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



Mule Deer Eating
Species: Odocoileus hemionus
Tags: BC fauna
Mule Deer Eating
Species: Odocoileus hemionus
Tags: BC fauna
Panoramic View of Jenny Inlet
Spill from Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls
Tags: Dam
Kayaking Jenny Inlet at Dusk
Tags: kayaking, mountain
Tool Shop at Ocean Falls
Cabins and Forest - Wallace Bay
Tags: cabin, coast
Buildings in Ocean Falls
Cannery at Ocean Falls
Mike Driving the Zodiak
Wrecked Interior of Apartment
Cabin Without Exterior
Tags: cabin, derelict
Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls
Location: Go To...
Tags: coast, Dam
Load of Spray Cans
Tags: derelict
Collapsed Cottage
Tags: derelict
Mountains at Sunset
Tags: depth cueing, mountain, sunset
Basement Museum at Ocean Falls
Tags: Museum
Museum Entrance
Tags: derelict
Ocean Falls Fire Department
Tags: derelict
Bob Fishing
Tags: fishing
Jenny At Jenny Inlet
Ocean Falls From Boat
Hundreds of Spray Cans
Tags: derelict, logging
Signing the Wall in the Museum
Tags: Museum
Red Cottage in Wallace Bay
Tags: cabin
Mule Deer Walking
Species: Odocoileus hemionus
Log Loading Thing
Pile of Cable
Tags: logging
Log Sorting Yard
Location: Go To...
Tags: logging
Dan Fishing
Court House at Ocean Falls
Scaly Vase Chanterelle
Species: Gomphus floccosus
Tags: mushroom
Curve of Time Tied up at Jenny Inlet
John Harvey Photo > Map of the North Western North America > 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

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