Alert Bay and Area
 Welcome to Alert Bay |
Today, Alert Bay has a population of about 1,500 comprised of the Village of Alert Bay, the 'Namgis First Nation and Whe-la-la-u and Area Council. The island is accessible by a 30 minute ferry ride which departs six times as day from Port McNeill.
The area is rich in aboriginal history and is primarily populated by the Kwakwaka'wakw people. The U'mista Cultural Centre is an internationally-known facility that houses one of the finest collections of historical artifacts depicting the Potlatch Ceremony of the Kwakwaka'wakw. Ruins of native villages and culturally modified trees can be found on nearby islands.
The natural beauty of the island has not been altered by large developments
or crowds. Travellers can sea kayak, rent a mountain bike, explore the
Island's hiking trails, and rarely see other tourists. Most beaches are
accessible by foot. The world-renowned Robson Bight Ecological Reserve,
a favoured rubbing beach for killer whales, is just 30 minutes away by
boat. Alert Bay is an ideal place to unwind and enjoy a place that appears
to have stood still for half a century.While Alert Bay's economy is still influenced by commercial fishing, it has gained a reputation as an “off the beaten path” tourism destination emphasizing First Nations culture, its natural environment and eco-tours. Educational institutions throughout the world regularly station researchers here to study First Nations culture and the pristine marine habitat, including Orcas.
Alert Bay Lodge is located two kilometers south of the BC Ferry Terminal at 549 Fir Street, an oceanside road adjacent to the ferry terminal.
Johnstone Strait. Located between the northeastern end of Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, this glacier-carved waterway of 87 kilometers stretches from Chatham Point to Hanson Island, with Vancouver Island on the south and the rugged mainland coast on the north. Intricate and remote island archipelagos, refuges bays and deep fjords characterize the area. Luxuriant forests ringed by snow-capped mountains create an inspiring backdrop for kayaking, bear viewing and whale watching.
The Robson Bight (Michael Biggs) Ecological Reserve lies 22 kilometers south of Alert Bay in Johnstone Strait. Pods of Orcas return here each summer to rub themselves on the barnacle-encrusted rocks, pebbles and gravel sea floor. Attracted by the annual salmon runs that begin in late June, these mammals are the top predator in Johnstone Strait. Orcas can sometimes be viewed from the balcony of Alert Bay Lodge.
Knight Inlet. Located about a two-hour boat ride south
of Alert Bay, Knight Inlet is a fjord that juts 105 kilometers deep into
the wilderness of the British Columbia mainland. As one of the largest
fjords on the B.C. coast, Knight Inlet offers its visitors spectacular
scenery amidst steep cliffs that fall away to the deep blues and greens
of the glacial-fed water. Silence reigns here, broken only by the slap
of the water against the shore and the thunder of nearby waterfalls, intermingled
with the cries of seabirds. This area is home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly bears in British Columbia. Starting in late April the bears return to the estuary from hibernation and start the year off feeding on the sedges, succulents, grasses and barnacles that abound in the estuaries. This luxuriant spring growth provides the basic nutritional needs for the bears and draws them from the mountains down to the estuary. From mid August to late September, as the salmon return to the river, it is not uncommon for up to 50 bears to be seen within five miles along the shoreline. Grizzly bear watching excursions can be arranged at Alert Bay Lodge.
Please contact us if you need more information regarding our accommodation in Alert Bay. Request a reservation .
 |
|