Old Bella Coola Hill Road

Before Highway 20 tamed the descent into Bella Coola Valley, there was ‘The Hill’ – a brutal 12-kilometer plunge down grades that hit 18% with hairpin turns carved into cliffsides. The old road still exists as a 4WD route, dropping 1,524 meters through alpine tundra to coastal rainforest, with sections so steep your radiator boils and brakes fade despite low range. Local legend says more trucks went over the edge here than made it down intact, and the rusted remains visible in the canyon below suggest that’s not entirely folklore.

This is extreme-difficulty driving that demands mechanical sympathy and nerve. Engine braking in first gear low-range mandatory, with functional cooling system and excellent brakes non-negotiable. Attempt only in dry conditions May through October – rain makes the exposed rock slabs lethal. No permits required but inform locals of your plans since cell service dies halfway down. The original Bella Coola Hill broke vehicles and spirits in equal measure, but completing it earns legitimate bragging rights among serious BC backcountry drivers.