Wildlife
Viewing: The possibilities are endless to see an amazing
array of wildlife at Sproat Lake in every season of the year. Fallow
and black tailed deer, elk, beaver and river otters are only some
of the more than 105 species of mammal that inhabit the area. Vancouver
Island hosts 200 species of birds (feeders have been erected at
Lakeshore Cottages and Campgrounds), 450 species of fish, 600 different
kinds of plants and 4000 invertebrates. Tours, by water, land and
air, are easily arranged or set out on your own to explore the diversity
of one of the most flourishing ecological areas on the planet. Whether
it’s the migration of the grey whales in the spring or the
song of the trumpeter swan in the winter there is something for
every nature buff to enjoy.
Petroglyphs:
Petroglyphs are rock carvings made by the aboriginal people of the
region by chipping or abrading the surface of the rock with stone
tools. Of the three hundred or so Petroglyph sites on the British
Columbia coast one of the finest panels is located at Sproat Lake.
As the recorded history of a people with no written language these
carvings were used to mark special ceremonies, sacred events and
places of power. Some were used for more practical purposes such
as marking fishing boundaries or as a record of a natural disaster.
As the majority are still unexplained visitors are free to use their
imagination to interpret their significance.
Alberni
Pacific Railway and McLean Mill: Running from Port
Alberni to the historic McLean mill, this is a fun and fanciful
way to spend a few hours. Powered a fully restored 1929 Baldwin
locomotive the trip is 35 minutes each way with ample time to explore
shop and eat at the mill. While there a tour through a working,
steam powered, saw mill is an exciting glimpse into living history.
Watch out for train robbers when there is a payroll delivery on
board!
MV
Lady Rose: Take a journey in the leisurely elegance
of travel as it was half a century ago aboard the MV Lady Rose or
the MV Frances Barkley. The Lady Rose is a 105 foot vessel carrying
up to 100 passengers and 25 tonnes of cargo on a trip that is a
unique glimpse of a bygone era. These working packet freighters
make port at a variety of stops allowing passengers to disembark
and explore the towns of Kildonan, Bamfield, Ucluelet and Sechart.
A definite must for those who want to travel in style.
Martin
Mars Water Bombers: Sproat Lake is home base for the
Mars water bombers, the largest water bombers in the world. These
flying tankers stand ready to be in the air within ten minutes during
fire season, able to respond to hazards anywhere in North America.
At 120 feet long and with an impressive wingspan of 200 feet, watching
them scoop their 60,000 pound payload from lake is an awesome sight.
Maritime
Discovery Center: With admission by donation this maritime
museum is a fun and affordable way to spend some time in the city
of Port Alberni. Situated next to the harbor it is constructed from
an authentic west coast lighthouse and affords an excellent viewing
opportunity. The museum hosts local and traveling exhibits from
mid June to early September.
Robertson
Fish Hatchery and Stamp Falls: Located only 10 kilometers
(6 miles) from Sproat Lake it’s worth the trip to look at
the fish ladder built to allow over 500,000 salmon and steelhead
to return every year to the hatchery. There are many viewing areas
to see the runs and the hatchery is open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00
PM. Stay on the marked trails to see the falls and canyon.
Della
Falls: Although this waterfall is rather difficult
to reach, requiring a boat trip and a hike, it is worth it to view
the largest waterfall in Canada. With a vertical drop of 440 meters
(1444 feet) it has been described as enchanting by those that have
taken the time to get there.
Maquinna
Hotsprings: Located 42 kilometers (26 miles) up the
coast from Tofino this geothermal hotspring is accessible only by
water or air. A favorite of sea kayakers the slightly sulfurous
waters average about 105 degrees. The spring cascades down a waterfall
into a series of half a dozen pools, each a little cooler than the
last. The walk from the government wharf to the spring is on a well
maintained trail through old growth forest. The springs themselves
are perched right at the waters edge looking out over the open ocean.
Boat charters are available at Tofino.
Alberni
Valley Museum:
Open seven days a week from the beginning of May to the end of September
this museum highlights the heritage of the Nuu Chah Nulth native
culture and the early history of European and Japanese settlers
in the area. Admission is by donation and there is a gift shop with
native art.
Clayoquot
Sound and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: Once the site
of clashes between environmentalists and logging companies, establishing
a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) international biosphere reserve has given the area a much
more harmonious future. Including the community of Tofino and just
north of Ucluelet, the biosphere reserve is a stunning 1350 square
miles (350,000 hectares). There are sixteen provincial parks and
ecological reserves within the biosphere and, of the 11 remaining
old growth watersheds on Vancouver Island, 8 of them are in the
Clayoquot Sound.
Pacific
Rim National Park: The park consists of three geographical
areas; Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail.
