A jaw-dropping granite-walled fjord off Endicott Arm reachable only by threading a narrow tidal gorge at high-water slack, rewarding the few who make it with waterfalls, sheer walls, and near-total solitude.
Fords Terror is a dramatic, steep-sided fjord that branches off Endicott Arm in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, roughly 60-65 miles southeast of Juneau. Named for naval crewman H.L. Ford, who in 1899 became trapped inside by the raging tidal rapids and waited hours in terror for the water to calm, it remains one of the most committing and rewarding anchorages in Southeast Alaska.
Inside, cruisers describe it as having Yosemite all to yourself - mile-high granite walls, tumbling waterfalls (including a distinctive double cascade used as a navigation range), and glass-calm water once you are through the gorge. The fjord splits into an east and west arm; the usable, safer anchorage is at the head of the west arm.
The basin is poorly charted, deep, and ringed by near-vertical rock, so the holding ground is a narrow shelf near shore. Boaters routinely enjoy the solitude here, as the difficult entrance keeps traffic low.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
The approach runs up Endicott Arm from the Tracy Arm Cove staging anchorage, often through scattered icebergs and bergy bits calved from Dawes Glacier - a real hazard requiring slow, attentive navigation and good visibility. The entrance to Fords Terror itself is a narrow (about 100 ft / 30 m wide), poorly charted gorge on a sharp blind corner with uncharted shoals on both sides and a least depth near 24 ft.
This entrance MUST be transited only at high-water slack. Ebb and flood currents reach 12-15 knots with 3-4 ft standing waves, overfalls, and whirlpools that can set a vessel onto the rock wall. High slack occurs roughly 15-60 minutes after high water at Juneau, but timing shifts up to two hours with rainfall and moon phase, so arrive early, hold off, and visually confirm the rapids have gone calm before committing. Once inside, watch for the drying mud flats at the head of the basin.
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 Fords Terror 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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