Gulf of Alaska Coastal Travel Routes

Rocky Bay

Chart 16645

The next major indentation in the coast to the west of Qikutulig Bay is aptly named Rocky Bay, which is a patchwork of small islands, rocks, wash rocks, and kelp beds as the chart indicates. Safe transiting of this bay requires close attention to the chart, the plotter, and depth sounder while keeping a sharp eye on the water ahead of the boat. Entering from the east it is best to keep west of the row of rocks and kelp beds that lie about a half mile off the eastern shore. If visiting Rocky River or Picnic Harbor, stay between that row of obstacles and the larger unnamed island in the middle of the bay. The entrance of Rocky River is mainly tidal flat and doesn’t provide any anchorage, but it is possible to take a kayak or skiff up channels running through a few miles of eelgrass and ryegrass beds, weaving around several small islands and eventually through a narrow cleft in a rocky ridge into the Rocky River proper. The river is a productive salmon stream in a scenic mountain valley. Seabirds, shorebirds, and raptors abound, and harbor seals ride the tide up into the valley and can be seen pursuing salmon in 4 feet of water in a clear mountain stream. An abandoned logging road and evidence of logged-over areas are visible on the east sidehills. A sport fishing lodge and several private cabins are located in the area but are not visible from the estuary or lower reaches of the river. The lower river valley is easily explored by skiff or kayak; just be sure to not wait too long on the ebb tide to exit the estuary.


The head of Picnic Harbor, though open to the southeast, is sheltered from weather from all directions

Immediately to the west of the Rocky River estuary is Picnic Harbor, a narrow fjord that runs northwest about a mile in the same valley as the Rocky River. Less than a hundred yards wide near the outlet of the creek at its head, the inlet is well protected from swells off the gulf and is a favored anchorage for tenders servicing the small commercial salmon fleet that operates seasonally in the area. An abandoned road is reported to connect Picnic Harbor with Jakolof Bay and Seldovia on Kachemak Bay, but is not visible from the water at this end.


Red Mountain is a distinctive landmark visible on clear days from the coastline near Rocky Bay

A feature of Rocky Bay, visible in clear weather about 10 miles to the north-northwest of Picnic Cove, is the distinctive 3500 foot peak of Red Mountain, devoid of vegetation and tinted by chromite in the soil.


Windy Bay draws a few purse seiners and fish tenders during the salmon run in midsummer. Pocket anchorages can be found on both the north and south sides of the bay

Southwest of Picnic Harbor is another inlet that runs about 4 miles to the west from Rocky Bay, known as Windy Bay. A small bight behind a small point on the south side provides shelter from south and east winds in 3 fathoms but is exposed to north and west winds. A pair of small islands on the north shore defines another pocket anchorage, and the head of the bay narrows and provides fair-weather anchorage off the edge of the two tideflats, each of which is bisected by a salmon stream and provides enjoyable kayaking area and possible bear watching at high tide. Exposed to the east, Windy Bay also experiences strong westerlies that come through the pass at the head of the bay.