Canoe Passage to Bradfield Canal

This morning, Canoe Passage reminded us that charts don’t always tell the whole story. One island is misplotted, and on paper, it looks like the passage shoals out entirely. But as I stepped out of the shower, a 50-foot fishboat zipped past heading south. Apparently, local knowledge beats NOAA again.

The charts givethe impression it is not passable, but the local fisherman use it at high tide.

With calm weather and the generator humming, I jumped into meal-prep mode—filling the galley with the smells of future dinners while we made water.

Our destination today was new territory: deep inside Bradfield Canal, far beyond the better-known Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory. Karen had discovered a note from a past cruiser who’d made it up the Eagle River by dinghy on a high tide. That was all the encouragement we needed.

Bradfield didn’t disappoint—snowcapped peaks framed the quiet fjord as we cruised in. We passed one lone pleasure boat heading out, then had the whole place to ourselves. We anchored just west of a small lagoon near the Eagle River delta. At low tide, we could see the sandy flats and a few lurking hazards, but the water was deep and the anchor held strong.

oceanflyer flyer anchored off the lagoon entrance

lagoon on the left, eagle river on the right

lagoon entrance at low tide

eagle river entrance at low tide

looking back into Bradfield Canel with the lagoon entrance in the foreground

With the tide on the rise (+13'), we launched the drone for a better look at the lagoon and river entrances. Both looked promising.

We dinghied into the lagoon first, using Garmin/Navionics to guide us in. It was narrow but manageable and worth the effort—a peaceful pocket of calm and classic Alaskan charm.

Then came the Eagle River. Unsure how far we’d get, we followed the channel upriver—hugging the west side near a small island—until we finally ran out of depth. Surrounded by emerald grass, rolling hills, and the whisper of unseen bears, we savored the solitude.

The Eagle River off of bradfiels canal

By evening, we were back aboard OceanFlyer, tucked into the wilderness, completely alone and utterly content.

evening settles upon Bradfield canal