Eagle Lodge is located in the quaint community of Hagensborg, just five minutes from the Bella Coola airport and our helicopters! One of the advantages of this location is that most of the time we ski with just 2 groups of 4 using the helicopter. Whether your trip is for three days or as many as seven, your friendly hosts will make you feel at home after a BIG day of helicopter skiing or riding.
Your return flight between Vancouver and our lodges are included in the package price. We book and organize this for you. Guests staying at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and Eagle Lodge will fly into Bella Coola and guests staying at Pantheon Heli Ranch, Mystery Mountain Lodge, and Terra Nostra Guest Ranch will fly into Anahim Lake. We will email you exact flight details approximately 2 weeks before your arrival, however, for your planning purposes, flights will depart Vancouver between 10am-11am on your first day with us. On your Departure Day, the flights will arrive back into Vancouver around 3:30pm, however, we very strongly recommend booking flights home for after 6:30pm in case of weather delays.
You should arrive in Vancouver the night before your trip start date. On the first day of your trip you will need to take a taxi to either* Signature Flight Support (this is where private charters leave from), or the South Terminal, both of which are part of the Vancouver International Airport and are located near each other (important: it’s about 5-10 minutes between these locations and the Main Terminal by taxi. There is a free shuttle bus (click for info) that goes to the South Terminal but not Signature Flight Support, which is a 5 minute walk away. Taking a taxi is much easier). Please be at the airport 60 minutes prior to departure. The flight takes about 1 hour & 10 minutes and flies over the spectacular mountains and fjords of the Coast Range. Much of the terrain you fly over is our heliskiing area!
Please note: we do not issue tickets for the flights. When you check-in at least 60 minutes before your flight, all you need to show is a photo id (for example, a passport or drivers licence).
* - 2 weeks before your trip we will let you know which location you will depart from.
Last chance to secure your Re-Booking Incentive discount!
On your last day with us the reverse of Day 1 will take place. After a regular morning of stretching, breakfast and weather/ski forecasts we will ask everyone to have all of their bags packed for transport to the airport. While you are skiing your way to the airport your bags will be driven to the airport by our lodge staff. Around lunchtime you will be dropped off at the airport where you can change out of your ski gear, have a quick lunch and board your Pacific Coastal flight back to Vancouver.
Please note: bad weather can sometimes delay the plane from taking off, so please make sure to book your flights home for departures after 6:00 pm.
All BCHS guides are professionals with a lifelong dedication to their profession and are certified by the ACMG / UIAGM (Canadian and International Association of Mountain Guides) and/or the Canadian Ski Guides Association (CSGA). In addition to this, the guides all have years of experience specifically related to heli-skiing, as well as having outgoing and supportive personalities.
For more on our guides in general, see here. To read our Head and Lead Guide’s biographies, please go here. You will see you are in very experienced and knowledgeable hands!
Not Just Heli Skiing!
Fortunately there's no shortage of other adventures to enjoy, be it because of a weather day, or because you've reached your vertical target or need a rest day. This is a perfect opportunity to take in some of the many adventures we offer.
Fishing (available for Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and Terra Nostra Guest Ranch guests)
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge - Both the Atnarko and the Bella Coola rivers have a long history and offer world-class sport fishing opportunities.
Terra Nostra Guest Ranch - Lodge host Christoph will drill a hole through the thick ice of Clearwater Lake and set up a little fire to keep you warm while you fish through the ice!
Fly fishing gear and waders are supplied. We are strong supporters of fly fishing, and the catch & release program.
Native Culture (available from Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and Eagle Lodge)
The Nuxalk culture (pronounced 'New hawk') is expressed in the Bella Coola valley, both through traditional dances and native arts. There are a number of small galleries highlighting local artists and carvers, and Nuxalk artwork is displayed in the Smithsonian museum. Arts and crafts are available for purchase. Tours to the 5,000-year-old Petroglyphs are also very popular and a local Nuxalk guide will accompany you.
Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing (available at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and Terra Nostra Guest Ranch)
Surrounded by seemingly endless pristine wilderness, there's ample opportunity to explore the area around our lodges by snowshoe or classic cross country skiing. Use the trails in our property or blaze a new path. It's a great way to get the ski legs warmed up and going while you wait for the skies to clear.
Sightseeing & Hiking
From quick hikes in the old growth forest to more intense hiking throughout the valley, points of interest can include the Sir Alexander MacKenzie Grease Trail. This trail marks the culmination of the first westward crossing of the North American continent.
Biking (available for Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests)
We have a set of Mountain Bikes available at the lodge. Although duirng the winter the side roads will be covered in snow, the main road is a great place to ride and the views are stunning. For sure there is almost no traffic to worry about.
Natural Hot Springs & Harbour Tours (available fromTweedsmuir Park Lodge and Eagle Lodge)
These tours can be taken by our A Star B2 helicopters or by boat. The hot springs are situated on the coast of Bentinck Arm inlet, providing a beautiful eco-setting in which to relax and soak.
Via Ferrata (available from Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and Eagle Lodge)
A guest favourite! Climb above the Great Bear Rainforest for stunning views of the Bella Coola valley. A via ferrata is a course of metal rungs and bridges allowing you to climb up rocks while safely being connected by a sturdy cable. Challenge yourself and take in the fantastic scenery. Click here for more details.
We are committed to offering our guests an unforgettable heliskiing and heli boarding experience, but always in the context of safety first. To that end: we employ only highly certified mountain guides, all our helicopter pilots have many years and hours flying in the mountains, our new A-Star B2 helicopters are maintained and inspected daily by engineers in a heated hangar, and we constantly monitor snow & weather conditions. All in all, our safety standards are above and beyond the industry requirements set by HeliCat Canada.
In addition to a very thorough safety briefing on your arrival, we outfit each guest with the following safety equipment (note: we supply all of the equipment below);
Legions of ski fanatics have heard about the legendary terrain in Bella Coola. Over the years we’ve hosted many writers hoping to capture what makes this so special. Here are the most recent articles, in a variety of languages. No doubt reading the following will get you even more excited for your trip!
We serve an international style cuisine, with a West Coast twist. All meals are served in the main dining room of the lodge. To complement your meal there is a well stocked wine cellar with a special focus on New World wines from British Columbia's best vineyards.
The chef will post the featured menu for that day in the morning. Due to the small and intimate size of our facility there is just the one set choice. However, care and attention are given to special dietary needs and preferences. Anybody with allergies, a unique diet, or a simple yearning for something not on the menu, please click on the “Dietary Requests” button below.
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:00 am - 8:00 am
Lunch: out in the field
Dinner: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Note: that there are no other restaurants or stores near the lodges. The closest is about 45 minutes away.
