North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area
Reviewed Apr. 7, 2023

Totally Worth the Effort to Get Here!

To celebrate our 10th nomadiversary and 22nd wedding anniversary, we sea kayaked into this incredible campground about 5 miles from the boat launch point at Lowell Point, and found the most perfect tent platform just off the beach.  This may be one of the most spectacular campsites we’ve ever enjoyed that is just a few miles from shore.  Making a camp fire on the pebble beach to cook our dinner and watch the sun go down couldn’t have been a better way to end the day!

A short walk up a trail, there’s a picnic shelter with food storage lockers, and a fire rig. 

A few more yards toward the ranger cabin you’ll find the two vault toilets (rustic, yet clean), but don’t forget to bring your own toilet paper.  This place is a paddlers dream, with easy beach access and a sheltered cove. Paddle around the headland to the south beach and you’ll find sheer rocky cliffs and sea arches -- in good weather this is simply stunning. 

If the weather is too harsh for paddling, there’s a great hiking trail leading between the two camping areas with a side trail up to the remains of Fort McGilvray, a World War II era fort. Truly beautiful hike, gorgeous views, and very interesting history.  

Resurrection Bay, and Seward AK, is one of the most visited areas of the Kenai Peninsula. Visitors can access this area by boat, cruise ship, plane, train, motor vehicle, bicycle, or on foot.  But, getting to Caines Head SRA is a bit of a logistical challenge, but totally worth the effort. The parking area is limited, with only a few spots for RV’s of any length, in the upper lot. But the experience is so worth it. There are a couple of cabins that are reservable through the DNR scattered throughout the Caines Head area.  These are accessible via boat or at very low tide.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023
  • Review photo of North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area by Shari  G., April 7, 2023