Tallheo Hot Springs

Tallheo is a small man-made soaking pool on the rocky shore of South Bentinck Arm, the fjord running south from Bella Coola into the Coast Mountains; its Nuxalk name is Ix7piixm. There is no road. You come by boat, about an hour from Bella Coola harbour, by kayak if you have the experience for cold coastal water, or by floatplane.

Local operators run trips from June to October, and the ride itself is part of the draw, with chances of seeing bears, eagles, sea lions, dolphins and whales along the inlet. The pool is fed by the spring and a small stream, under cedar boughs with a view back over the water. Reported temperatures vary a lot, and at least one visitor found it cooler than expected, so treat the heat as a bonus rather than a promise.

There are no facilities of any kind; bring water and pack everything out. Do not confuse it with the old Tallheo Cannery across the water, now a guest house. The honest downside: without your own boat, you depend on a small number of seasonal tour operators and the weather.