Quick Details
Departs Miller’s Landing 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Departs Caines Head 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4:25 p.m.
Water Taxi to Caines Head State Marine Park
Caines Head is one of the top water taxi destination points for drop-off and pick-up services. This hike is listed as one of the top 10 hikes in Alaska by Alaska magazine. It is a beautiful coastal and mountainous trail, with wonderful opportunities for photographing scenery and wildlife. Hikers can also spend time beach-combing on parts of the trail.
The Caines Head hiking trail begins near Miller’s Landing and must be walked on the low tide. (To learn how to hike the trail on low tides, please see our section on Hiking trails to Caines Head.) Caines Head is also a favorite destination of kayakers and campers, and during salmon season, it is a good place to fish off the beach for pink, chum, and silver salmon.
Caines Head is the scenic site of an abandoned World War II fort. 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 Caines 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, Caines 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.
There are picnic shelters, campsites, and latrines near the main trail at 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, the next beach north of the ranger station and campsites. No mooring buoy is provided at the cabin.
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 ammunition 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 6-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.
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.
To book a water taxi trip to Caines Head, just use our calendar to find the time that works best. Have any questions about our Miller’s Landing to Caines Head water taxi service? You can always email or phone us with questions you might have and we’re happy to provide answers.
Our water taxi leaves Miller’s Landing every two hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Explore the best of Caines Head with our convenient and accommodating water taxi.
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- A $10 cancellation fee is imposed for all reservations canceled.
- Cancellations must be received by email only to reservations@millerslandingak.com. The cancellation notice date is the date the email was received at reservations@millerslandingak.com. 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.
- In some situations, a raincheck worth 75% of your reservation may be issued at the discretion of Miller’s Landing management instead of the applicable cancellation charge. If this option appeals to you, please suggest this at the time of cancellation. Rainchecks are good for one year and may be used for activities, camping, or lodging owned by Miller’s Landing or towards the cost of hats, T-shirts, gifts, etc. sold in the Miller’s Landing store or items sold online. For items purchased online, the customer is expected to pay for the cost of postage. Rainchecks may NOT be transferred to another person.
- 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.