1-day Fort McGilvray Caines Head hiking and Seward sea kayaking trip includes a 2 mile hike to the historic Fort McGilvray and sea kayaking back to Seward, Alaska.

Caines Head State Recreation Area - Seward, Alaska
1-Day Historic Fort McGilvray Caines Head Hike and Sea Kayaking Tour Departing From Seward

This is a full-day Alaska sea kayaking and hiking adventure departing from Seward. Our 1 day Caines Head hiking and Alaska sea kayaking trip includes a short water taxi ride to North Beach at Caines Head. From here a 2 mile hike takes us to historic Fort McGilvray. The battery once housed two six-inch guns. As we hike up to the fort we'll explore the remains of the old ammunition magazines and the bog meadows with their unique forms of plant life. At Fort McGilvray we'll investigate the maze of underground passages and rooms by flashlight. Looking out from the fort are incredible sweeping vista of Recreation Bay and the Gulf of Alaska.

Also Available a guided or unguided Fort McGilvray Caines Head Hiking only trip (no sea kayaking)

Caines Head State Recreation Area is the site of the abandoned World War II Fort McGilvray. During World War II with Japan's invasion of Attu and Kiska Island on the Alaska Aleutian Islands, Seward and Alaska would see a construction boom with much of Alaska road system being built and the building of the Alaska Railroad. The importance of Seward's Resurrection Bay was soon realized. It was a strategically located ice-free deepwater bay that would become an important supply center for Interior Alaska.

After the historic Caines Head hike we return to North Beach and launch our sea kayaks to explore the coastline as we sea kayak back to the town of Seward. While sea kayaking Resurrection Bay coastline, our naturalist guides will share the rich national history with you while viewing the jagged cliffs, seabirds, marine wildlife and alpine glaciers. Often seen are sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, seabirds, bald eagles, jumping salmon and occasionally we see whales that venture into the bay.

While sea kayaking we'll pass Tonsina Point's ghost forest, a remnant of the 1964 earthquake. Alaska's 1964 earthquake was the largest quake recorded in North America. The ground at Tonsina Point sank exposing the tree roots to saltwater, killing the trees but preserving the standing trees. If the tides are right we might be able to paddle up into the month of Tonsina Creek to see the spawning salmon.

Itinerary

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• Dry Suit - We provide you with a dry suit. We are the only Seward kayaking company to provide you with a dry suit to keep you warm, dry, and help protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold waters. Other Seward sea kayaking outfitters provide (or rent at extra cost) rain gear and rubber boots that offer little protection.
• Specialty Equipment - No hidden or added costs to rent gear such as rain gear or rubber boots. We supply the specialized outdoor gear you need. Other outfitters may require you to have or pay extra to rent gear. We supply our guests with dry suits, pogies (kayaking gloves) to keep your hands warm, rain hat to keep your head dry, and dry bags to pack your gear in.
• Transportation - We provide local hotel pickup.
• Refreshments - We serve hot drinks and snacks during the trip.
• High Quality Experience Since 1986 - Recognized by the National Geographic as one of the best adventure travel companies in the world.

ITINERARY **
Trip Planning - Seward, Alaska is just 125 miles south of Anchorage. You can reach Seward by road or on the Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic Train. If you need help with transportation Backcountry Safaris would be happy to package bus or Alaska Railroad transportation to Seward as well as overnight lodging in Seward if needed.

At 9:00 a.m. we load our sea kayaks and gear onto the water taxi for a short ride to Caines Head. After securing our kayaks and gear above the high tide line we'll hike up to Fort McGilvray. At the fort we'll explore the maze of underground passages and rooms. Outside the fort we'll eat lunch and enjoy the sweeping vistas of Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska.

After lunch, hike back down to North Beach where our guides will teach you some basic sea kayaking skills before we sea kayak back to Seward. While sea kayaking back to Seward we'll probe the noocks and crags along the coastline and look for wildlife.

Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 1397 Seward, Alaska USA 99664 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159

**Tour Itineraries: Backcountry Safaris and other tour operators that we work with strive to give you a high quality Alaska experience. The tour itinerary shown on our web page is an example tour itinerary. The actual tour itinerary may vary some due to weather, safety, guest abilities and other conditions. Backcountry Safaris and other independent tour contractors reserve the right to change the tour itinerary and/or make substitutions at any time and without prior notice or to cancel all or part of any tour in its reasonable discretion, for the safety of its participants or due to insufficient number of participants signing up for a tour, because of weather, for the comfort and well being of our guests, for any other conditions that might affect the quality of tour, or as deemed necessary by the tour operator or trip leader.

Limitations of liability: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins. A copy of the text is available on request.