⚠️ ROUTE SAFETY THRESHOLDS
These planning estimates assume a **twin-engine cabin cruiser of at least 22 feet** in length and an **operator with intermediate seamanship experience** in cold-water coastal navigation.
Waypoints
- 1Whittier Small Boat Harbor ExitDepart with full tanks. File float plan. Check NOAA marine forecast and katabatic wind advisory.
- 2Passage Canal Mid-ChannelTransit south. Watch for ferry traffic on VHF CH 16.
- 3Passage Canal East ApproachBegin curving southeast. Wind tunnel effect can create steep chop in this segment.
- 4Decision Point BearingPass south of Decision Point headland. Assess open sea state before continuing northeast.
- 5Port Wells East CrossingCross open Port Wells heading northeast. Swell can build in easterly conditions.
- 6Wells Passage EntranceExit Passage Canal into open water. Assess sea state before proceeding northeast toward the Sound.
- 7Wells Passage Open WaterOpen water crossing. Best in early morning before afternoon NE breeze builds. Keep watch for commercial fishing vessels.
- 8Perry Island South PassageBear northeast. Perry Island moraine shoals to port — give wide berth to submerged glacial debris banks.
- 9Glacier Island North ChannelBegin approach to Columbia Bay. Ice density increases. Reduce speed. Assign dedicated bow watch.
- 10Columbia Bay ApproachWatch for ice. Navigate at displacement speed. Monitor VHF 16. Do not rush this segment.
- 11Columbia Bay EntranceNavigate through iceberg field. Avoid blue ice and growlers. Assign two lookouts — bow and helm.
- 12Heather Bay (Bailout)Best bailout anchorage before glacier. Use if ice density is too high or conditions deteriorate.
- 13Columbia Glacier Viewing (0.5nm Buffer)MANDATORY MINIMUM DISTANCE from calving face. Do not approach closer. Calving can produce 6ft waves. Engine in gear — ready to move.
Overview
The Columbia Glacier Run is the crown jewel of Prince William Sound day cruising — a 76nm round trip from Whittier to the face of one of the world’s fastest-retreating tidewater glaciers. The Columbia has receded over 12 miles since the 1980s, and the resulting iceberg-strewn Columbia Bay makes this route simultaneously spectacular and demanding.
This is not a beginner route. Open water crossing, potential ice field navigation, and rapidly changing conditions require experienced seamanship.
Pre-Departure Checklist
- NOAA Marine Forecast: < 15kt, < 3ft seas for the full day
- AK SeaLife Weather Buoy data (NOAA 46060)
- Full fuel tanks (80nm round trip minimum)
- VHF radio fully charged — CH 16 monitored
- Float plan filed with responsible party
- Immersion suits aboard for all passengers
- Ice ax or boathook for growler deflection
Route Description
Leg 1 — Whittier to Passage Canal East (8nm) Straightforward transit. Watch for ferry traffic and commercial vessels. The Anton Anderson Tunnel schedule affects vehicle traffic timing — plan your departure before or after vehicle convoys.
Leg 2 — Passage Canal to Columbia Bay Entrance (22nm) Open water. Best conditions are typically early morning before afternoon NE breeze builds. Swell from the Gulf of Alaska can funnel into this corridor — check wave period as well as height.
Leg 3 — Columbia Bay to Glacier Face (8nm) This is where experience matters. Ice density varies dramatically by season and recent calving. In heavy ice years (post-major calving events), the bay may be impassable for small vessels. Navigate at displacement speed, with a dedicated bow watch.
At the Glacier: Maintain minimum 0.5nm from the calving face. The Columbia Glacier calves constantly — major calvings can produce waves up to 6ft. The blue ice of recently exposed glacier face is extraordinary.
Return Timing
Allow yourself a weather window. If afternoon NE builds to 20kt+, consider overnighting in Heather Bay rather than running back in deteriorating conditions.
⚓ Bailout Coves
Plan This Route
Add all stops of the Columbia Glacier Run to your active trip planner.