A nearly landlocked, all-weather hideaway off the northwest shore of Behm Canal, home to the venerable Yes Bay Lodge and reliably calm anchorages tucked behind a rock-studded narrows.
Yes Bay opens off Behm Canal between Bluff Point and Syble Point, about 50 miles north of Ketchikan on the Cleveland Peninsula side. The outer reach is broad and clean, but the rewarding cruising lies upstream: a narrow passage about 2.6 miles in leads past the historic Yes Bay Lodge into a chain of sheltered inner basins fed by Wolverine Creek and McDonald Lake.
The lodge, perched on the north point of the first narrows, has long drawn anglers for the salmon and steelhead running the creek, and it monitors radiotelephone to Ketchikan with water, gasoline, and charter floatplane service available. Past the lodge, the first basin and a smaller inner basin offer quiet, deep, mud-bottomed holding ringed by forested slopes.
The favorite small-boat spot lies near the southeast end of the first basin in about 8 fathoms, while the inner basin holds good anchorage in 11 to 12 fathoms. With high land on every side, these basins are about as protected as Southeast Alaska anchorages get.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
The entrance off Behm Canal, marked by Bluff Point Light on the southwest side, is free of dangers; enter in midchannel and then favor the north shore. Strangers should navigate at low water when rocks show, and exercise caution at the east end of the narrow passage near the lodge. Entering the first basin, pass between the charted rocks and the resort pier.
The passage from the first basin to the inner basin is the crux: at a group of islands the channel narrows to about 75 yards, pinched by a submerged rock with 3 feet over it and a rock awash at low water, both on the west side. Favor the east shore through this gap; once past the islets the innermost basin is clear.
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 Yes Bay 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.
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Cruising-distance picks near this anchorage.
