There's no better way to explore Alert Bay than on foot. Drop in at the Visitor Centre for suggestions on how best to match routes with fitness levels and time constraints. Ask for the "Big Tree Interpretive Trail" brochure – the fold-out map in the back highlights the island's hiking routes.
Shoreline Circle Route
Check the tide schedule and, as the waters recede, set out on a hike around the rocky beaches and intertidal zones of Cormorant Island. The 12.8km/8mi Shoreline Circle Route, at times moderately challenging, can be completed in a brisk four hours or so. The terrain of the island's uninhabited north and western sides is uneven and hard on the feet, so be sure to wear good hiking boots. And keep a very close eye on the ocean. The tide comes right up to the treeline.
Cormorant Island Trails
Walking is a way of life for many people in Alert Bay. As a result, a network of mostly unmarked walking trails wind their way throughout the island's inhabited portions. Hike up towards the island's plateau (site of the Alert Bay Ecological Park), a steep but relatively short climb. Or stick to the flat southern shoreline and head in one of two directions from the ferry dock: east down Fir Street on a there-and-back route following the road along the seawall; or west along Front Street to the U'mista Cultural Centre, connection point for a trail that winds through First Nations' lands towards the lovely northwestern lookout at Grassy Point and onwards to the Big House.
Alert Bay Ecological Park
Burn a pleasant hour wandering through a unique ecosystem at Alert Bay Ecological Park, accessible from the Alert Bay Campground off Alder Road above the town centre. Three nature trails (including the Big Tree Interpretive Trail, which is a great location for bird watching) wind through the park's second-growth forest, and a boardwalk crosses a marshy area notable for its unique topography and fragrant skunk cabbage.