Ferries from Bella Bella (McLoughlin Bay)

Bella Bella is the largest community on British Columbia's Central Coast and has no road to anywhere. McLoughlin Bay is its ferry terminal — 4 active sailings, the closest mid-coast call to Port Hardy at just under six hours.

Where the ships go

• Port Hardy (Bear Cove) — about 5 hours 50 minutes.
• Bella Coola — about 5 hours 40 minutes.

Operated by BC Ferries.

⚠ Which service calls here changes with the season

Outside summer, the Inside Passage sailing between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert stops at Bella Bella and Klemtu. In summer that run goes direct, and the mid-coast is served by the separate Discovery Coast route instead.

Same terminal, different service, different timetable, twice a year. Confirm which one is operating before planning around a connection.

The community

Bella Bella is the home of the Heiltsuk Nation, and the terminal at McLoughlin Bay is a few kilometres from the village of Waglisla. The Heiltsuk Big House, opened in 2019, was the first built in the community in over a century.

This is the Great Bear Rainforest — one of the largest intact coastal temperate rainforests left anywhere, and the reason the surrounding waters are managed as they are.

Getting here realistically

A six-hour ferry leg with one scheduled departure, or a flight from Vancouver to the airport on Campbell Island. Neither is casual; both need booking well ahead.

Onward

Shearwater is a short water-taxi hop across to Denny Island, and Klemtu lies further north on the same coast.