Alert Bay Ecological Park — Attraction in Alert Bay

The boardwalk through the bog is beautiful. I've seen a lot of the west coast's sphagnum bogs but this one stands out. Massive skeletons of ancient cedars drowned long ago by human development pierce the sky or lay as islands in the acidic moss. Yellow lichen hangs from everything and it all comes together to give the place an otherwordly feel.

I was lucky to be there on a sunny day when there were dozens of ravens playing as well as several bald eagles. The air was full of their sounds ranging from deep clucks and booms to human-like laughter. I've never heard so much before.

I also took the "trail 3" around the edge of the bog and it was badly overgrown. Much of it is tunnels through salal that you practically need to crawl through and while interesting I would be hesitant...

This is a beautiful bog. It's littered with long-dead nurse trees covered in thick moss, salal and other bushes that make for a really interesting landscape. Old man's beard hangs from the last few leaves of senescent, skeletal trees throughout and all along the forest/bog interface. The system of easy trails leading to the boardwalk take you around the island for a nice...

The park is a unique ecological mix of swampy land, mossy forest floor and remnants of old growth trees sprouting new trees from their stumps. There's a sunny boardwalk through the swampy bit with its skunk cabbage and aquatic plants and cool, shady trails meandering through the forest green with moss and ferns. The sound of ravens echoes...