Scenery Cove to Sanborn Canal: Blue Skies, Brief Porpoises, and a One-Time Stop

June has officially arrived—and with it, a break in the rain! The forecast claimed we might stay dry today, and we were ready to believe.

Our next stop looked deceptively close on the chart—Sanborn Canal in Port Houghton—but plotting the course told a different story. It’s nearly five hours away. Alaska: always bigger than you think.

Conditions were delightful. Current on the stern, light winds, smooth seas, and clouds high enough (~3,000 feet) to reveal most of the mountain peaks along the way. We even had a generous stretch of blue sky, which felt almost suspicious after such a soggy stretch.

Boat traffic? Barely. Just two other cruisers and a couple of fishboats. It was quiet out there—just how Karen likes it. A few humpbacks passed by, unbothered, and a pod of Dall’s porpoise gave us a teaser show at the bow before darting off. Karen was hoping for an encore.

Sanborn Canal is tucked an hour off Frederick Sound. As we arrived, the clouds regrouped and sank low, hiding the mountains that normally frame the anchorage. A 35-footer was nestled into the northwest corner, and the 67-foot pocket cruiser Sikumi had staked out the center.

oceanflyer in the foreground at Sanborn Canal. look closely for the two others.

We dropped anchor near the head of the canal in 55 feet, opting not to push deeper toward the estuary. The bottom shoals fast, and today wasn’t the day for sounding adventures.

the river valley at the head of sanborn canal

Before the next wave of showers rolled in, I launched the drone for a quick flight. The views were muted compared to Scenery Cove, which still holds the crown for dramatic scenery and solitude. Sanborn Canal? Pretty enough, but not a repeater for us.

Tomorrow, we head for Cannery Cove—a favorite among Alaskan cruisers. We’re hoping the skies hold.