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	The magazine of outdoor recreation and adventure on Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia

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A view over
Great Central
Lake at first
light.

Features on the pop-up map correspond to items detailed in the Essential Vancouver Island Outdoor Recreation Guide.

Alberni Valley:

Port Alberni , a mill town with a population of about 12,000, is situated deep in the heart of Vancouver Island with the advantage of a deep-sea port thanks to Alberni Inlet, which twists northward from Barkley Sound on the west coast. Port Alberni is a waypoint on trips to Tofino, Ucluelet and more than likely Bamfield, plus a gateway for journeys to Sproat Lake, Nahmint, Great Central Lake and the surrounding region. Much of the city's commercial activity is centred along Highway 4, with a vibrant area around Harbour Quay, off Kingsway and Third Avenue. Visitors should have no trouble finding the tourist information centre off Highway 4 at the east entrance to the city.

Three major lakes dominate the valley itself: Great Central Lake, Sproat Lake and Nahmint Lake. Sproat Lake is a recreational playground for boaters, fishermen and cottagers, with most development on the east end and some limited housing on the northwest end. Great Central Lake and Nahmint Lake are both worlds away, however, in areas made remote due to limited access.

- Excerpts from The Essential Vancouver Island Outdoor Recreation Guide, by John Kimantas, Whitecap, 2008

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Recommended places to explore:

Sightseeing: Take the 1929 Baldwin steam engine that runs the Alberni Pacific Railway in a 70-minute trip from Port Alberni.

Hiking: Mount Arrowsmith, with a choice of three routes to the various summits of Arrowsmith and Mount Cokely

Kayaking/canoeing: Great Central Lake. From the northwest tip you can hike into Della Falls.

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