Port Alice
Port Alice is located on beautiful Neroutsos Inlet, and a gateway to the West Coast of
Vancouver Island. With a boat or kayak, normally inaccessible regions, such as Brooks
Peninsula, can be accessed. Charters can be arranged to explore this region and to gain access to
the excellent fishing.
Port Alice was originally built in 1917 around a pulp mill and was completely rebuilt in 1965 at
Rumble Beach seven kilometres away. The planned community is proudly maintained, with
lovely gardens and tall trees. The new orchid hybrid "Port Alice" has been officially listed at
London England in the Royal Horticultural Society's "Book of Registered Orchid Hybrids". A
slipper-type flower, the result of crossing a complex hybrid Paphiopedilum "Western Sky" with a
species Paphiopedilum appletonianum. This new genetic line is completely unique and its
development in Port Alice puts the town's name into "Orchid History".
Tours of the local pulp mill can be arranged upon request, as well as visits to two salmon
hatcheries. Eroded limestone formations called karst at Devil's Bath and Eternal Fountain are
excellent points of interest and both are accessible by logging road. The logging roads, now open
to the public, provide access to the rugged west coast and its beaches. Camping is available at
Marble River, Link River Regional Campsite and Spruce Bay at Victoria Lake.
Side Bay is a beautiful, sandy beach located approx. 2 hours from Port Alice by logging roads. It
is completely isolated from civilization, with no facilities.There are also many other bays, coves
and points all easily accessible along the shoreline. The area offers excellent fishing (especially
Halibut), and positions you directly on the West Coast. If you are looking for an easily accessible
camping spot, with isolation from the rest of the world, then Side Bay is ideal. There is also
excellent lake fishing available just down the road at Le Mare Lake.
Gooding Cove is located approx. 2 hours from Port Alice and has beautiful sandy and gravel
beaches, similar to Long Beach. The beach is approx. 1/2 mile long, but other bays and beaches
are accessible by hiking along the shoreline.
Klaskino Inlet is approx. 2 1/2 hours from Port Alice also accessed by logging roads. and
completely isolated, with no facilities. On the way to this inlet, there is a wonderful viewing spot
just south of Side bay. There is boat launch near the end of the inlet which allows access to the
excellent fishing of this region. This is also a good spot for kayakers. If you kayak southward
down the coast you can make it to Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park, a 14 km (9 mile) wildlife
reserve. There is no road access to the park and there are no facilities available.
O'Connell Lake is located about 1 & 1/2 hours west of Port Alice on gravel roads. A Western
Forest Products maintained campground here with fire pit, picnic table situated on the lower,
larger half of the lake. It has a good boat launch and a nice swimming spot. The lake is divided
in two by an old bridge and a log jam. The upper, smaller half of the lake is accessible by a trail
where you can launch a small boat.
The Port Alice Golf and Country Club is one of the oldest and most challenging 9-hole course on
the Island. Other amenities include a shopping area, a hotel, excellent restaurants, RV campsite,
fuel facility, a boat launch and yacht club. The Seawalk is a scenic, wheel-chair accessible walk
along the shores of Neroutsos Inlet ending at a beautiful picnic area with wilderness trails along
the shores on a small point.
Victoria and Vancouver Island Accommodations
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