Vixen Inlet to Naha Bay

All things considered, Vixen Inlet treated us better than expected. Despite being open to wind and fetch, the night was only mildly rolly and occasionally noisy when OceanFlyer’s stern swung into the chop. No bears showed up, but Karen did spot a deer browsing at the head of the inlet before we lifted anchor.

The mud flats at Vixen Inlet

THe Vixen Inlet extend as far as the eye can see

looking our of vixen inlet from the mud flats

Our destination today is Naha Bay on West Behm Canal. The ride was smooth and pleasant—mostly sunny through Clarence Strait, with clouds building later in the day. We cruised past Meyers Chuck and the tiny town of Loring before turning toward the Naha River wilderness dock.

To our delight, it was empty.

We have the docks to ourselves

The dock—recently renovated—is in excellent shape. We tied up along the longest section, with only about eight feet of bow hanging out. Not bad for a 50-footer.

Just the right size for oceanflyer

you can see the small village of loring in the distance

With cool temps and no crowds, we decided to stretch our legs on the Naha River Trail. This turned out to be one of the nicest hikes we’ve done all season. We took the righthand fork toward the rapids and picnic area first. The rapids were absolutely raging—two distinct 3-foot drops and a wall of whitewater, even on a +10’ tide. Entering Roosevelt Lagoon by dinghy was definitely off the table without another 7 feet of water and some luck.

nice trails at Naha Bay

the picnic area at naha bay and roosevelt lagoon

good signage but in need of some love soon

Continuing along the trail, we found a clever little kayak portage system, then doubled back and took the main gravel path toward the lagoon. The walk was full of character: old rowboats pulled onto the rocky shoreline, a half-sunken floating dock, charming wooden bridges, and beautifully built stairs tucked into the mossy forest. It felt remote and well-loved all at once.

a convenient portage trail around the rapids

the rapids at naha bay deserve some serious respect

the rapids at about half tide

karen stops to grab a photo of roosevely lagoon

beaches and boats grace the walk along roosvelt lagoon

no swans today

On the way back, we chatted with two fishermen from a nearby lodge trying their luck in the lagoon. Later, a small boat came ashore briefly, then departed, leaving us alone on the float for the night.

Naha Bay turned out to be a hidden gem—quiet, scenic, and full of charm. We'll definitely be back.