John Harvey Photo

Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean FallsGo to Slide Show



Unknown to use, today's trip covered three major destination - Wallace Bay, Ocean Falls and Jenny Inlet.

Wallace Bay

Cabins and Forest - Wallace Bay

The boat started at 6:30 am - we motored out of Codville Lagoon and up to Cousins Inlet.  Our first stop was Wallace bay where we hoped to see a collection of cabins and a petroglyph.  I was a little surprised to see all these cabins here - were at least three hours from Bella Bella/Shearwater by small boat.  I guessed the fishing was good.

Red Cottage in Wallace Bay

The cabins were in various states of repair.  Some are still in pretty good state of repair.  Other cabins have collapsed.  There are still trails between the houses but the forest is getting pretty thick around the houses.

Cabin Without ExteriorCollapsed Cottage

Scaly Vase Chanterelle

On one of the trails between the cabins Jan found this nice collections of mushrooms.  I looked them up - they are (probably) Scaly Vase Chanterelle.  We continued looking for the Petroglyph (apparently it's on a rock that moved into a rock wall in front of one of the cabins) but we never found it.

Ocean Falls

We continued up Cousins inlet and came to a most amazing site - a town in the middle of forest!  First you see a small collection of houses (The bedroom community) and as you turn the inlet you see Ocean falls proper.  Ocean falls is dominated by the large dam and multi story buildings.  Behind the damn is massive Link lake where lumber was collected and sent to the pulp mill or lumber mill.

Ocean Falls From BoatLink Lake Dam at Ocean Falls

Spill from Link Lake Dam at Ocean FallsTool Shop at Ocean Falls

There are some interesting old pictures of Ocean Falls in the BC Archives:
 

Title

:                           "Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls".
Photographer/Artist
:  Clark, John William
Date
:                            [192-?]




Title:

                            OCEAN FALLS
Photographer/Artist:
  McRae
Date: 
                           [192-]

The pulp mill has been mostly torn down (except for the massive tool works) but the dam is still going working.  One of the locals told us that the dam is providing power for the remains of Ocean Falls, Bella Bella and Shearwater on one third of one of the four generators.  Most of the local community (many homes, an olympic sized pool, and other buildings) was torn down when the provincial government "renormalized" the area but some of the core of the town remains - a few apartment blocks and a hotel, the fire department, and a few buildings.

Buildings in Ocean FallsWrecked Interior of Apartment

Ocean Falls Fire DepartmentCannery at Ocean FallsCourt House at Ocean Falls

Some of the town is still functional - the court house has a library, a clinic, and a post office.  The hospital now has coin showers and a pretty good cafeteria style restaurant (way over equipped for the job).  There is a fishing resort and apparently there is a store about 15 minuets from the ferry landing.   One stop you shouldn't miss (if it's open) is the museum.

The Museum in Ocean Falls

Once we walked around the town, we stopped in at the museum.  The museum is in the basement of the co-op store, what used to be the Bay.  The basement is filled with stuff that was left around the buildings when Ocean falls was "renormalized".   One wall is covered in signatures from people who have visited the town museum.  Because Ocean falls is a deep water port (used for pulling out the lumber and and paper from the mills) it could hold a cruise ship.  Unfortunately, the town has a long ways to go before it's a cruise destination.

Museum EntranceBasement Museum at Ocean FallsSigning the Wall in the Museum

After our tour of the town, we walked back to the boat.  Just past the dock, just off to the side of the road, we noticed two deer eating the plants.  The deer were a yearling and a two year old Mule Deer (or black tailed deer).

Mule Deer EatingMule Deer EatingMule Deer Walking

We got back on the boat and drove off to own next destination - Jenny Inlet.

Jenny Inlet


Welcome to Jenny Inlet!  After the (decaying) development of the Ocean Falls, it was nice to see something recovering.  Jenny Inlet was logged in 1992 by interfor and it's recovering slowly.

Panoramic View of Jenny Inlet

Jenny At Jenny Inlet

We tied up at the dock that was left behind.  We think the dock was used to unload supplies to support the log cutting operations.

Curve of Time Tied up at Jenny Inlet

We got off the boat and went for a walk before dinner.  After walking up the logging road (boy did I wish I had my mountain bike) we came across a nice waterfall.  

Log Sorting Yard

We continued walking down the road and arrived at the log sorting yard.  From what I understand logging trucks come down with a full load of logs and after the restraining cables are removed the logs are dumped and sorted.  The sorted logs are then bundled together, tagged and pushed into the ocean where they will eventually be towed to market.

Pile of Cable

Log Loading ThingLoad of Spray CansHundreds of Spray Cans

After dinner we split up.  Some of us (Bob, Dan, Charles, Mike and myself) went out for a fishing trip.

Dan FishingMike Driving the ZodiakBob Fishing

Jenny and Paul went out for a kayak.  All to short it became sunset and then night.

Kayaking Jenny Inlet at DuskMountains at Sunset




Court House at Ocean Falls
Tags: building
Mike Driving the Zodiak
Log Sorting Yard
Location: Go To...
Tags: logging
Mule Deer Walking
Species: Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Tags: BC fauna, deer
Signing the Wall in the Museum
Tags: graffiti, Museum
Mule Deer Eating
Species: Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Tags: BC fauna
Load of Spray Cans
Tags: derelict
Cabins and Forest - Wallace Bay
Tags: cabin, coast
Collapsed Cottage
Tags: derelict
Mountains at Sunset
Tags: depth cueing, mountain, sunset
Dan Fishing
Log Loading Thing
Tags: logging
Ocean Falls Fire Department
Tags: derelict
Curve of Time Tied up at Jenny Inlet
Tags: boat, coast, dock
Ocean Falls From Boat
Tags: coast, Dam, small town
Spill from Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls
Tags: Dam
Wrecked Interior of Apartment
Tags: derelict, place to stay
Jenny At Jenny Inlet
Tags: dock, logging
Scaly Vase Chanterelle
Species: Gomphus floccosus (Woolly Chanterelle)
Tags: mushroom
Museum Entrance
Tags: derelict
Mule Deer Eating
Species: Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Tags: BC fauna
Cannery at Ocean Falls
Tags: building, derelict, fishing
Pile of Cable
Tags: logging
Tool Shop at Ocean Falls
Tags: building, derelict
Panoramic View of Jenny Inlet
Tags: coast, logging
Bob Fishing
Tags: fishing
Hundreds of Spray Cans
Tags: derelict, logging
Basement Museum at Ocean Falls
Tags: Museum
Kayaking Jenny Inlet at Dusk
Tags: kayaking, mountain
Cabin Without Exterior
Tags: cabin, derelict
Red Cottage in Wallace Bay
Tags: cabin
Buildings in Ocean Falls
Tags: building, derelict
Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls
Location: Go To...
Tags: coast, Dam
John Harvey Photo > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time > Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls
John Harvey Photo > John's Overnight Page > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time > Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls

Someday, I will go to Ocean Falls.
Dave Hedges
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 18:10:13

I looked at your pictures of Ocean Falls and was fascinated by what I saw. Thanks you for sharing your travels with me.
Kevin Wells
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 22:18:33

Wow, those pictures are really amazing. Considering that I haven't been back there since 1980, I still remember my home town. Of course it was alot more lively but the beauty still remains. I have been wanting to go back for a visit but afraid of what I was going to see. Seeing those pictures now makes me want to revisit, thank-you for sharing with me and others the rare beauty of Ocean Falls. Shannon Goode(Gurney) 1975-1980
Shannon Goode(Gurney)
Saturday, June 30th, 2007 at 10:31:24

hi,I lived in ocean falls in 1960,i was 20 years old then.This was the best time in my life,and i always think back of my OCEAN FALLS.My biggest dream came true when i saw after 35 years in 1995 )we got there in a small boat froM BELLA COOLA )my ocean falls back.I enjoyed your fotos very much.
marion in germany
Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 01:55:13

hi my name is jorge i know ocean falls in 1976 year, i need speak with sherri shaw,sorry because my english is bad tank you. jorginho53@hotmail.com
jorge
Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 18:06:19

Millie and John Fair, my grand parents lived in ocean falls for many years (1950ish plus or minus?-1973), and I had the joy of visiting numerous times between 1956 and 1966. I have always had a passion for Ocean falls, as have many who have lived or visited there. This passion has led me to open www.OceanFallsMuseum.com and invite all those with photo memories to submit them to be a permanent photo record of the place we all love.
Bradley SaintJohn
Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 05:50:09

i havent been back since late 73 my mom used to own a small bait and tackle store plus my dad worked in the mill as a safety man and he also worked in the hospital love the pics wish i go go back
chris rawson
Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 12:43:36

Enjoyed your photos very much. Have many similar ones I took on my only return to the home town after a 35 year absence, in 2000. Once a rainpeople, always a rainpeople.
Brian Adams
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 12:58:03

I was born in O.F. on 07/12/1946 and left on 07/31/1955. I had the opportunity to return the July 1st weekend of 1988 for three glorious days. I met Jim Owen and Hazel at that time and some others in town. My big disappointment at the time was that my mountains were all stripped logged but I see from photos they have filled in. I think of O.F. daily and go into different sites just to look at the pictures. For all who ever lived there, there will never be another place in the world like O.F. How lucky all of us were to be born and/or lived in such a place. I tell everyone I had National Geographic ever day for nine years. I am so thankful for all these sites as I can share my childhood and my town with my children and grandchildren. I now live in Rochester Hills, MI USA.
Jean Tokarski-nee Taylor
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 08:52:51

I lived in Ocean Falls for just under two years from 1976-78...ages 4-6. My dad was one of the two RCMP officers stationed there. It is so cool to see the old court house still standing! We lived in one of the upper apartments and me and my sister would run to the front windows to watch the barges drop thousands of logs into the ocean! We even played downstairs in the jail cells when no one was "residing" in them. We learned to swim in the old pool and enjoyed visits to "Scotty's" for candy necklaces and licorace..Great memories!
Heather Shaw
Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 14:01:51

I worked with someone a while ago who was born and raised in Ocean Falls, it sounded like a piece of Heaven on Earth. Years later I met someone who spoke fondly of Ocean Falls again and showed me some pictures. It's been many years since I first heard of this beautiful place and hope that someday I will be able to make the jorney there. It looks and sounds beautiful
Marie Calogeros
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 15:58:35

Another great visit to my beloved Ocean Falls. Thanks for publishing this. I lived there as a young man from 1969 to 1972. My intention was to stay only a few months to make some money and then go back to civilization. Ha. Check out my blog and click on Ocean Falls in the Labels. I have just today finished my stories and photos project.
Terry Friesen
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at 20:33:23

Ocean Falls was a very special and magical place and I am glad I spend many years of my childhood there. I lived in OCean Falls from 1974-1980 ages 6-10. My mom was the grade 2 teacher and my dad taught at Charleson High School there. Sadly, I lost all my photos full of memories of birthday parties, the sandbar, christmas concerts at the movie theatre, school friends...when my house was flooded. So, these photos of Ocean Falls were very nostalgic for me to see. If there's anyone out there who remembers me and has photos of me or my parents or brother (Eric) hope you can get in touch with me...
charlotte (carlos)
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 22:05:23

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