The Unbelievable Kayak Tour That Leads You To An Abandoned Alaska WWII Barracks
By Megan McDonald|Published June 11, 2019
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Megan McDonald
Author
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.
Alaska surprisingly has a lot of WWII history right here in the state! As a jumping off point to defend against a possible Japanese attack, the US military built bunkers and barracks all over the state. There’s one beautiful one to explore at the end of Caines Head. Fort McGilvray is an abandoned fort that can be reached by one very cool kayak tour!
There is some fascinating World War II history all over Alaska.
Fort McGilvray was a military fortification on Caines Head in Resurrection Bay that was designed as a defense against a possible invasion from the Japanese. After America reclaimed the Alaskan islands of Attu and Kiska, the fort was decommissioned and donated to the Alaska Parks Division.
Many remnants of the fort exist in very good condition.
Both military and engineering experts agree that the fort was made very well, and is one of the best preserved World War II sites in Alaska. This makes it the perfect spot to explore!
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Many of the structures still exist, including the old dock.
The site for Fort McGilvray was chosen because Seward is one of the only year-round ice free ports in Alaska. It's also the end of the Alaska Railroad, so it was easy to move supplies and soldiers there if needed.
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The abandoned fort is high up on a cliff over the icy waters.
Adventure 60 North can offer you some fantastic kayaking tours that will bring you out into the waters of Resurrection Bay. In fact, this company is happy to take you kayaking all year, including in the winter!
One of their most popular tours is the Caines Head Kayak and Hike.
This is a full length tour for a minimum of you and a friend. You get to spend time spotting wildlife during the beginning of your tour in your kayaks, before landing on the beach in Caines Head State Park.
Once you hit the park, expect to get in some moderately difficult hiking!
It's a great chance to stretch your legs and grab some lunch while you explore the history of the area. You will then hike up to Fort McGilvray to take a look around before heading back to Lowell Point in Seward to finish the trip!
Adventure 60 North is an adventure company based out of Seward, Alaska.
You can find them at their Address: 31872 Herman Leirer Road, Seward, Alaska. Their hours of operation are seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
