Cabin Descriptions - Prince William Sound Area
Shoup
Bay State Marine Park, near Valdez Decision
Point State Marine Park, near Whittier
Shoup Bay State Marine Park (near Valdez)
Shoup Bay State Marine Park is on the north side of Port
Valdez, approximately 8.5 miles from Valdez. The park encompasses most
of Shoup Bay and the southern half of Shoup Lake, also called the inner
lagoon. There is an underwater moraine that stretches across the mouth
of the bay and creates shallow shoals off the spit and on the opposite
western side. The bay is connected to the tidally influenced lake by a
shallow river that flows either way, depending on the tide. Ice from Shoup
Glacier calves into the lake.
Salmon fishing, hiking, spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing are
some of the recreational opportunities available within this marine
park.
Each cabin has two sets of full size bunk beds with a capacity to sleep
eight people, with the two lower bunks being accessible. A table, benches
and counter are furnished, along with an
oil stove - Use only No. 1 fuel oil - NO #2 diesel and NO
gasoline! Please follow lighting instructions in cabin. The latrine
is located almost directly behind each cabin. Plan on providing your
own toilet paper should none be found at the latrine.
There are three cabins in the park, but the third cabin, Moraine Cabin,
is leased to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
General Access: The cabins can be
reached by private boat, floatplane, or commercial water taxi service.
If using a private boat, please use the caution necessary for coastal
Alaskan waters with respect to tides, weather, currents, and your party's
abilities and experience level. The waters of Valdez Arm and Port Valdez
are generally choppy in the afternoons and can become hazardous to small
watercraft. No mooring buoy exists at Shoup Bay SMP. Anchoring is at
your own risk. If pulling a kayak, inflatable or small skiff ashore,
be sure to secure your boat to avoid losing it at high tide or surf
conditions. Charter boat shuttle services are available in the Valdez
Boat harbor. Arrangements can be made with them for drop-offs and pick-ups
at Shoup bay SMP.
There is an 11 mile trail from Valdez, for foot traffic only, to access
the park and cabins. At this time, crossing Uno Creek at the park end
of the trail can be hazardous. The best place to cross the creek is
on the tidal flats. Please use caution and bring rubber boots to wear
for the crossing. Beware of icebergs and shifting sandbars near the
head of the creek. The trail is for summer use only due to extreme avalanche
danger in the winter months. There are plans to build a bridge here
in the future. There is no road access to the park.
Cabin Fact Sheet and Map (pdf)
Note: You must have Acrobat Reader 3.0 or greater to open these pdf
files. Go to the Adobe
Acrobat website to download this free software.
Decision Point State Marine Park (near Whittier)
Decision Point State Marine Park is on the south side of Passage Canal
approximately eight miles east of Whittier. The park is generally used
by kayakers and small boat users, as there is no protected anchorage.
The public use cabin in this park is located on the west side of Squirrel
Cove. This public use cabin is the first cabin managed by Alaska State
Parks in western Prince William Sound.
Four tent platforms and are also located in Squirrel Cove and can be
accessed from the cabin by a boardwalk trail. Each tent platforms can
accommodate one tent and are available on a first come basis. A cooking
area and bear-proof locker is provided for food storage.
Just south of Decision Point is an east-facing, medium - pebble beach
that provides dry, flat camping for up to 10 tents between the dead
trees. The camp areas are above the high tide and have two fire rings.
General Access: This cabin can be reached by private boat, kayak, floatplane,
or commercial water taxi. If using a private boat or kayak, please use
the caution necessary for coastal Alaskan waters with respect to tides,
weather, currents, and your party's abilities and experience level.
No mooring buoys are provided at Decision Point SMP. Anchoring is at
your own risk. If pulling a kayak, inflatable or small skiff ashore,
be sure to secure your boat to avoid losing it at high tide or surf
conditions. Charter boat shuttle services are available in the Whittier
harbor. Arrangements can be made with them for drop-offs and pick-ups
at Decision Point SMP.
