Alert Bay Ecological Park
Cormorant Island, Northern Gulf Islands, B.C., Canada

Ecological Park

The Ecological Park is near the Village of Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, BC, Canada. Cormorant Island is located off the coastline of Northern Vancouver Island and is part of the Northern Gulf Islands.

The wetland park is a recreation destination complete with hiking trails and a boardwalk walkway. The short, easy-grade, walking trail explores through a marsh and cedar forest.

From the parking area the walking pathway begins as a dirt trail but only for a few 100 metres as it quickly connects to a boardwalk walkway leading into the marsh. The boardwalk walkway navigates through the centre of the wetlands - exposing, to the left and right, cat tails, sunken trees and lilly pads.

It is during the boardwalk section of the trail in which birdwatching is best. Make time to stop and look around. There could be a Bald Eagle perched on one of the sunken trees. Or standing tall in the corner of the wetlands are a pair of Blue Herons. For sure you will see many small song birds waving back and forth balancing on top of the cat tails.

The boardwalk walkway reconnects to the dirt trail after exploring the wetlands. It is here the eco system changes from wetland to forest. At the junction where the boardwalk walkway meets dirt trail again there is a trail map.

How to Get to the Ecological Park

Travel Highway 19 to the community of Port McNeill located on the north end of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. In the community of Port McNeill on the waterfront is a ferry terminal transporting people and vehicles to Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. Once on Cormorant Island proceed to Alder Street near the Alert Bay Campground and the trailhead to the Ecological Park.