Caines Head State Recreation Area is the scenic site of an abandoned World War II fort, can be reached by boat or foot from Seward. The massive headland rises 650 feet above Resurrection Bay, against a back drop of rolling alpine meadows and sharp peaks, giving way to a sweeping view of the North Pacific Ocean.

The shale covered, forest framed beaches of Caines Head have long been stopping points for boaters and fisherman. But early in World War II, as the territory of Alaska was attacked and occupied by Imperial Japanese ground forces, Caines Head and other Resurrection Bay vantages became strategic spots for defending the Port of Seward. The port was the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad, a critical supply line for the war effort and for Alaskans.

The 4.5 mile coastal trail leads from Lowell Point to the recreation area, ending at North Beach. A portion of this trail can be hiked only at low tide. Historic trails following old army roads take hikers to Fort McGilvray and on to South Beach.

Address:
Accessible by foot from Seward via coastal trails or by boat.

Directions:
Seward Highway (1) to Highway 9 to Seward.

By Coastal Trail:
5/13/2022: Due to the recent severe land slide across Lowell Point Road in Seward, access to Caines Head State Recreation Area (CHSRA) and Lowell Point State Recreation Site will be limited to water taxis for an undetermined amount of time.

For those who have booked one of the three cabins at CHSRA—Tonsina, Derby Cove or Callisto Canyon— you may contact the DNR Public Information Center in Anchorage or Fairbanks to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund.

For information on contacting one of the DNR Public Information Centers: http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/

For more information on the landslide, please follow the City of Seward Facebook page.

Thank you for your patience!

By Boat: Visitors with large boats can anchor off North Beach and dinghy ashore. Smaller boats may be brought up on shore clear of high tide line.

By Charter: Charter boats are available in Seward and provide shuttle service to and from the park and its cabins. Click here for a list of authorized carriers.