Hiking
The Port Alberni area offers numerous walking trails that pass through all of our ecosystems: beaches and headlands, coastal bog, rainforest, and high alpine. The trails range from easy walking paths near town, some of which are wheelchair-accessible, to scenic day-hikes, to challenging multi-day backpacking routes suitable only for the most experienced wilderness travellers.
Whether you are on a short walk in or near town, or hiking in remote wilderness, make sure you are aware of how to travel safely in wildlife habitat. Short walks and day-hike
Around Port Alberni: About 20 day-hikes in and around Port Alberni are described in the Alberni Valley Trail Guide, published by the Alberni Environmental Coalition.
Some of these are easy walks starting right in town, such as the 1.5 km Kitsukis Dyke Walking Path, and the 20 km Log Train Trail system, which has many parking lots and entrances so you can walk (or cycle) parts or all of the route. It also includes some much more gruelling hikes, such as the tough route up Mt. Klitsa. The guidebook is available through the AEC as well as through the local tourism office, which can also provide you with more detailed information about specific hikes.
Overnight hikes
Della Falls, Strathcona Provincial Park: At 440 metres, Della Falls is not only the highest waterfall in Canada, it is also one of the harder ones to access. While road access to Strathcona Provincial Park is from the north, none of the hiking trails from the north cross the rugged range to Della Falls, which is in the south. However, there is a trail up to the falls from the west end of Great Central Lake, just outside Port Alberni. The minimum recommended time to do this hike (32-km round-trip to the base of the falls, 10 additional km to hike above them) is three days, and you need to arrange for boat transport to and from the trailhead. The Alberni Valley Trail Guide provides trail information.
This article was written by Jacqueline Windh.
Whether you are on a short walk in or near town, or hiking in remote wilderness, make sure you are aware of how to travel safely in wildlife habitat. Short walks and day-hike
Around Port Alberni: About 20 day-hikes in and around Port Alberni are described in the Alberni Valley Trail Guide, published by the Alberni Environmental Coalition.Some of these are easy walks starting right in town, such as the 1.5 km Kitsukis Dyke Walking Path, and the 20 km Log Train Trail system, which has many parking lots and entrances so you can walk (or cycle) parts or all of the route. It also includes some much more gruelling hikes, such as the tough route up Mt. Klitsa. The guidebook is available through the AEC as well as through the local tourism office, which can also provide you with more detailed information about specific hikes.
Overnight hikes
Della Falls, Strathcona Provincial Park: At 440 metres, Della Falls is not only the highest waterfall in Canada, it is also one of the harder ones to access. While road access to Strathcona Provincial Park is from the north, none of the hiking trails from the north cross the rugged range to Della Falls, which is in the south. However, there is a trail up to the falls from the west end of Great Central Lake, just outside Port Alberni. The minimum recommended time to do this hike (32-km round-trip to the base of the falls, 10 additional km to hike above them) is three days, and you need to arrange for boat transport to and from the trailhead. The Alberni Valley Trail Guide provides trail information.This article was written by Jacqueline Windh.
