Houston to Bella Coola

[DirtDuc]

Hi All,

I just rode my bike from Salmon Arm up to work in the Yukon. On my way down I'm hoping to jump off the highway at Houston and make it to Bella Coola on back roads. I've been looking at my Back Road Map Books but it looks like many of the roads turn into trail that are not open to motorized vehicles. Does anyone out there have a route I can take without paralleling the highway? I've never been in these parts so don't want to chance my interpretation of a road in the BRMB to be continuous when it's actually dead ended. All suggestions are appreciated and welcomed. Thanks.

 

[Rustic]

Lots of fun tracks south of Houston but you pretty much have to go east to Quesnel and then take the Garner to the 100 Road. Not very direct at all but nice and passable.

 

[DirtDuc]

Yeah, south of Houston looks like a ton of fun. I wish I had weeks instead of a couple of days. I was hoping I didn't have to go all the way to Quesnel but if it's the only way then so be it. I take it that The Garner is Garner Road and that one of the connecting roads is 100 Road. Thanks very much for the info. It's much appreciated.

 

[Rustic]

Yes, that is correct, look for it in the mapbooks maps layer. Be cautious of travel restrictions in that area they do come up, the fire zone has one now but not in that area.

 

[DirtDuc]

A great big thanks again I'll do just that. I'll be through there in about three weeks and am very much looking forward to the adventure. Take care!

 

[NW Coaster]

3 or 4 years back I did something similar in my truck. I went from Houston along Ootsa Lake, across the Kenney Dam, then up to Vanderhoof for fuel/motel. From there I went down Blackwater Rd, then west on Batnuni and found my way to Nazko where there's fuel. I then made my way to Williams Lake by going south at Baker Creek, past Twan Lake and eventually met up with the Meldrum road.

I'm pretty sure you can get from the Kenney Dam to Nazko by going east through Kluskus-Bobtail connector, Tatuk Lk road, Pelican-Chilko road, Pelican Lake road to Batnuni road. I have not tried this though, so take that for what it's worth. You will have to plan for fuel as some of these legs are quite long. I'm sure some of the resorts along the way will sell fuel but you'd want to make sure, or carry lots. If you get to Nazko, check with the locals at the gas station if there's a decent route to Alexis Creek etc.

 

[DirtDuc]

Fuel is something I never thought too much about. I've got a large tank and assumed there would be fuel along the way but I guess that may be an issue. I'll check the distances and plan for fuel. I may end up bringing some extra along. Thanks for the tip and good riding to you both.

 

[Groovy]

make sure to detour and check on the pictographs in the Farwell canyon area. Lots of native heritage sites in the area. I've done the trip to bella coola from Prince George and back in 2014. Fuel was never an issue. Check out Chilko and Tatlayko if inclined a detour at Tatla lake. There are back roads both sides of the river and highway worth riding between Williams lake and PG. There is a loop from the Wells/Bakerville side that was some fun riding. Watch for deer! A bouncing doe ended my trip short on the way back just north of Williams Lake. Luckily I kept it upright and rode to a stop, the bike was almost written off and I managed to limp away with a minor tear to the achilleas.

 

[DirtDuc]

It sounds like I'll have to make several trips up to work to see everything there is to see. I may even have to move up to this part of the country with all the riding there is available. I'm glad to hear you weren't badly damaged in your encounter with the wildlife. I've known many people to not have come out of similar incidents as well. Keep riding and smiling!!

 

[haileypooch]

A friend of mine says he plotted an off-road route from Anahim Lake to Burns Lake (Hwy 16) starting up Dean River. When I looked at it hard to say but appears to work on paper. Would be super awesome to connect that. I have to be in Terrace late Aug for family gathering and would looove to ride up off-road from home - just have to convince my wife to haul truck and camper up...

 

[scharfg]

make sure to detour and check on the pictographs in the Farwell canyon area. Lots of native heritage sites in the area. I've done the trip to bella coola from Prince George and back in 2014. Fuel was never an issue. Check out Chilko and Tatlayko if inclined a detour at Tatla lake. There are back roads both sides of the river and highway worth riding between Williams lake and PG. There is a loop from the Wells/Bakerville side that was some fun riding. Watch for deer! A bouncing doe ended my trip short on the way back just north of Williams Lake. Luckily I kept it upright and rode to a stop, the bike was almost written off and I managed to limp away with a minor tear to the achilleas.

View attachment 384720

Hey Jamie, long time no hear! Yes that was scary watching that doe come across the road in my rear view, right into you! Are you ADV riding again...?

 

[scharfg]

Fuel is something I never thought too much about. I've got a large tank and assumed there would be fuel along the way but I guess that may be an issue. I'll check the distances and plan for fuel. I may end up bringing some extra along. Thanks for the tip and good riding to you both.

FYI, there is no fuel in Nazko anymore, none at the store and none at the card lock. You have to ride to Sylvies (sp?) about 50km east towards Quesnel on the Nazko HWY, this was as of May this year.

 

[Groovy]

Hey Jamie, long time no hear! Yes that was scary watching that doe come across the road in my rear view, right into you! Are you ADV riding again...?

Hey Guy?! LOL long time indeed. That is a moment I wont forget watching that doe pong across the highway like an out of control spring jumping right into me... the only thing I could think before we collided was "At least this one doesn't have antlers!" LOL
YES! I am just recently back riding again! Found a newer KTM690 at a price I couldn't walk away from. LOVING the bike so far. Im in Terrace now. Currently building an ironhorse toy hauler... converting a horse trailer into utility trailer with bunk, power, cooking etc. Should hold three bikes I'm hoping.

 

[DirtDuc]

A friend of mine says he plotted an off-road route from Anahim Lake to Burns Lake (Hwy 16) starting up Dean River. When I looked at it hard to say but appears to work on paper. Would be super awesome to connect that. I have to be in Terrace late Aug for family gathering and would looove to ride up off-road from home - just have to convince my wife to haul truck and camper up...

Like I said, I'll have to make a few trips up that way. The possibilities and new roads to ride are endless.

 

[scharfg]

Like I said, I'll have to make a few trips up that way. The possibilities and new roads to ride are endless.

I've mapped out the same thing, but have not tested the route out. Best to try later in the season so other folks have cleared the beetle kill off the trail and the wetter areas have dried up. Probably best as a mid-late September adventure, hopefully bugs, fire and smoke are gone by then, shorter day light hours though.

In 2018 I heard a fellow drove his Toyota p/u from Anaheim to the Cluskus FSR (way south of Vanderhoof) taking the "short cut" home from mushroom picking but he didn't care what his truck looks like!

Keep us posted how it goes!

 

[scharfg]

Hey Guy?! LOL long time indeed. That is a moment I wont forget watching that doe pong across the highway like an out of control spring jumping right into me... the only thing I could think before we collided was "At least this one doesn't have antlers!" LOL
YES! I am just recently back riding again! Found a newer KTM690 at a price I couldn't walk away from. LOVING the bike so far. Im in Terrace now. Currently building an ironhorse toy hauler... converting a horse trailer into utility trailer with bunk, power, cooking etc. Should hold three bikes I'm hoping.

Howdy stranger, good to hear from you! That's awesome you are on 2 wheels again, you must be lovin the KTM performance versus the KLR. Great to hear things are going well, that sounds like a rad set up! All the best in your future adventures!

 

[Groovy]

I've looked into this area a few times myself trying to find an interior route back to Bracewell's we stayed at in Tatlayoko valley. It looks like there are a couple interior roads from Houston to Francios area, we did north road when we did it if I recall correctly. I'd be tempted to go on south side of lake and find the road that goes the length of the Nechako reservoir on the north side and follow it to the east. It looks like from there there is a route to Baker Creek heading SE. From there it appears there is roads going SW towards Crater Lake. Google maps with bike mode works for finding smaller roads easier. https://goo.gl/maps/dwTz8mR6zc4Am3dm8