Hunlen Falls
{{Short description|Waterfall on Hunlen Creek in Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Hunlen Falls
| image = Hunlen Falls Tweedsmuir.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|52.2768|-125.7724|format=dms|display=it}}
| location = Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
| elevation =
| height = {{convert|260|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height_longest = {{convert|260|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| number_drops = 1
| width = {{convert|24|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| average_width = {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| run = {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| watercourse = Hunlen Creek
| average_flow = {{convert|4|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}}
| world_rank = 118th (by tallest single drop)
| type = Plunge
}}
Hunlen Falls is a waterfall located at the mouth of Turner Lake in the Pacific Ranges of British Columbia, Canada. With an estimated height of {{convert|260|m|ft|abbr=on}}, it is tied with Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park for having the fourth tallest single drop of any waterfall in Canada.Tweedsmuir (South) Provincial Park: Hunlen Falls/Turner Lake Chain. BC Parks brochure, Feb 2003. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170322014338/http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/tweeds_s/hunlen_falls_brochure.pdf?v=1489708800040]
Name origin
The falls were named in 1947 after a Chilcotin Chief named Hana-lin, who used to fish below the falls in the autumn with a fish trap, and trap game nearby.Clayton Mack, Harvey Thommasen (1994).Bella Coola Man: More Stories of Clayton Mack. Pg. 115. In the 1930s it was sometimes called Mystery Falls and before that occasionally called Bella Coola Falls.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}
Structure
Hunlen Falls drops {{convert|260|m|ft|abbr=on}} at a 90 degree pitch from the north end of Turner Lake via Hunlen Creek into the Atnarko River, a tributary of the Bella Coola River.{{BCGNIS|15654|Hunlen Falls}}{{BCGNIS|15651|Hunlen Creek}} Erosion of the canyon below Hunlen Falls has created an alluvial fan into the Atnarko Valley.
Access
File:Hunlen Falls and Turner Lake, 1981.jpg
There is no road to Hunlen Falls. The easiest access is by float plane from Nimpo Lake, about a 20-minute flight. Planes land on Turner Lake above Hunlen Falls and the walk on a good trail takes about 30 minutes to the unfenced viewpoint on the east rim of the canyon.
There is a hiking trail to Hunlen Falls, starting from Highway #20 at the foot of the Bella Coola Hill. Starting from Highway #20 the Tote Rd offers 4x4 access to the trailhead. The trail is approximately {{convert|16|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long.{{Cite book|title=Natural Wonders of the World|publisher=Reader's Digest Association, Inc|year=1980|isbn=0-89577-087-3|editor-last=Scheffel|editor-first=Richard L.|location=United States of America|pages=186|editor-last2=Wernet|editor-first2=Susan J.}} The trail to Turner Lake is cleared and maintained by BC Parks and volunteers.
Nearby area
Lonesome Lake is about {{convert|2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} to the east of Turner Lake, running parallel to it. It is an S-shaped lake nearly {{convert|12|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} in length and visible from the cliffs at Hunlen Falls. The south end of Lonesome Lake was the site of the pioneer homestead of Ralph Edwards, known as "The Birches", which was occupied from 1912 into the 1970s. His life was made famous by the book Crusoe of Lonesome Lake.Stowe, Leland (1957). Crusoe of Lonesome Lake. Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-394-42092-9}}
In July 2004 lightning struck the ridge between Turner and Lonesome Lake, igniting what has become known as the Atnarko fire which burned into August.Pat Burkette. [http://www.saltspringnews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10478&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 "Lonesome Lake fire: Putting the emotion back into it."] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120910021213/http://www.saltspringnews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10478&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |date=2012-09-10 }}, 2004.[http://www.nuktessli.ca/newsletter-aug04.html The Lonesome Lake Fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206155511/http://www.nuktessli.ca/newsletter-aug04.html |date=2004-12-06 }}, CHRIS' NUK TESSLI NEWSLETTER. July - August, 2004. It burned the southern side of Turner Lake up to the falls, as well as destroying a number of residences including the Edwards and Turner homesteads.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commonscat}}
- [http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/travel/nature/waterfalls/waterfalls%20d-k/hunlen%20falls.html Photos of Hunlen Falls]
- [http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/tweeds_s/hunlenfalls.pdf Hunlen Falls/Turner Lake Trail Map, BC Parks]
- [http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/tweeds_s/hunlen_falls_brochure.pdf Hunlen Falls/Turner Lake Trail Brochure, BC Parks]
Category:Waterfalls of British Columbia