Excursion Inlet is a remote cannery community at the head of an 11-mile fjord off Icy Strait, 38 nm west of Juneau. Transient boaters can anchor in the inlet or in Sawmill Bay. The cannery dock may allow brief stops but there are no public floats, no services, and the small boat harbor drains nearly dry at low tide.
Excursion Inlet extends 11 miles north-northwest from the northern shore of Icy Strait to the mouth of the Excursion River, tucked between Glacier Bay and Haines. The inlet itself is a classic fjord: narrow, deep, and stunning when the weather opens up. Access is by boat or small plane only.
The community's infrastructure centers on a fish cannery that has operated on this site in various forms since the 1890s. Ocean Beauty Seafoods (later OBI Seafoods) ran the cannery through 2021, when operations were suspended citing poor salmon forecasts. As of 2022, the facility retained a caretaker presence and OBI continued sending fish tenders to Lynn Canal with basic support out of the plant including ice, net storage, and fuel for commercial tenders and fishermen. The operational status of those services for the 2024 and 2025 seasons is unconfirmed for recreational boaters.
For cruising boats, Excursion Inlet is primarily an anchorage destination rather than a dock stop. The natural anchorage up the inlet, particularly in Sawmill Bay and the bight at the head of the fjord, provides good holding and protection. Stem-tie anchorage in the narrow upper reach works well for multiple boats.
The formal small boat harbor near the cannery is not practical for transient use. It drains almost completely at low tide, leaving larger vessels aground. The few existing floats are aging and not maintained for public use; a seaplane float exists but is not authorized for boat moorage. During active cannery seasons, temporary floats are deployed but there is no breakwater, leaving them exposed. If the cannery is operational and you need a brief tie-up, hailing on VHF 16 to ask permission is the expected courtesy before approaching the dock.
The cannery dock itself, built on the bones of a WWII Army barge terminal, can accommodate large vessels in terms of length but is private commercial infrastructure. Transient recreational boaters should treat it as a possible emergency or brief stop only, not a reliable berth. The public dock described in some historical references is in poor condition.
Icy Strait at the inlet entrance can run strong tidal currents. The inlet itself is well protected from Icy Strait swell once you are a mile or two inside, and wind protection improves significantly in the upper reaches. The head of the inlet is ringed by tidal flats and grassland with frequent bear activity.
Nearest services are at Gustavus, approximately 9.5 miles to the west by water, which has fuel (Gustavus Dray, 907-697-2481) and basic provisions.
Fuel and shore power available at Excursion Inlet Dock.
Laundry, groceries, a patch of grass for the dog, the nearest decent meal — here's what's within reach of Excursion Inlet Dock. Tap any pin on the map for the details.
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Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
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If Excursion Inlet Dock is full or you are weighing options, here is the closest moorage — sorted by distance.
