- Self Guided
Thumb cove is only accessible by water taxi and a popular spot for all outdoors activities!
The massive headland rises 650 feet above Resurrection Bay, against a backdrop of rolling alpine meadows and sharp peaks, giving way to a sweeping view of the Gulf of Alaska and the outer islands.
The shale covered, forest framed beaches of Caine’s Head have long been stopping points for boaters and fishermen. But early in World War II, as the territory of Alaska was attacked and occupied by Imperial Japanese ground forces, Caine’s Head and other Resurrection Bay vantages became strategic spots for defending the Port of Seward.
Visitors are invited to explore the remains of Fort McGilvary, the South Beach Garrison and the many natural attractions of this 6,000 acre state recreational area.
If your schedule does not allow time to hike the 5 mile coastal trail to Caine’s Head, or the low tides are not accommodating you on the days you want to hike, the Miller’s Landing Water Taxi can take you to the North Beach of Caine’s Head. From there, you can hike to Fort McGilvary and also to the South Beach of Caine’s Head for a most enjoyable hike.
At North Beach there are 2 picnic shelters, campsites, and latrines near the main trail at the North Beach. A ranger station, staffed seasonally, is located near the north end of the beach. The Derby Cove Public Use Cabin is near the beach at Derby Cove, which is the next beach north of the ranger station and campsites.
The trail to Fort McGilvray and South Beach starts here. It is 2 1/2 miles to both places from North Beach, and is the same trail for the first mile and a half, then it splits so it is another mile from that point to either the fort or South Beach.
From North Beach, historic roadbeds lead to Fort McGilvray and South Beach. To reach the fort and sweeping vistas of the bay, take the left fork, one mile south of the North Beach Trailhead. Along the way, explore the remains of the old ammunitions magazines and the bog meadows with their unique forms of plant life. The right fork leads 1.5 miles to South Beach.
Fort McGilvray, once the strategic command center, is perched on a 650 foot rocky cliff that offers dramatic views of Resurrection Bay. Here are the firing platforms of the two six-inch guns that once sat ready to defend the Port of Seward. The fort is open to explore, but take a flashlight to find your way through the maze of underground passages and rooms. The cliffs around the fort are dangerous. Stay on the concrete pads and trails.
To get dropped off by taxi and hike from Tonsina to the Fort and South Beach and get picked up again at North beach is the same number of miles as hiking from Lowell Point to North Beach and back, but the first hike only does the best part of the hikes.
South Beach is a garrison ghost town with remains of the utility buildings and barracks that were home for the 500 soldiers stationed here from July 1941 to May 1943. These structures are not safe. Do not walk on or disturb them.
To get to Caine’s Head, you can either hike the 5 mile coastal hike there (see hiking Caine’s Head section) or you can take the Miller’s Landing water taxi.
Taking the Miller’s Landing Water Taxi…. If the tides are too high to walk the trail in the morning or they are too late in the evening for an enjoyable round trip hike, or perhaps you only want to hike one way only, you can still get to Caine’s Head by water taxi.
Please note: Miller’s Landing encourages only guaranteed prepaid reservations. Unlike many other states, Alaska has a very short tourist season which can make it difficult for us to rebook when we have cancellations without ample notice.
If you are booking a charter and lodging and your charter , water taxi or kayaking is cancelled due to weather you are still responsible for the lodging or camping reservations and the normal cancellation policy applies. All of our activities are possible during rain, so rain does not constitute a cancellation. Miller’s Landing is not responsible for vehicle break downs, personal emergencies, flight delays, health issues or other unforeseen hardships. We will try very hard to work with you but the cancellation policy will need to be applied if we cannot issue a raincheck or find an alternative solution that appeals to both parties.
Please understand that Miller’s Landing also incurs a hefty financial merchant fee from our bank for the cost of charging your credit card and again for the cost of refunding it, and there is also a cost involved for the time involved in processing and refunding your reservation in employee costs. Our goal when taking your reservation is to have a solid, guaranteed prepaid reservation. We strongly discourage the practice of making reservations without having an airline ticket or making tentative reservations. Thank you for your understanding.
Thumb cove is only accessible by water taxi and a popular spot for all outdoors activities!
Hike what Backpacker Magazine has ranked one of the top ten costal hiking trails in North America.
Hiking To Tonsina Beach is an easy hike from Miller’s Landing and well worth it!