A Mysterious Woodland Trail In Alaska Will Take You To Original WWII Bunker Ruins
If you’re looking for a little adventure, then you need to hike this woodland trail in Alaska all the way to these original WWII bunker ruins. Located on Caines Head, in Seward, Alaska, this beautiful hike heads through a woodland forest before hugging the coastline and bringing you to the ruins. This is one amazing hike you’ll want on your bucket list!
There’s an epic trail right outside the town of Seward, Alaska that you’ll want to hike if you love World War II history.
Beginning on Lowell Point, this fun hike starts off relatively easy through a wooded forest. You’ll ascend down the mountainside and to the beaches to begin the trek out to Caines Head State Recreation Area.
There are beautiful views along the way, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy them, because the hike is a good 14 miles long, out and back.
There’s significant elevation gain throughout the trail, but it is all spread out, so it’s not too strenuous in any one area. The entire elevation gain is 4,796 ft.
The trickiest part of this hike is timing it with the tides.
Begin the trail at least two hours before a +3 tide to avoid becoming stranded along the way. The three-mile stretch of beach between Tonsina Point and North Beach can be hiked only during a tide of +3 or lower. Keep your eye on the clock!
The hike takes you all the way out to the ruins of Fort McGilvray.
The fort was located on the top of Caines Head, on a cliff 650 feet above Resurrection Bay. This fort was built by the United States Army during World War II to defend Seward against a possible Japanese invasion.
The fort and trails in the Caines Head Recreation Area are open to explore, but remember to bring a flashlight.
You can explore a maze of underground passages and rooms, and even head to the steel firing platforms of the two six-inch guns that once sat ready to defend the Port of Seward. Make sure to stay on the concrete pads and trails, because the cliffs in the area can be dangerous.
If you don’t think you can complete the 14-mile hike, there are a couple of companies that offer a kayak excursion out to the bunkers.
They offer full-day kayaking trips where you’ll enjoy the opportunity to explore Caines Head State Park Recreation area. And while you’re kayaking, you may even see a whale or two along your journey through Resurrection Bay.
If you have the opportunity to explore these ruins, make sure you do!
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
