Cow Bay Marina

Cow Bay Marina occupies a prime waterfront position at 209 Cow Bay Road, inside the Atlin Terminal complex that opened in 2016. Owned and operated by the City of Prince Rupert, the marina was purpose-built to fill a gap in transient moorage in BC's northernmost major city — a critical staging point on the Inside Passage corridor for cruisers bound for Dixon Entrance, Ketchikan, and Southeast Alaska.

The basin holds 51 berths arranged across modular finger docks sized for 40-, 60-, and 80-foot vessels, plus linear breakwater dock space that accommodates boats up to 150 feet. The covered breakwater walkway provides a degree of shelter from chop and swell, though mariners should be prepared for wakes from commercial and ferry traffic that penetrate the marina despite posted no-wake signs — fender well on both sides.

Shore power is robust: 30-, 50-, and 100-amp pedestals serve the docks, covering everything from small sailboats to large motor yachts. Fresh water is available at the dock. Fuel is not sold on-site; the nearest marine fueling station (Jepson Petroleum / Northwest Fuels) is accessible within Prince Rupert by arrangement or vehicle.

Amenities ashore include washrooms, showers, laundry, garbage disposal, recycling, and WiFi — all managed by the City. Staff availability varies seasonally, and docking assistance is offered when personnel are present. A telephone is located at the top of the ramp. For vessels requiring a lift, Port Edward has a boat haul-out facility; Seal Cove Marine Ways handles larger vessels.

The Cow Bay neighbourhood itself is the reason many cruisers linger longer than planned. Smile's Cafe (established 1922), The Breakers Pub, a microbrewery, art galleries, souvenir shops, and the Museum of Northern British Columbia are all within easy walking distance. Grocery stores, a liquor store, and marine supply outfitters round out the provisioning options — particularly valuable for northbound boats stocking up before US Customs complexity at the Alaska border, and for southbound boats restocking after weeks in Alaska waters.

Prince Rupert sits at the mouth of the Skeena River system and receives significant rainfall, so rain gear is standard. The harbour is the deepest ice-free natural harbour in North America, meaning year-round access with no ice concerns. Mariners transiting Dixon Entrance should monitor VHF 11 for large ship and ferry traffic in the approaches. The marina does not serve as a CBSA port of entry — US-flagged vessels arriving from Alaska must clear customs elsewhere.