Khutze Inlet to Cameron Cove

After several memorable days in Khutze Inlet, we weighed anchor and made the short run over to Cameron Cove. Unlike many places along this coast, it was new territory for us, which is reason enough to visit.

Cameron Cove is not what most cruisers would consider a destination anchorage, but it has plenty going for it. The bay is large, well-protected, and offers numerous areas with suitable depths and good holding. It makes an excellent staging or layover stop while exploring this part of British Columbia.

cameron cove, our home for a day

Naturally, we were curious about the river delta at the head of the inlet. While it lacks the dramatic scale and wildlife appeal of nearby Khutze, it was still worth investigating. On a 15-foot tide we carefully worked our way toward the head, never seeing less than five feet beneath the dinghy until the end.

a look at the river during low tide

With time to explore, we took a leisurely tour around the entire bay. One point of interest was the old wreck charted in the northwest corner of Barnard Harbour. Time and tide have not been kind to it, but it remains an interesting reminder of the area's maritime history.

Later in the afternoon, the charter expedition vessel Swell arrived and settled into the anchorage. We seem to be following remarkably similar itineraries. In fact, Swell has become a familiar sight at several of our recent stops.

What continues to surprise us, however, is how few cruising boats we encounter. Even in the middle of summer, these remote inlets and anchorages often feel wonderfully empty. For those willing to venture beyond the more popular cruising routes, the rewards are solitude, spectacular scenery, and the feeling that there is still plenty of coastline left to discover.

pretty views in cameron cove