Roosevelt Harbor is a quiet, protected anchorage on the NE side of Zarembo Island along Stikine Strait. Popular with Southeast Alaska cruisers looking for a calm overnight stop near Wrangell, the harbor offers good protection, a public dock, and access to the Zarembo Island road system. Watch carefully for reefs, kelp, and floating logs on approach. Excellent wilderness feel with easy shore access and classic Tongass scenery.
Roosevelt Harbor is a protected indentation on the northeast side of Zarembo Island along Stikine Strait, southwest of Wrangell and accessible from the Petersburg/Wrangell cruising routes. It’s commonly used as a quiet overnight stop and staging area for exploring the Zarembo Island road system.
Roosevelt Harbor feels remote even though it’s relatively close to Wrangell. Expect classic Southeast Alaska scenery: moss-draped spruce, low clouds, quiet water, and good protection once inside. Cruisers report calm overnight conditions and a peaceful anchorage atmosphere.
There is:
The harbor is also used by locals accessing Zarembo Island recreationally and for hunting/fishing access.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Approach from Stikine Strait. The entrance is fairly identifiable, with small offshore rocks/islets near the harbor mouth. One cruiser account specifically mentions a small rocky islet with a bird sculpture marking the entrance area.
Best practices:
Charts and radar are helpful in reduced visibility, which is common in the area.
The harbor offers:
Protection is best from:
Some exposure may develop with:
Cruisers often anchor off the dock area while leaving maneuvering room for local traffic and floatplane use if active.
Interesting stop for cruisers wanting:
The nearby Deep Bay Cabin area is reachable via the island road system.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Live readings from the nearest OpenWeather station and WorldTides; refreshed every few minutes.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
A curated photo + map walkthrough showing approach, mooring options, and points of interest.
A guided walkthrough of Roosevelt Harbor with approach photos, depth notes, and points of interest — written by members who have been here recently.
Real first-hand reports and questions answered by members who have actually been here.
This is a large anchorage with plenty of room for boats headed up to Wrangell or Petersburg. We tucked in here leaving Wrangell when met with 35 knot winds, pretty good protection overall, some gusts found their way through the gap at the head of the anchorage but nothing above 15. Scenery is OK, nothing too exciting. We were the only boat in there for a day or so, another boat arrived on day two and anchred so far away we didn't really noticed them.
Cruising-distance picks near this anchorage.
