Ocean Falls : Tourist Attractions
Restaurants & Pubs
There are three restaurants in Ocean Falls. The Shack is a floating snack bar at
the Small Boat Wharf. It is open during the summer season and is operated by
Connie Lamb. The Waterfront Cafe & Bakery operates all year round at The Coast
Lodge and is operated by Phyllis Hooker. The Waterfront also provides fresh
baked bread and pastries. Eva's Holy Grill is open June through August.
There is one pub (as the postal code tells us); Saggo's Saloon operated by Darrell Saggo.
It is located in Martin Valley and offers light snacks, sandwiches, a dart
board, and a coin operated pool table in addition to beer and liquor. Beer
off-sale is available. It is open Wednesday and Friday nights from 8:00-12:00.
Fishing Guides
In addition to the fishing lodges, there is a charter fishing service.
| Service | Guides | Fresh | Salt | Boats | Gear | Rates |
| Walls' Fish Camp | 3 | yes | yes | 3 | yes | enquire |
Campground
A campground has been established above the town on the eastern hills beside the dam. The facilities are rudimentary and the road up from the town is rough. Four sites have been cleared and provided with picnic tables and fire places, and a pit privy has been built. Free firewood is provided. RV dumping facilities are available. Drinking water is not yet available within the campground, but it is easily gotten in town. The operator of the campground is David Wilson. Sites are $10 per night.
Trails
There are several very interesting trails in and around Ocean Falls. Rough trails exist up to the summits of both Caro Marion and Baldy (the two adjacent mountains). A 6 mile trail up the Martin River to Martin Lake is in relatively better shape; the first few miles are well maintained. The Roscoe Road to Shack Bay is another pleasant hike of about 10 miles, and there is an established campsite at the second of the Twin Lakes (about half way) which has a sandy beach.
A short trail along the banks of the Martin River begins at Buttner's rock.
Link Lake
Link Lake is a majestic and sometimes almost overwhelming environment. Huge vertical cliffs fall straight to the waters' edge and at the head of the lake is the beautiful Braiden River which provides excellent trout fishing all year round. The lake is 17 miles long. There is a small dock owned by the Ocean Falls Fishing Lodge and a boat ramp.
Buttner's Rock
No one knows who Willy Buttner was, what brought him to Ocean Falls, or what took him away again; but in the late 1920s he carved a saying into a rock beside the Martin River which has become important to many people who have stumbled onto it. Various people, with no particular organization, keep the weeds down and the letters painted.
Ocean Falls Walkabout
Walking tours are organized by Joyce Houston. A tour guide meets prepaid customers on the Discovery Coast service of BC Ferries. The tour lasts about one hour and covers all points of interest in Ocean Falls. It does not go to Link Lake or to Martin Valley. The tour costs $15.
Hot Springs
There was a hot spring in one of the lakes forming Link Lake which disappeared when the dam was built and the lake level increased. There are two hot springs not far from Ocean Falls in the Dean Channel close to Cascades Inlet: Eucott and Nascall; these are about 30 miles distant by water.
Road Shelters
On the Courthouse lawn beside the Ferry Ramp there is a sheltered bench and a roofed notice board. On the road from Ocean Falls to Martin Valley there is another small shelter at about the mid-way point which has a pleasant view of Cousins Inlet.
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