A narrow, deep, heavily-wooded fiord anchorage on the west side of Glacier Bay's lower West Arm, at the mouth of Geikie Inlet and the edge of the Hugh Miller Inlet complex, prized for solitude and wildlife.
Shag Cove lies on the western shore of Glacier Bay's West Arm, about a mile south of the mouth of Geikie Inlet and roughly 0.7 miles southwest of Marble Mountain. It forms the southeastern arm of the larger Hugh Miller Inlet complex, hemmed in by steep, forested slopes and glacier-polished granite that give it a sheltered, fjord-like feel. Most boats working Geikie Inlet end up here, since the inlet itself is deep with few practical anchoring spots.
Cruisers prize the cove for its solitude and wildlife. Black bears, including sows with cubs working the shoreline, and wolves are regularly seen along the wooded edges, and the mature rain forest marks the transition zone before the bay opens toward the glaciers farther north.
It is a deep anchorage with relatively few good spots to drop the hook, so most boats end up in fairly deep water and should set plenty of scope; one crew logged a roughly 22-foot tide swing, so plan accordingly.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Approach is from Glacier Bay's West Arm near the mouth of Geikie Inlet. The cove and the broader Hugh Miller Inlet complex are characteristically deep, dropping off quickly, and good anchoring depths are limited; expect to anchor in 80-100+ feet in places, which calls for generous scope. Watch for rocks along the shelving shorelines, and note that boats have reported dragging here in strong winds.
Mind the motor-restriction zone: Hugh Miller Inlet proper, reached through a narrow gap, is closed to all motorized vessels (including auxiliary-powered sailboats and seaplanes) from May 1 through September 15. Shag Cove sits at the outer mouth of the complex, but do not motor up into Hugh Miller Inlet during the closed season.
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 Shag Cove 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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Cruising-distance picks near this anchorage.