Pelican is a tiny boardwalk fishing town tucked into deep Lisianski Inlet on the northwest corner of Chichagof Island, a genuine off-the-beaten-track stop near Cross Sound and the wild outer coast.
Pelican is built almost entirely on pilings, its buildings strung along a mile-long boardwalk above the tideline where locals get around on golf carts and ATVs. Mountains rise some 3,000 feet on either side of the inlet, and the town's working waterfront still centers on commercial trolling and longlining.
Visiting boats tie up at the public small-boat harbor's transient float rather than anchor, since Lisianski Inlet is deep and steep-to with little room to swing. A fuel dock with a prominent digital price sign sits high on pilings across the harbor. Shoreside, the Lisianski Inlet Cafe is the reliable spot for a meal; the village store and bar have come and gone in recent years, so provisioning is limited and worth confirming before arrival.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Pelican lies off the usual Juneau-to-Sitka track, reached by heading west through Icy Strait and then down Lisianski Inlet, roughly 14 miles from Cross Sound. The inlet is a deep, protected fjord about 25 miles long with water close to shore and a somewhat sheltered harbor basin at the town.
Because the inlet is deep and steep-to, suitable anchoring depths are scarce and most vessels use the harbor float instead of anchoring. Winds tend to funnel along the inlet's axis, so expect channeled gusts in a blow; mind tidal current in the approach and the narrow harbor entrance, and verify the latest harbor and fuel-dock status locally as outer-coast facilities change.
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 Pelican 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.
No reviews yet. Be the first.
Cruising-distance picks near this anchorage.