Heather Bay — Anchorage Guide
Overview
Heather Bay serves as the primary staging anchorage for mariners approaching Columbia Glacier from the west. Sheltered by a narrow entrance, it offers good protection from southerly and westerly weather — with the notable exception of north and northeast katabatic flows that can funnel down from the glacier zone.
Approach
From the southwest: follow Columbia Bay northeast. The entrance to Heather Bay opens to the south, flanked by two small rocky islets visible at most tides. Favor the eastern islet by 100ft to avoid a shoal extending from the western islet.
Caution: Do not approach in poor visibility. Iceberg traffic in Columbia Bay increases significantly after June 1. All ice is potentially hazardous — even apparently small growlers are dense glacier ice.
Anchoring
Mud and soft bottom. Good holding in 25–35 feet in the central bay. Anchor away from the beach — a large rock shelf covers and uncovers on a 4-6ft tide range. Space for 4 vessels.
Glacier Access
Heather Bay is the closest comfortable anchorage to the Columbia Glacier face (approximately 8nm northeast). Day trips in a dinghy are possible in calm conditions — but exercise extreme caution around ice. The glacier is actively calving. Resulting waves can swamp small boats without warning.
Minimum safe distance from glacier face: 0.5nm.
Wildlife
Harbor seals haul out on icebergs that drift into the bay in summer — a spectacular wildlife-watching opportunity from the anchorage. Bald eagles are common in the trees above the beach. Sea otters rest in kelp beds at the bay entrance.
Notes
- Calving glacier noise is continuous — audible from anchorage and sometimes loud at night
- Ice field extent varies by season and recent calving activity
- Monitor VHF 16 for USCG Columbia Bay ice advisories (issued in summer)
- No fresh water source
Add to Your Float Plan
Include Heather Bay as a waypoint or destination in your float plan for this trip.