A roomy, well-sheltered bay on the northwest corner of Admiralty Island, Funter Bay pairs a state float and quiet anchorages with the haunting ruins of a salmon cannery that served as a WWII Aleut relocation camp.
Funter Bay indents the Mansfield Peninsula at the northwest tip of Admiralty Island, where Chatham Strait meets Lynn Canal about 10.5 miles south of Point Retreat. NOAA's Coast Pilot calls it the best and most convenient anchorage in the vicinity: the bay runs roughly two miles to the northeast, holding deep, calm water in its center and tucked-away protection in Coot Cove and Crab Cove at its head.
A state-maintained 150-foot small-craft float sits on the southeast side of the bay, with seasonal water available in summer; most cruisers anchor about 0.2 mile southwest of the cannery ruins. The surrounding 162-acre Funter Bay State Marine Park is undeveloped, offering shore access for beachcombing, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
The ashore ruins tell the bay's story. An abandoned salmon cannery and a separate mine site became internment camps during World War II, when Aleut people evacuated from the Pribilof and Aleutian islands were housed here under harsh conditions. Today only a few collapsing buildings, pilings, and a small cemetery remain among the trees.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Approach from Chatham Strait/Lynn Canal toward Clear Point on the north side of the entrance, marked by Funter Bay Entrance Light 1. The southern entrance is cluttered with small islands and rocks: Station Island and its low-water-connected islets, Rat Island and its bare ledge, and a rock covered less than a quarter-fathom about 0.1 mile southwest of the islets. Offshore, The Kittens and Naked Island with surrounding shoals lie to the northwest of the entrance.
Inside, four islets line the bay between Clear Point and the head: Bare Island (with a shoal southeast and Curlew Ledge plus a buoyed shoal to its south), Gauge Island with surrounding ledges and the nearby Star Rock pinnacle, and Ledge Island all demand care; the channel west of Bare Island is the usual route to the inner float. Two rocks south of the float bare at low tide. Honor crab-pot buoys, mostly on the north side of Crab Cove.
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 Funter Bay 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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