Caines Head State Recreation Site

Open — Open year-round with cabins and campsites available for reservation or first-come, first-served use. Winter access can be difficult due to heavy seas and adverse weather. Limited to 15 consecutive nights.

About

Caines Head State Recreation Site occupies a dramatic 6,000-acre headland rising 650 feet above Resurrection Bay, seven miles south of Seward. The recreation area is accessible only by boat or via a 4.5-mile coastal trail from Lowell Point that requires careful tide planning, as portions of the beach can only be traversed during low tide. The site features primitive camping at North Beach, Tonsina Point, and South Beach, along with three public-use cabins available for reservation. The area's rich military history centers on Fort McGilvray and the South Beach Garrison, remnants of a strategic WWII defense installation built to protect the Port of Seward and the Alaska Railroad terminus. Visitors can explore underground passages, ammunition magazines, and gun platforms while hiking historic army roadbeds. The fort offers sweeping views of Resurrection Bay against a backdrop of alpine meadows and sharp peaks. Campsites feature picnic shelters, fire pits, and pit toilets near the main trail at North Beach. The Derby Cove and Tonsina cabins can be reserved through ReserveAmerica and include wood stoves, sleeping platforms, and basic furnishings. Winter access can be challenging due to heavy seas and adverse weather conditions. Open fires are permitted only on ocean beaches below mean high tide. The recreation area is staffed seasonally by rangers and volunteers, so visitors should be prepared to handle emergencies independently.

Directions

Located 7 miles south of Seward in Resurrection Bay. Access by boat or via 4.5-mile coastal trail from Lowell Point State Recreation Site at the end of Lowell Point Road. Two miles of trail cross beach accessible only at low tide: plus 4 feet or lower in summer, plus 3 feet or lower in winter. Leave at least two hours before low tide to avoid becoming stranded. Parking at Lowell Point requires $5 daily fee. No motorhomes or trailers allowed at trailhead.

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