzly" we will provide you with the best seafood that the waters of Bella Coola has to offer, caught daily by yourself and your guide. Dine on Fresh Huge Jumbo Prawns and Dungeness Crab from the glacial waters while enjoying the picturesque surroundings. You cannot buy seafood this fresh anywhere or have the fun and experience of catching them yourself, except on the "Pacific Grizzly" here in Bella Coola.  | | Prawns for Dinner! |
We endeavour to utilize all Bella Coola homegrown vegetables, fruit from our gardens and Farm fresh eggs for caesars salads and breakfasts. By issuing you a Tidal Sportfishing licence you are legally entitled to fish for Prawns and Crabs in these waters and our Ocean Guides will teach you basic boating safety skills and how to become a successful Fisherman. Our guests will enjoy a Nautical setting in the Harbour aboard the "Pacific Grizzly" while securely tied to the wharf, so no need to worry about tough weather or being seasick. The beautiful waterfront view of North Bentinck Arm is spectacular as the sun sets over the mountains peaks and you witness first hand all of the activity in this small Fishing Community.  | | The Nekhani - Our Charter Vessel |
Bring your binoculars to spot the Mountain Goats on the hill tops across the Inlet and to watch the Seals and Eagles eating the salmon on the Booms. Keep your eyes on the Beach as you never know when you may see a Bear, Wolf, Deer or Cougar cruising the shoreline or swimming the channel. After Dinner your guide will paddle with you in the 25 foot "Big Canoe" around the Harbour to familiarize you with the local history and sea life that lives in the Estuary. On this evening tour you will likely see Otters, Seals, Mink, Marten, Great Blue Herons, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Eagles and always Seagulls. Your accommodations this evening will be aboard the "Pacific Grizzly" and each guest will have their own single bunk bed with privacy curtain for the night.  | | Canoeing the Estuary |
It is quite comfortable sleeping on the boat in the fresh ocean air and there are virtually no bugs on the water to bother you. The only sound you may here is the Seals and Otters flapping and grunting around the hull in the night. The old time commercial Fishermen slept this way day and night on this vessel for decades as they fished their way and travelled up and down the British Columbia Coast. Linen and pillow slips are fresh daily and mattresses are of new high quality comfortable foam. Luxurious Private Log Cabins are also available for couples/guests wishing more exclusive accommodations at our land based Bella Coola Grizzly Tours Resort. Each Private cabin has a large Queen size Sleigh bed and two twin beds with complete kitchenette and full bathroom facilities.
 | | Burke Channel |
( Please inquire for details and rates ) The large stern cabin on the Pacific Grizzly has 8 available bunks and is comfortably heated with an airtight wood stove. It can be damp and rainy on the Coast at times and the wood stove keeps everybody cozy and warm all night long. Our enclosed stern dining area on the main deck seats 8 people comfortably at one table and is utilized in all weather. The Upper outside deck has 4 round tables with 4 chairs each to seat a total of 16 people. The Upper deck offers a beautiful view of the harbour and is a great area to relax with a coffee or beverage and watch the sights and activities of the Harbour.  | | Seafood Cocktails |
There is one private head/toilet facility in the stern quarters with a sink and shower and lots of freshwater capacity. The two forward staterooms on the main deck have two bunks in each and heat is provided by the Galley stove. There is a private head/toilet facility in the forward accommodations with a common sink as well. The Pacific Grizzly has a total of 12 available bunks on the main deck, 8 in the stern and 2 staterooms forward with 2 bunks in each.The Chef is up early in the morning and the guests will be served coffee and a hearty breakfast aboard the Pacific Grizzly at daybreak. After we enjoy a nice breakfast the guests will be given a routine safety briefing by our Guides prior to boarding the skiffs. The weather is generally calm in the morning and we disembark to the West out North Bentinck Arm in our 24 foot welded aluminum skiffs. Our Aluminum Skiffs are powered by fast new Fuel Injected Yamaha Outboards. They are excellent boats and motors and never let us down. Transport Canada Approved Life jackets and necessary safety gear is aboard each vessel including handheld VHF radios.  | | Orca aka "Killer Whale" |
As we cruise out the Emerald Green waters of the inland Fjord guests will enjoy natural sightings of Bald Eagles, Sea Lions, Seals, Otters, possibly Dolphins and occasionally Killer Whales and Grey Whales depending on the season. Pods of Killer Whales are more likely to be seen in the Spring chasing the Chinook Salmon around King Island. Pacific White-sided Dolphins are common sightings in the Summertime and they usually put on quite a show for us with their dazzling ariel displays at the head of Burke Channel. Your guide will point out the hanging Glaciers to the North and the cruise out the Fjord in the calm glacial waters is very scenic with lots of interesting sightings, so keep your camera handy.  | | The Big Cedar Tree |
"Weather Permitting" we are bound for Larso Bay in South Bentinck where we will fish for Dungeness Crabs and hike up to the Big Cedar Tree. On the way to Larso Bay we will view Cascading Waterfalls and the ancient Native Pictographs on the East wall of the Inlet. These orange coloured paintings are so old and faded they are barely visible and hard to spot but your experienced guide will be able find them and point them out to you. The Pictographs tell a story of their people and ancient times when First Nations were the only inhabitants of the Coast. The Big Cedar Tree at Larso Bay is certainly one of the largest Cedar Trees around the coast and is about 19 feet in diameter. It is just a short easy hike to the Big Tree from the Oceans edge and it takes about 20 minutes to get there on an groomed trail. It is an enormous sight to behold so don’t forget your camera. Keep your eyes open here as it is home as well to Black Bears and Wolves and sightings are not uncommon. Your Guide will be well armed with Bear Spray for your safety.  | | One of Our Local Hot Springs |
The Hotsprings and the nearby Glacial Creek are very beautiful spots tucked away in South Bentinck Arm. These remote areas are only accessible by boat and have few visitors. There is a nice little secluded white sandy beach here amongst the towering cedars where we have built a firepit complete with Lava Rock. Here we will have a beach picnic/cook out for the guests after they are done relaxing in the Hotsprings. A unique Hotsprings pool has been built by Locals by damming a natural rock crevice and there is room for about 8 people or more in the pool. We usually spend an hour or so at the Hotsprings, that is about all the people need to get fully relaxed in the pure, clear hot water. While the Guests are soaking in the Hotsprings your guide is getting the Alder fire going in the Firepit for our campfire cookout. Once the guest have soaked their cares away in the Hotsprings they will enjoy a nice hot campfire lunch and relax on the Beach to enjoy the nature and solitude.  | | Our 26 Foot Prawn & Crab Harvester |
Generally in the Summertime there is a West Wind that comes up around noon known as an Inflow to locals. Your Guide will keep an eye on the wind and weather to ensure your departure back to Bella Coola is in good weather. As a rule we usually have a fairwind coming back and we travel with the sea so it is not uncomfortable. It is actually quite enjoyable surfing along back to the harbour in a following sea. Heading East on the way back to Bella Coola we will haul back the Prawn traps and the Crab pots in calm little secluded bays along the way. We will spend some time harvesting the shellfish for our special Seafood cookery and Dinner aboard the Pacific Grizzly. Fortunately Prawns are very plentiful here in the Fjords and we usually do very well on them. Some of the best Prawn fishing and certainly the biggest Prawns on the Coast are found in the crevices of these deep Glacial Fjords. | Leonard & Michelle, Our stay in Bella Coola started not so good and then we cross your driveway and then everything change. You make our weekend! How can I say, we don't have word to say how amazing it was. The hot spring was like in a dream! Steve was a pretty nice guide. He explain us everything and he let us fish! The prawns fishing was incredible! No word to describe our happiness!!! Thank you so much. Marc & Anais from Switzerland. |
 | | Prawns on the Menu |
It takes us a couple of hours to haul the Prawn traps and rebait them and the guests will of course participate in this activity. The Children especially like to see all the creatures that come up from the deep and learn lots about boats and sea life on this Ocean Tour. This Tour is educational for young and old alike and highly recommended for Family Groups. We arrive back at the Pacific Grizzly in the afternoon to relax, Cook the Prawns and Crabs and have a nice Barbequed Seafood Dinner. Provided the Prawn and Crab Gods have been good to us, and the catch is bountiful, you will enjoy an excellent seafood feast of the freshest local seafood available. Back at the Pacific Grizzly the Chef has the water boiling in the Prawn and Crab cooker and is awaiting our harvest from the sea. The guests board the Pacific Grizzly and relax with a beverage/cocktail before dinner and enjoy a few Jimmy Buffet tunes to set the mood.  | | Dining Aboard |
The Chef boils up the live Jumbo Prawns first and Barbeques them to perfection. We enjoy them hot dipped in Garlic Butter and homemade Seafood/Horseradish sauce. The live Crabs go into the cooker next and Boil for 20 minutes till done. The Guides demonstrate how to shuck the tender meat out of the Crabs and Prawns, the guests are all issued Crab Crackers, and the "Feeding Frenzy" is on. We dine on the catch of the day and enjoy the evening sunset aboard the Pacific Grizzly. At the end of the Day the guests bed down in their boat bunks and sleep well after lots of fresh air and a long day at sea. In the morning the guests are served coffee at 7:00 a.m. and Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. The only tough part of the Tour is the Departure and the guests will be on their way by 11:00 am.
Tour Dates: - May, June, July, August, September, October
- Friday 4:00 p.m. - Sunday 11:00 a.m.
- Monday 4:00 p.m. - Wednesday 11:00 a.m.
- Wednesday 4:00 p.m. - Friday 11:00 a.m.
Pacific Grizzly Tour Package Includes: - Tidal Sportfishing Licence
- Two Breakfasts, one Lunch and two Dinners
- Overnight single bunk style accommodations onboard the M.V. Pacific Grizzly for two nights.
- Liquor is permitted on the Pacific Grizzly but not included in the price.
Details: - Bookings are confirmed by receipt of a 50% non-refundable deposit.
- Drive in on Highway 20 from Williams Lake, or
- Fly in to Bella Coola with Pacific Coastal Air from Vancouver.
- Accommodating up to 12 guests nightly.
- Minimums group sizes apply. Inquire for larger groups.
- All Tours are subject to favourable weather conditions.
- Private Luxury Log Cabins available up valley at Bella Coola Grizzly Tours Resort. (optional)
- Custom Charters available to various points on the Central Coast (Inquire)
Price per person is $495.00 plus applicable taxes To check availability and book your trip give us a call. 1-250-982-0098 or 1-888-982-0098 e-mail: info@bcgrizzlytours.com
 Bella Coola Grizzly Tours Inc.
P.O. Box 336,
1953 Mackenzie Highway 20
Bella Coola, British Columbia
Canada, V0T 1C0
Phone: (250)-982-0098
Fax: (250) 982-0097
Toll Free: 1-888-982-0098 Email us: info@bcgrizzlytours.com
Skype: bcgrizzlytours
 | Photo Gallery
Click to view a Photo Gallery of images form the Pacific Grizzly Nautical Adventures.
|
|
|
| 
