Picnic by the ocean, alongside rivers, or beside serene lakes in the Port Alberni region. A pair of full-service provincial parks with modern facilities as well as campgrounds and R/V sites are located close to town.
The whitewater crescendo at Stamp Falls is a major lure for visitors, salmon, and black bears alike at Stamp River Provincial Park (327ha/808ac). From August to December, various breeds of salmon travel from the ocean up the tree-shaded Stamp River before negotiating the falls – usually via a man-made fish ladder. It's a remarkable sight from viewpoints above the falls.
Hiking trails here are highlighted by the Stamp Long River Trail on the river's east bank. Find the park at the end of Beaver Creek Road northwest of Port Alberni off Highway #4.
Sproat Lake Provincial Park
Sproat Lake, a popular camping, picnicking and watersports destination in the region is just 15 minutes west of Port Alberni on the highway to Tofino. Shaped like a starfish, this large body of water is lined by forested shorelines and pockets of vacation homes. Fishing, swimming, and windsurfing are favorite activities here.
Launch a boat and explore the lake as a whole. Or camp down in Sproat Lake Provincial Park at the northeastern corner of the lake closest to town. The wheelchair accessible picnic grounds at the water's edge are popular with family groups. A short walking path leads to a set of petroglyphs. And for much of the year the eyes of park visitors are irresistibly drawn to the enormous Martin Mars firefighting water bombers moored in the bay.
Also in the Sproat Lake area: Taylor Arm Provincial Park offers group camping facilities a little further along Highway #4. Fossil Provincial Park is in the Sterling Arm portion of the lake and is known for its easy trail through old-growth forest to the site of a pioneering homestead.
Other Parks
Rogers Creek Park is the best spot for an al fresco lunch or afternoon snooze within Port Alberni's city limits. The picnic area is shaded by large trees. The well-marked 4km/2.5mi Rogers Creek Trail lets active family members stretch their legs. And the nearby Kiwanis Water Park is perfect for overheated youngsters.
Paper Mill Dam Park (off Falls Road along the Somass River) is known for its swimming and the remains of an early-20th-century paper mill.
Cathedral Grove (20 minutes east of town on Highway 4) is famous for mammoth trees that date back to the middle ages, but not so recognized for its great picnic possibilities on the banks of a pretty creek that leads into Cameron Lake.
Ask at the Port Alberni Visitor Centre for more information about provincial parks in the area.
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