Bottleneck Inlet to Khutze Inlet

We were the last to pull anchor at Bottleneck—our neighbors clearly had more ambition than we did. With only a short hop to Khutze Inlet ahead, we opted for a slow start and a second cup of coffee.

The sky was gray and drizzly, but the ride was smooth as we passed through Heikish Narrows and cruised up Graham Reach. Only one other pleasure boat crossed our path.

Khutze remains one of our all-time favorites—a dramatic bowl of snow-dusted peaks, deep water, and twin rivers that spill into the head of the inlet. On past visits, we’ve often shared the space with boutique expedition ships, especially anchored near the thunderous waterfall in the southeast corner. I’d marked their preferred spot years ago—and today it was empty.

We dropped anchor in 100 feet, found good mud, and settled in with just one other boat in the bay. Clouds hung low, but the view was still spectacular. The waterfall echoed across the anchorage like distant surf—steady, peaceful, and ever-present.

Khutze Inlet waterfall is feed froum mountain snow fields. Pictures never do it justice

The weather lifted slightly as the day went on, but the bears stayed out of sight. Tomorrow morning’s forecast calls for sunshine, and we’ll take the dinghy up the river branches. With any luck, the bears will make an appearance then.

The head of Khitze Inlet