The classic staging anchorage just inside Holkham Bay at the mouth of Tracy Arm, where cruisers tuck in near Harbor Island to stage the run up to Sawyer Glacier and dodge the ice drifting out of the fjord.
Tracy Arm Cove is the small, sheltered nook on the north side of Holkham Bay, immediately inside the entrance to Tracy Arm and tucked in near Harbor Island and the Round Islets. It is the most-used overnight anchorage in the area precisely because of its position: from here it is a long but doable day-trip up the fjord to the twin Sawyer Glaciers and back.
The setting is pure Southeast Alaska, ringed by steep granite walls with floating ice ranging from hand-sized bergy bits to bergs the size of a small building drifting through Holkham Bay on the tide. Holding and swing room are generally reported as good, but cruisers note there is no firm consensus on the ideal spot and the cove can feel tight.
Because it sits at the junction of Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm and Stephens Passage, it functions almost entirely as a staging stop rather than a destination in itself: fill the day with the glacier run, then return to ride out the night here.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
The single largest hazard is ice. Bergs and bergy bits calved from Sawyer Glacier (and Dawes Glacier in neighboring Endicott Arm) drift out into Holkham Bay on the current, and cruisers report bergs floating into the anchorage overnight, forcing boats to re-anchor or move. Keep a watch and leave swing room.
A glacial terminal moraine forms a shallow bar across the mouth of Holkham Bay, and a large volume of tidal water flows over it, so expect current and time the crossing with care. The 2025 Tracy Arm landslide event also affected conditions in the upper fjord; check current advisories before transiting.
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 Tracy Arm Cove with approach photos, depth notes, and points of interest — written by members who have been here recently.
Member-uploaded images of this anchorage.
Real first-hand reports and questions answered by members who have actually been here.
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