What is near Port Alberni
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Port Alberni, not driving distance. Roads can double the trip, and some places need a high-clearance vehicle or are closed in winter.
Parks and protected areas within 60 km (34)
- Fossli Park (provincial park), about 11 km away
- Sproat Lake Park (provincial park), about 11 km away
- MacMillan Park (provincial park), about 11 km away
- Horne Lake Caves Park (provincial park), about 13 km away
- Stamp River Park (provincial park), about 15 km away
- Spider Lake Park (provincial park), about 17 km away
- Little Qualicum Falls Park (provincial park), about 18 km away
- Taylor Arm Park (provincial park), about 18 km away
- Rosewall Creek Park (provincial park), about 25 km away
- Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area (protected area), about 25 km away
Plus 24 more.
Parks have their own camping rules and often need a reservation. Camping on Crown land is not allowed inside parks and protected areas.
Named lakes within 30 km (45)
- Cox Lake, about 4 km away
- Devils Den Lake, about 5 km away
- Bainbridge Lake, about 6 km away
- McCoy Lake, about 7 km away
- Loon Lake, about 8 km away
- Lacy Lake, about 9 km away
Being near a lake does not mean you can camp there. The shore can be private land, a park or a protected area.
Where you can and can't camp near Port Alberni
- Crown land outside towns: you can generally camp on unoccupied Crown land for up to 14 consecutive days without authorization, with no permanent structures. The rules in full.
- Inside Port Alberni: camping on Crown land is not allowed within municipalities, and local bylaws apply, so ask the municipality before sleeping in a vehicle on public land.
- Not allowed: protected areas, leased land, land with an existing granted right, Land Act reserves, and areas posted as closed to camping.
- Recreation sites: the province runs recreation sites with a 14-consecutive-day limit, fees where posted and quiet hours from 11 pm to 7 am. More.
- Private land and First Nations land: these are not Crown land, so you need the owner's permission.
Fires
A campfire (the rules call it a Category 1 fire) can be no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide. Build it on level ground away from tents and trees, clear it down to bare dirt, and keep a shovel, axe or 8 litres of water within reach. Never leave it unattended. During a campfire prohibition you can use only an approved stove, and bans change quickly, so check the BC Wildfire Service fire bans and restrictions the day you leave. Full open fire rules. To report a wildfire, call *5555 on a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555.
Camping near other BC towns
Courtenay · Ucluelet · Nanaimo · Powell River · All towns
Sources: BC Geographical Names (GeoBC), Open Government Licence – British Columbia. Rules summarised from the province's Crown land guide, recreation site rules and open fire rules. Campable is not a government app, and rules change, so confirm with the official source.
Check the exact spot. Campable checks the land, the road in and today's fire bans and closures for your dates.