Horseshoe Bay State Marine Park
A Boat-Access Marine Park in Prince William Sound
Horseshoe Bay State Marine Park occupies a protected cove in Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska — accessible only by boat or kayak. This is Alaska’s marine park system at its most elemental: no roads, no buildings, no developed facilities — just a sheltered anchorage surrounded by temperate rainforest, tidewater glaciers in the distance, and some of the richest marine waters on Earth.
Prince William Sound’s complex coastline of fjords, islands, and bays creates thousands of miles of sheltered waterways, and Horseshoe Bay represents one of the best anchorages in the system — protected from the open ocean swells that make much of Alaska’s coast challenging for small boats.
Kayaking in Glacier Country
Horseshoe Bay is a prime sea kayaking destination within Prince William Sound. Paddlers launching from Whittier can reach the marine park as part of multi-day kayak expeditions that explore the Sound’s dramatic landscape of ice-carved fjords and forested islands.
The protected waters of the bay provide ideal conditions for camping and staging further explorations. Many kayakers use Horseshoe Bay as a basecamp for day trips to nearby glaciers, islands, and wildlife viewing areas before returning to the sheltered cove for the night.
Marine Wildlife Capital
Prince William Sound supports one of the densest concentrations of marine wildlife in North America. From Horseshoe Bay, visitors regularly encounter:
- Humpback whales feeding in the nutrient-rich waters
- Orcas (killer whales) traveling in family pods
- Steller sea lions hauled out on rocky shores
- Harbor seals resting on ice floes near tidewater glaciers
- Sea otters floating in kelp beds
- Bald eagles nesting in the old-growth Sitka spruce along the shore
The combination of protected anchorage and abundant wildlife makes Horseshoe Bay one of the most rewarding marine park experiences in Alaska’s state park system.
Access and Preparation
Access is by private boat, water taxi, or kayak from Whittier — which itself is reached via the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel from the Seward Highway. The marine park has no facilities: no docks, no moorings, no restrooms. Visitors must be completely self-sufficient with food, water, shelter, and safety equipment.
The best season is late May through September, when water temperatures are most tolerable and daylight extends to 18+ hours. Even in summer, expect cool temperatures (40-60°F), rain, and rapidly changing conditions — this is Alaska’s maritime climate at its most dynamic.
