- Great for ages 8+
Guided Caines Head Bunker Hike with Water Taxi
Quick Details
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Trips & Duration: Walk-in Friendly
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Ages: Best for 8+
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2 pm departure: we get back around 8 pm
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This Trip: Water taxi, nature hike and WWII History!
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Offered: April 1st - September 10th
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Difficulty: This hike is a moderate level hike, roughly 5 miles long.
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Meeting Place: Meet at the front office, 13880 Beach Drive Seward, AK.
Per Person
$ 219
Book the Guide!
Exclusive up to 8 People
$ 1752
Hike to a WWII Bunker with a Guide!
Take a water taxi across Resurrection Bay and spend the afternoon exploring the dramatic coastline and WWII history of Caines Head State Recreation Site.
After checking in at Miller’s Landing, you’ll board our 2:00 PM water taxi for the ride to Caines Head. From the beach, your guide will lead you along the trail and up toward Fort McGilvray, a former World War II coastal defense installation built to protect the entrance to Resurrection Bay.
The highlight of the hike is Battery 293, where massive concrete fortifications remain tucked into the mountainside high above the bay. Along the way, your guide will share the history of Fort McGilvray and the area while you explore coastal forest, beaches, and viewpoints overlooking Resurrection Bay.
After exploring the fort, you’ll hike back to the beach for pickup on our 7:00 PM water taxi. Arrival back at Miller’s Landing is typically between 7:30 and 8:00 PM, depending on the boat schedule and conditions that day.
Essential Details
ABOUT THE HIKE
After the boat drops you off at Caines Head State Park, you’ll begin your hike to the historic Fort McGilvray. The trail is just over 2 miles to the top (5 miles round trip) with a 650-foot elevation gain, making it a moderately challenging hike. Hikers are awarded with views of the Resurrection Bay, Thumb Cove State Marine Park, and barrier islands. The trail winds through a mature spruce forest, alongside of muskeg ponds filled with lily pads, and skirts the rocky bluffs as you climb to the top of Caines Head. For information about other trails in the area, please visit: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/explore/trailmapguides.htm
Be sure to pack sturdy, comfortable shoes as the trail can be uneven in places. We also recommend bringing snacks, a packed lunch, and plenty of water to stay fueled for the hike.
When you return to Miller’s Landing, your adventure doesn’t have to end—our office and café are the perfect place to unwind.
WHAT TO BRING
It’s important to wear quick drying, warm, synthetic layers or wool depending on the temperature and weather conditions. We ask that you avoid cotton clothing like jeans. Here is a small list of things to bring on your hike in Resurrection Bay.
- Water bottle
- Rain gear
- Synthetic or wool layers
- Comfortable shoes that could get wet, we pull and launch your kayaks from shore so you should not be stepping into any water.
- Depending on the weather consider bringing gloves, beanie, sun hat, extra socks, sunglasses, sunscreen.
- Snacks or a packed meal! Or get our meal package.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Our water taxi has 16 indoor seats, with additional space for standing passengers. Your guide will be equipped with all necessary safety and first aid gear, as well as emergency snacks.
Before each trip, we provide a brief orientation covering boat and trail safety so everyone feels comfortable and prepared before departure.
Water and snacks are not provided, so be sure to pack enough for your hike! You can fill your water bottles at our office before departure, and additional food and drinks are available for purchase at our café.
Add a meal package for just $30! Enjoy a barista-made drink, a fresh sandwich, and a snack, all prepared right here at our café.
More Information
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- Check in 15–30 minutes before your tour and meet your guide for your 2 pm departure.
- The water taxi waits for no one! Please be early or on time.
- Take the 25-minute water taxi ride to Caines Head North Beach. We’ll stop for wildlife like whales.
- The hike is roughly 5 miles, which takes 2 to 3 hours. get picked up by the water taxi around 7-7:30pm and get brought back to Miller’s Landing.
While waiting on the water taxi, there is a public picnic area, a beach great for exploring and a secret waterfall.
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- A $10 cancellation fee is imposed for all reservations canceled.
- Cancellations must be received by email only to [email protected]. The cancellation notice date is the date the email was received at [email protected]. Phone cancellations will not be accepted.
- Cancellations received by email 30 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a refund of 90% of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 15 to 29 days prior to the first day of the reservation are charged a $10 cancellation charge and you will receive a 75% refund of the total amount of the reservation.
- Cancellations received by email 14 days to zero days prior to arrival are charged a $10 cancellation fee and you will receive a 50% refund only if we are able to rebook your camping, cabin, fishing, kayaking, water taxi, shuttle, lunch, or activity. If we are not able to rebook your reservation, then no refunds will be issued and you will also be charged a $10 cancellation fee to your credit card.
- A 100% refund will be issued for any activity that was canceled due to weather by Miller’s Landing. Miller’s Landing reserves the right to determine weather cancellations. Rain does not constitute a cancellation.
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 canceled 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.
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Gratuities are not included in the original sale price. A suggested 20% guide tip is greatly appreciated! Our guides work hard on building their knowledge and creating a memorable experience for you.
About our Guides
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Our Guides are all experienced in kayaking and in outdoor leadership before joining our team. They often come from all different backgrounds; from being ski instructors, snowmobile guides, backpacking guides, or passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Which we believe helps build a strong diverse team with many skills who are all able to thrive and learn from each other. Everyone is trained for two weeks to refine their skills together and learn all they need to know to safely guide our clients. We instruct and certify our guides as ACA L2 kayakers, practice cold water rescue techniques, spend 6 amazing but grueling days in the backcountry as a team, and require that all guides have an up-to-date Wilderness First Responder Certification.
Check it out here: Kayak Guide Training Summer 2022 | Miller’s Landing (millerslandingak.com)
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Spend a summer outdoors and in the Stunning Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, teaching, guiding, and enjoying all the amazing experiences Alaska have to offer. Miller’s Landing is a family-run business that started operations shortly after Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and the tourism industry began to form in Seward. We work hard to provide every guest with a memorable experience, with a focus on safety, education, stewardship, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We begin our hiring process in the winter, between December and January, and suggest you apply in December. Our training begins May 1st and the season runs until September 15th. We ask that guides are able to attend training and can stay until at least mid-August. Learn more about our requirements and the hiring process here: Kayak Instructor / Guide | Miller’s Landing in Seward Alaska (millerslandingak.com)
Related Activities
- Great for Families!
- Half Day
- Best for 10+
Don’t have the time or the energy for the full day hike and paddle to Caines Head? Paddle out and we pick you up in the water taxi!
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7 am Departure: Kayak, hike then take the water taxi back to Miller’s Landing, arriving around 1:30 pm
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2 pm Departure: Take a boat to Caines Head, hike, then kayak back to Millers Landing, get back around 8 pm
- Walk-in Friendly
- Best for 8+
Exploring one of Resurrection Bay’s classic coastal routes. Your guide will choose between landing at the dramatic Bridal Veil waterfall or the stunning Tonsina Point. Both routes offer calm paddling, scenic views, and opportunities to spot wildlife along the way.
We have 7 am and 7 pm departures, we get back between 10 and 11 am/pm.