Ocean Falls BC - July 6-9

We left Shearwater and motored a bit of a "back way" to Ocean Falls through a passage called Gunboat Passage. Gunboat Passage runs along the north side of Denny Island. Between Denny Island and Cunningham Island. Shearwater is on Denny Island. 

Gunboat passage has a couple of really narrow and shallow spots and there are some range markers and pillar bouys for navigational purposes. Good for us Power Squadron graduates!!

It was a very pretty little passage to travel through. 

One of the range markers from the back side of it. 

 

The water was like glass most of the trip. 

There is a helicopter logging operation in Cousins Inlet just before Ocean Falls. 

Ocean Falls BC used to be an industry town of up to 5000 people.  Due to the closure of the Crown Zellerbach pulp and paper mill in 1973 and the failure of a provincial run pulp in the early 1980s the town has become a ghost town. 

http://www.oceanfalls.ca/blog/about/

It has an very interesting history and it's worth a read. 

We did not go to Ocean Falls last summer. It is a popular boating stop. There is a small marina there that is run by the Ocean Falls Harbour Authority. The price is very reasonable. There is power and an abundance of fresh water.  It rains A LOT!  And the fishing and crabbing is very good. It is a popular stop for boaters. 

Part of what remains of the town. The big building is the old hotel. The marina is just to the left in the photo. 

A close up of the falls. 

There is a huge under utilized hydro dam in Ocean Falls. 

Ocean Falls requires more than one post I think.