A nearly landlocked, bowl-shaped harbor on the east side of Stephens Passage about 20 miles south of Juneau, Taku Harbor is a State Marine Park offering a public float and protected mud-bottom anchorage amid the pilings of a long-gone salmon cannery.
Taku Harbor indents the east shore of Stephens Passage between Stockade Point and Grave Point, roughly 19-22 miles southeast of Juneau. The high land of Grave Point and Taku Mountain rising behind it make the entrance easy to identify from the south, and once inside the bowl-shaped basin opens into one of the few genuinely good all-weather anchorages along this stretch of the passage. A state-maintained public float offers roughly 890 feet of side-tie moorage with shore access, making it a favorite overnight stop for Juneau recreational boaters, commercial fishermen, and small tour vessels running to and from Tracy Arm.
The harbor was once home to a major salmon cannery. The San Juan Fishing and Packing Company built here in 1901 and pioneered Alaska's first cold-storage operation; after passing through several owners it became a Libby, McNeill and Libby plant that ran until 1947 and was dismantled in 1951, leaving the rows of weathered pilings still visible today.
Taku Harbor is also remembered for Henry Tiger Olson, the cannery handyman who stayed on as the harbor's sole resident for more than 56 years until he left for the Sitka Pioneer Home, dying in 1980. A public-use cabin in the marine park now bears his name. The harbor is especially attractive in autumn.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
The entrance lies between Stockade Point and the southeast tangent of Grave Point, which is marked by Grave Point Light on the north side. The entrance is deep and clear; mariners should note that a local magnetic disturbance of as much as 10 degrees from normal variation has been observed near Grave Point.
The principal inner hazard is a pair of rocks lying just south of the public float that uncover at low tide; give the float a berth and favor the east shore. A flat extends about 0.2 mile from the head of the harbor. A slight eddy current sets in from Stephens Passage on the flood, and on large tides swirls can cause an anchored vessel to surge on her cable.
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 Taku Harbor 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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