Visit Alberni Valley Explorer Guide Now!

The Alberni Inlet is still known by many locals as the Canal despite officially losing that title in 1945. The Alberni inlet is a 40 kilometre long, narrow inlet that starts at the Pacific Ocean where the Broken Group Island are located and ends in the Port Alberni harbour. It was named after Pedro de Alberni y Teixidor in the late 1700. It has been the territory of many Nuu-chah-nulth nations for time immemorial. The Inlet is home to whales, sea lions, seals, hundreds of bird varieties and other sea life, and perhaps most famous of them all, the Pacific Salmon. 

It's not hard to access the Inlet right in the Alberni Valley. If you’re going by boat, you can launch at either Clutesi Haven Marina or China Creek. If you want to admire it, head down to the bottom of Argyle Street and visit the Harbour Quay. To get a little closer visit and maybe take a dip, head to the end of Third Avenue and follow the signs to Canal Beach

The Somass River is named after the Nuu-chah-nulth word for washing – Tsu-ma-uss. The Somass River starts where the Stamp River and Sproat River join. It then flows southeast into the Alberni Inlet. Driving along River Road (Highway 4 heading west), the Somass can be seen on your left all the way to where it bends at under the iconic “Orange Bridge” and up to Paper Mill Dam. If you feel a bit more adventurous, gram a tub and float down the river – it's a great way to enjoy a hot summer day and see lots of beautiful sights and wildlife.

Named after William Herbert Bainbridge, Bainbridge Lake can be found south east of Port Alberni. It is approximately 26 hectares and has a maximum depth of 17 metres. Bainbridge Lake is a natural lake located along McFarlane Creek. In addition to being a water source for the City of Port Alberni, Bainbridge Lake also offers a quiet place to fish or swim.

This is a small lake located approximately 5 kilometres outside of Port Alberni, along Franklin River Road. This natural lake is named after the Cox family, who lived at the Cape Beale lighthouse in the 1870s. Its shores are home to a local blueberry farm where you can get berries late in the summer. Cox Lake is a great place to fish, and it is recommended for people who like to fly fish with no shortage of trout swimming in it cool waters. If you prefer to drop a line, you never know what you can find, as in addition to trout, people have been known to catch catfish, carp, walleye and bullheads in the lake. 

These small but beautiful lakes are approximately 10 kilometres east of Port Alberni. From the Port Alberni Highway, turn left on Loon Lake Main. Just a few metres up you will see a parking lot on Loon Lake. Both lakes are nice for a quick dip and offers great fishing. If you feel like a hike, there is an easy 1.6 kilometre trail that circles the lakes and offers great views of Mount Arrowsmith. Although camping isn’t allowed on either Summit or Loon Lake, Huuacasath First Nation and Mosaic Forest Management have partnered in a new campsite in the area. It is called ʔaʔuk ʔaama k̓anis, which means loon lake camp and rest area.

This 45 kilometre long lake is located northwest of Port Alberni, at the end of Great Central Lake Road, off Highway 4. Controlled by a dam, it measures between 124 and 250 metres in depth, Great Central Lake is the second deepest lake on Vancouver Island. Approximately 70n people call the lake home, most living in float homes along its shore, but luckily they are willing to share. Great Central Lake is an amazing place to explore by water. Many people enjoy paddling its waters as it offers a quiet place to explore. Its size means there’s lots of water to share, so paddlers, fishers, and motor boat users all happily share what it has to offer. It also offers trails for ATV and lots of locations to camp. If you are feeling adventurous, Great Central Lake is also the gateway to Della Falls. This two-day, 16 kilometre hike won’t disappoint, as it leads to the impressive 440 metre falls that are second tallest falls on Vancouver Island.

Although it’s a bit trick to access, Nahmint Lake is well worth the effort. Southwest of Port Alberni, the lake is full of rivers, wildlife and views of mountains you just can’t beat. The lake drains into the Alberni Inlet, through an impressive combination of rapids and falls to Nahmint Bay. The lake is great for camping, fishing, swimming and hiking. Nahmint Lake Provincial Park offers 12 campsites, a boat launch, picnic tables, and toilets. Come for the day to enjoy the beaches or stay a while and explore the hemlock forests. To get there, Turn left off Highway 4 to McCoy Lake Road, zero your odometer, and at 4.6 kilometres turn left onto Nahmint Forest Service Road/Branch Ash Main. Then it’s five kilometres to a right on Stirling Forest Service Road, 17.2 kilometres to a left onto Branch Gracie Main, 25.2 kilometres a left on Nahmint Main, and finally the entrance to the recreation site is at 26.1 kilometres. Remember that, because you’ll have to do it all in reverse when it’s time to leave this beautiful spot.

This secluded lake is now known as Hucuktlis Lake, which means play way inside, referring to its location in relation to Uchucklesaht Inlet. In 1917, it was given the name Henderson Lake, but in 2018 this error was corrected and it was returned to the recommended name from Uchucklesaht First Nation. Members of Uchucklesaht traditionally used this lake, as well as the lands around it.  The lake is approximately 25 kilometres east-southeast of Port Alberni. It drains into the Alberni Inlet, and the Inlet offers the best way to access the lake. You may want to be careful about what time of year you visit it’s shores though. This lake has the dubious honour of being the wettest place in North America, averaging 6,903 mm of precipitation , and setting a Canadian record of 3,307 mm in 1997.