- Shelter
- NW, N, NE, W, E, SW
- Seabed
- mud
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Semicircular cove in the northern part of Gloucester Harbour, Massachusetts, north-west of Tenpound Island, with a mud bottom.
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Enter Gloucester Harbour from the south and head for the cove off Stage Head. Good holding in soft mud and clay in 7 to 9 metres. Sheltered from north-west round to south-west, open to the east. The Gloucester harbour master maintains five transient moorings off Stage Head.
Ashore
City-owned Stage Fort Park borders the western shore, with a parkway leading to Stage Head and the Gloucester Fisherman statue facing the harbour. The southern entrance to the Blynman Canal lies at the head of the cove, opening the inside route up the Annisquam River to Ipswich Bay.
History
Stage Fort Park marks the site where the first English settlers landed in 1623 to dry their catch, making it one of the earliest fishing stations on the Massachusetts coast.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 42.60774, -70.67407 (42°36.46'N 70°40.44'W)
- Country
- United States
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-west winds
- Seabed
- mud
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Boaters' rating
- 4.7/5
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
Getting there
Western Harbor lies at 42°36.46'N 70°40.44'W, that is 42.60774, -70.67407 in decimal degrees.
Boaters' reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience of Western Harbor.
Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Western Harbor sheltered from?
Western Harbor is sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-west winds.
Can you anchor at Western Harbor?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Western Harbor.
How do boaters rate Western Harbor?
Western Harbor is rated 4.7/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
Explore the region
- United States
- New England
- Boston and the North Shore
- Maine
- Cape Cod and the Islands
- Rhode Island
- Long Island Sound
Nearby cities
The free boat navigation app
Official nautical charts, marine weather, GPS and 50,000+ marinas and anchorages with reviews. All in one app, ready to sail.
