Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is a sheltered maritime corridor threading through the islands of the Pacific Northwest coast, part of the North American Fjordland. It stretches from southeastern Alaska, through western British Columbia, down to northwestern Washington state. Vessels traveling this route can dodge much of the open ocean's rough weather and stop at numerous remote settlements along the way. In academic contexts, the term refers not just to the navigable path but to the entire network of waterways, fjords, and islands.

The southernmost point is generally considered Olympia, Washington, which also marks the southern end of Puget Sound. Heading north, the route enters the waters of the greater Salish Sea, then passes through the Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait, between northeastern Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland. It continues northwest into the Alaska Panhandle, with Haines and Skagway at the head of Lynn Canal serving as the northern termini. Navigating the Inside Passage is challenging due to unpredictable weather, large tidal swings, fast or erratic currents, and scarce safe anchorages.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, the passage served as a sea route from Seattle and California, carrying American prospectors northward. Today, roughly 36,000 recreational cruising boats use parts of the route. The nonprofit Marine Exchange of Alaska tracks vessel traffic in the Alaskan section. Captain Warren Good has documented 3,641 shipwrecks along that portion, and the Underwater Archeological Society of British Columbia conducts periodic regional shipwreck surveys.

Washington's portion consists almost entirely of Puget Sound waterways. Starting at the southernmost point of Budd Inlet, the waterway turns northeast and widens into the Nisqually Reach. It continues northeast through the Tacoma Narrows, then north toward the San Juan Islands, just southeast of the Canadian border.

British Columbia's 1,125-kilometer (700-mile) section includes the wide, protected Strait of Georgia, the narrow Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage, Blackfish Sound at the northern end of Vancouver Island, and a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch between islands or along the more exposed Hecate Strait near Haida Gwaii. From Fitz Hugh Sound northward, large islands like Princess Royal and Pitt shield the route from Pacific winds and waves. This section comprises a series of channels and straits: Fisher Channel, Lama Passage, Seaforth Channel, Milbanke Sound, Finlayson Channel, Sarah Passage, Tolmie Channel, Princess Royal Channel (including Graham Reach and Fraser Reach), McKay Reach, Wright Sound, Grenville Channel, Arthur Passage, and Chatham Sound.

Alaska's portion extends 500 miles (800 kilometers) north to south and 100 miles (160 kilometers) east to west, encompassing 1,000 islands and thousands of coves and bays. The Alexander Archipelago offers some protection from Pacific weather, but strong semi-diurnal tides are common. Lynn Canal is the northernmost waterway.

The Inside Passage is a popular tourist destination, offering wildlife viewing, boating, fishing, kayaking, camping, and hiking. Wildlife includes birds, whales, and bears, with designated bear viewing at Anan Creek near Wrangell and Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island near Juneau. The most common way to explore the region in summer is by cruise ship, with over 2 million passengers annually, significantly impacting the local economy. Few restrictions on ship size mean all major lines—including Norwegian, Disney, Princess, Celebrity, and Cunard—offer itineraries, most round-trip from Vancouver or Seattle. Cruise travel was canceled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, and uncertainty continued through February 2022 when Canada kept cruise ships banned. A smaller expedition cruise industry also operates, with smaller ships focusing on wildlife watching; National Geographic runs several such boats.

In 1994, during salmon treaty negotiations, Canada concluded the United States was unresponsive to its concerns. On June 15, 1994, Canada imposed a transit fee on all U.S. commercial fishing boats using the Canadian Inside Passage. The fee was later lifted through bilateral negotiations, and the crisis remained peaceful with no violent incidents. In response, on October 24, 1995, the U.S. Congress passed an amendment to the Fisheries Act.