On the far side of Mount Arrowsmith from Cathedral Grove, Port Alberni lies at the head of the rich salmon fishing grounds of the Alberni inlet.
Cultural and historical explorers are in their element here thanks to three fine attractions: the Alberni Valley Museum, rated as one of the best regional museums in BC; the harbourside Maritime Discover Centre with its fascinating retelling of the town’s 1964 encounter with a tsunami; and the McLean Mill National Historic Site, a vintage lumber camp with working steam-powered sawmill that can be reached by car or on a memorable half-hour steam-train ride from downtown. Hike or mountain bike the Log Train Trail, one of 100 routes in the valley (including a challenging trek by boat and food to Della Falls, the highest waterfall in Canada).
Things To Do In Port Alberni
1. Step aboard a 1929 logging locomotive at the train station downtown, then ride the rails with the Alberni Valley Railway on a scenic route to McLean Mill National Historic Site, Canada’s only steam-powered sawmill. Once there, a troupe of employees in period costume lead tours of the working sawmill, mill pond and camp buildings.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
2. Explore the Log Train Trail by foot, bike or horseback from Port Alberni as far as McLean Mill. This level trail, accessible at many spots along the way, stretches 25km through second-growth forest.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
3. Take a self-guided stroll around downtown’s Harbour Quay, the urban waterfront hub of shopping, dining and sightseeing. Climb the clock tower for stellar views of the Alberni Inlet. Wander through the quaint shops and galleries before or after a good meal. And visit the Maritime Discovery Centre, set inside the original 1900 Chrome Island lighthouse, to learn about tsunamis, deep-sea exploration and the harsh reality faced by mariners on the open coastline (aka “The Graveyard of the Pacific”).
Things To Do In Port Alberni
4. Join the throngs watching kite surfers take flight near the new Centennial Pier, a great spot at Harbour Quay from which to launch kayaks, canoes and SUP boards.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
5. Tour 18 colourful murals around town that capture the area’s history. Walk the downtown waterfront to the Nuu-chah-nulth Whaling Canoe, a magnificent sculpture originally displayed in Victoria’s Royal BC Museum and now located at Victoria Quay.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
6. With its forests, rivers and waterfalls, Stamp Falls Provincial Park is a wonderful year-round refuge. View salmon battling their way up and over fish ladders en route to spawning grounds in the fall. The Angler’s Trail follows the Stamp River from the falls for 6km one-way through old-growth forest.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
7. Learn about First Nations history, art and culture along with the town’s more recent pioneer legacy at the <b>Alberni Valley Museum</b>, headquarters of the Alberni Valley Heritage Network. View exquisite folk art and learn about the origins of the West Coast Trail as a telegraph line and life-saving route for shipwreck victims.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
8. Meet local farmers and purchase fresh produce at the Port Alberni Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday morning in Harbour Quay’s Spirit Square.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
9. Art lovers will enjoy the Rollin Art Centre, a heritage property with an art gallery, gift shop, gardens, and terrace where tea is served in the summer.
Things To Do In Port Alberni
10. Safely watch black bears catching salmon at low tide in their natural Somass River estuary habitat in late summer and early fall.