A former whaling station turned tiny off-grid community on the south shore of Houston Stewart Channel, Rose Harbour is the southernmost outpost in Gwaii Haanas and the classic jumping-off point for SGang Gwaay.
Rose Harbour occupies a small cove on the north coast of Kunghit Island, on the south side of Houston Stewart Channel near the southern tip of Haida Gwaii. It is the only privately owned land within Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, home to just a handful of off-grid cabins that operate as summer lodges serving kayakers and the occasional cruising boat.
The site was built as a whaling station in 1910 by the Queen Charlotte Whaling Company and processed sperm, gray, and humpback whales until 1943. Rusting boilers, scattered whale bone, and a memorial to the Chinese and Japanese workers who died here remain among the salal and second-growth, lending the anchorage a haunting, end-of-the-world atmosphere.
Most cruisers stop here as a staging point for the short run out to SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island) and its UNESCO World Heritage village. A few people live and work at Rose Harbour through the season, so visiting boats should expect a close-quarters, neighborly anchorage and may be asked to raft up.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Rose Harbour is reached through Houston Stewart Channel, the narrow passage separating Kunghit Island from Moresby Island at the south end of Haida Gwaii. Tidal currents in the channel are strong (reported up to about 4 knots), so the channel should be transited near slack or with a favorable tide; the open western approaches expose the area to ocean swell and southwest weather.
The anchorage itself is tight and must be entered with care. Charts and cruising reports note numerous covering rocks and kelp patches, and holding is unreliable on the rocky, kelpy bottom. There are public mooring buoys deep in the south part of Rose Harbour; Parks Canada or resident staff monitor VHF 06 and may authorize buoy use. Use CHS chart 3855 and a current-corrected sounder when feeling your way in.
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 Rose Harbour 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.
