Alice Lake Loop Near Port Alice, BC: Visit Devil’s Bath and Eternal Fountain
The Alice Lake Loop is one of the most unique backcountry drives on northern Vancouver Island. Located just outside Port Alice, this remote forestry road loop takes visitors through limestone karst terrain, rainforest valleys, and rare geological features including Devil's Bath, Eternal Fountain, Link River, and Vanishing River. Lakes along the Alice Lake Loop: Alice Lake, Victoria Lake, Kathline Lake, Keogh Lake, and the Benson River. Plan on 4-6 hours for the entire loop
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“Devil’s Bath near Port Alice”
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Where Is the Alice Lake Loop?
The Alice Lake Loop is located southwest of Port Alice on northern Vancouver Island, approximately:
1 hour from Port Hardy
45 minutes from Port McNeill
3.5–4 hours north of Nanaimo
The route consists of active and decommissioned logging roads, with limited signage and no cell service.
Because road conditions change frequently, local knowledge is essential.
Devil’s Bath: A Must-See Near Port Alice
One of the most searched natural attractions near Port Alice is Devil’s Bath.
This massive flooded limestone sinkhole is:
Approximately 44 metres deep
One of the largest cenotes in Canada
Part of the island’s karst cave system
There is a viewing platform, but the area is remote and undeveloped.
Standing at the viewing platform, you’re looking into a rare geological phenomenon — something most visitors to Vancouver Island never experience.
Visitors frequently underestimate:
Road conditions
Navigation challenges
Industrial logging traffic
Map of Devil’s Bath
Link River Recreation Site
From Port Alice, Link River rec site is your first stop. It is a beautiful camp ground with a boat launch 3/4 of the way down Alice Lake. Alice Lake is great for SUP and Kayaking. Rentals are available at gonorthisland.ca
From Link River, travel about 15 min along the lake to the Eternal Fountain
One of the falls at Eternal Fountain
Eternal Fountain
A Quiet Island Secret
The Eternal Fountain isn’t dramatic or crowded. It doesn’t roar or tower. Instead, it invites you to slow down and look closer — to notice how water shapes the land in subtle, powerful ways.
The Eternal Fountain sits within a karst system — a type of landscape formed where slightly acidic rainwater dissolves rock such as limestone or marble. Over millennia, this process creates underground drainage networks, caves, sinkholes, and disappearing streams.
Northern Vancouver Island’s karst is part of the ancient Quatsino limestone formations, notable for their complex subterranean pathways carved by water. This same geology gives rise to other nearby features such as the Devil’s Bath cenote (a flooded sinkhole) and the Vanishing/Reappearing River system.
At Eternal Fountain, water that once flowed on the surface has been captured below ground. It travels through fractured rock and caverns before resurfacing in a small yet continuous cascade, revealing the dynamic interplay between surface water and underground hydrology.
It’s a reminder that on northern Vancouver Island, some of the most memorable experiences aren’t found on highways — they’re discovered on the forest roads less traveled.
An Easy Forest Stop with Big Impact
One of the best parts? The Eternal Fountain is accessible.
A short 300–400 meter forest trail leads from a roadside pullout to viewing platforms and boardwalks overlooking the cascade. Interpretive signage along the way highlights nearby sinkholes and karst features. In total, it’s about a 1km trail around the different features and signage.
The walk is easy and family-friendly, yet the setting feels wonderfully remote — moss-covered trees, filtered light through old-growth canopy, and the soft sound of moving water. Plan on one hour!
Important: The Alice Lake Loop Is Remote Backcountry
Before you go, know this:
Gravel logging roads
Active industrial traffic
No cell service
Limited signage
Changing road conditions
We always finish the day in Por Alice, where you can grab a coffee at Foggy Mountain coffee shop or enjoy lunch at Mc Wilkies Food Truck located at the marina. While there, we often see the resident sea otter floating among the docks, happily snacking on fresh clams.
Experience the Alice Lake Loop the Right Way
Instead of navigating logging roads and hoping you find the hidden turnoffs, book a custom guided adventure with Cove Adventure Tours.