Raw and rugged nature, yet all the amenities of home: this is the Alberni-Clayoquot region of Vancouver Island, and it is the perfect place to get away.
This region – located on the central west coast of Vancouver Island, just west of Nanaimo, British Columbia – is named after a Spanish explorer, Don Pedro de Alberni, and the Clayoquot band, now known as the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.
Snow-capped mountain peaks, sandy surf-pounded beaches, deep ocean sounds, pristine forests, cold-water rivers, icy lakes and waterfalls dominate this landscape, which stretches over 6,630 square kilometres.
Hike, kayak, fish, surf, climb mountains, watch storms and enjoy the wildlife.
No wonder the Alberni-Clayoquot is home one national park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve , one United Nations biosphere reserve, the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , and dozens of provincial and municipal parks.
About 30,000 people have carved homes out of this wilderness paradise, settling mostly in the city of Port Alberni, the Alberni Valley, and the districts of Tofino and Ucluelet.
Smaller communities also live in the somewhat isolated village of Bamfield and Nuu-chah-nulth communities.

The Alberni Valley
The gateway to the Alberni-Clayoquot is the Alberni Valley.
The largest community in the Alberni Valley is the city of Port Alberni, which has a population of about 18,000.
Surrounding the city of Port Alberni are the rural areas of Cherry Creek, Beaver Creek, Beaufort and Sproat Lake, communities with a combined population of more than 7,000. Several Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations also claim the Valley as part of their traditional territories.

The City of Port Alberni boasts the Alberni Valley Museum , the Rollin Art Centre , the Maritime Discover Centre and the Victoria Quay , a collection of shops along the city’s waterfront where visitors can catch a working freight boat up the Alberni Inlet.
Great shopping opportunities exist along Johnston Road, the main road through town on the way to Tofino and Ucluelet, as well as on Third Avenue, 10th Avenue, Redford Street, and Argyle Street. The city offers several bank and credit union branches. Visitors can also buy groceries at any of the city’s major grocers.
Port Alberni also offers an ice arena at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, and a pool and library at Echo Centre.
Golfers can play on two courses.
Outside the city and in the Valley, visitors can stop by McLean’s Mill, Canada’s last steam-powered lumber mill, or stroll along the Log Train Trail – a 25 kilometre trail that stretches along the foot of the Beaufort Mountains.
Swimming and hiking opportunities are available at Sproat Lake, home to the Martin Mars Water Bombers and ancient First Nations petroglyphs.
Canada’s highest waterfall, Della Falls, is accessible via Great Central Lake.
Recreational fishing opportunities exist along the Sproat and Somass Rivers, the Alberni Inlet and into Barkley Sound.
How To Get Here : The Alberni Valley is serviced by good roads, regular bus service and an airport.
From Victoria, B.C.
Drive north along Highway 1, passing through the cities of Duncan and Ladysmith. Just south of Nanaimo, Highway 1 turns into Highway 19. Follow Highway 19 north until the turnoff for Highway 4. Follow Highway 4 west, passing though McMillan Provincial Park , also known as Cathedral Grove , and over “the hump,” a pass in the Beaufort Range, and into the Valley.
The distance to Port Alberni from Victoria is about 195 kilometres. The drive will take about three hours.

From Vancouver, B.C: catch a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, in West Vancouver, B.C., to Departure Bay, Nanaimo. After docking in Nanaimo, follow Highway 19 north until the turnoff for Highway 4. Follow Highway 4 west, passing though MacMillan Provincial Park , also known as Cathedral Grove , and over “the hump,” a pass in the Beaufort Range, and into the Valley.
The ferry trip will last about 95 minutes. The distance to Port Alberni from Nanaimo is about 80 kilometres. The drive will take about one hour.

From Tsawassen, B.C: Catch a ferry to Duke Point, a port south of Nanaimo. After docking in Nanaimo, follow Highway 19 north until the turnoff for Highway 4. Follow Highway 4 west, passing though McMillan Provincial Park , also known as Cathedral Grove, and over “the hump,” a pass in the Beaufort Range, and into the Valley.
The ferry trip will last about two hours. The distance to Port Alberni from Duke Point, Nanaimo is more than 80 kilometres. The drive will take about one hour.

Tofino Bus , a partner with Greyhound Canada, offers regular bus service to the Alberni Valley, Tofino and Ucluelet. Passengers can board the bus in Vancouver or Nanaimo.

Bamfield
Adventure: you’ll get it just by travelling to Bamfield . This community is named after William Eddy Banfield, and is located in the traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht.
Bamfield, with a population of about 400, is located on the southern shores of Barkley Sound and is home to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre .
The community’s economy now revolves around a small season tourism industry – focusing on fishing, kayaking and hiking.
Easily accessible are local beaches, as is the northern terminus of the West Coast Trail .
How To Get Here : This tiny community is accessible by travelling 80 kilometres down an active logging road from the Alberni Valley or by taking a boat from Port Alberni or a passenger ferry from Ucluelet.
The passenger ferry from Ucluelet doesn’t operate regularly during the winter.

Ucluelet
Look north from Bamfield and you can almost see Ucluelet.
Ucluelet, population 1,500, is named after the Ucluelet First Nation.
Once home to a mine, a thriving logging camp and a bustling commercial fishery, Ucluelet is now focussing on tourism – although it hasn’t forgotten its proud blue-collar past.
The jewel in this town’s crown is the Wild Pacific Trail, an 8.5-kilometre stretch of trail that hugs the rocky shores and cliffs above the open Pacific. More phases of the trail are planned.
The community also offers great sports-fishing and whale watching opportunities and will soon boast a world-class 18-hole golf course named after Jack Nicklaus himself. Unique stores and boutiques dot Peninsula Road and the area around Main Street. One bank, one credit union and a large grocery store serve the community.
One challenging nine-hold golf course exists north of Ucluelet adjacent to the Tofino Airport at Long Beach.
How To Get Here : Although this community is just a ferry ride away from Bamfield, the easiest route to Ucluelet is along Highway 4, via Port Alberni.
To get to Ucluelet by car, travel west along Highway 4 out of the Valley. Make sure you fill up with gas because there are no gas stations after you leave the Alberni Valley and the trip is about 100 kilometres.
Continue west along Highway 4 out of the Alberni Valley. Visitors should take their time and stop off at the many rest stops along the way to enjoy the cold-water lakes, rivers and mountain passes.
Closer to the coast, visitors will hit the Pacific Rim Visitors Centre and the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. To visit Ucluelet, turn left and drive for eight kilometers.
Visitors who don’t want to drive can fly or ride a coach.
Tofino Airport, located at Long Beach, offers regular service to and from Vancouver. Regular coach service is available through Tofino Bus , via Port Alberni.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Just north of Ucluelet is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s Long Beach Unit.
Follow Pacific Rim Highway north out of Ucluelet to enter the park.
The Long Beach Unit hangs onto a narrow strip of coastline and offers visitors the opportunity to walk trails through temperate rainforests and along long sandy, windswept beaches. Visitors can learn about the area in the Park’s Interpretive Centre.
Florencia Bay (Wreck Bay), Wickaninnish Beach, and Long Beach are favourite beach breaks for local and visiting surfers.
Unfortunately, frolicking with nature isn’t free. To enjoy this paradise visitors must buy park passes. Passes are available at the park’s Interpretive Centre at Wickaninnish Beach and the Green Point Campground. Park passes are also available at the Pacific Rim Visitors Centre, located at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction.
Camping is available at Green Point.

Tofino
At the northern end of the Esowista Peninsula, just north of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, is the district municipality of Tofino, AKA Surf City Canada.
Once a logging and fishing village, this town – within the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation – was made famous internationally during the environmental protests of the 1980s and 1990s at Meares Island and Clayoquot Sound.
With the exception of an aquaculture industry – both shellfish and salmon farming – this town is now dependent upon tourism.
When it comes to restaurants, Tofino easily punches above its weight.
Tofino also offers many outdoor-adventure possibilities: whale watching, bear watching, bird watching, sports fishing, surfing , hiking and even golfing.
The municipality also offers several great beaches: Cox Bay, Chesterman Beach, MacKenzie Beach and Tonquin Beach. It’s no wonder that this small town boasts three surf shops and four surf schools.
Unique stores and boutiques dominate the downtown core, which is accessible by one major road, Campbell Street. A bank and grocery store are located downtown.
How To Get Here : Visitors can get to Tofino by leaving Port Alberni along Highway 4 and turning right at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. The trip from Port Alberni can take anywhere between 90 minutes and two hours. The drive from Ucluelet is about 40 kilometres and will take about 30 minutes.
Regular plane service, via Vancouver, is also available at the Tofino Airport.
Regular coach service is available through Tofino Bus, via Port Alberni and Ucluelet.

This article was written by Keven Drews.