Alaska’s Remote Admiralty Island Kayak Paradise — Hand-Powered Tramway to Seymour Canal, Public-Use Cabin, Brown Bear Country, Whale Watching, 10-Foot Tide Access
Oliver Inlet State Marine Park is a state marine park on the southern tip of Admiralty Island, near Juneau, Southeast Alaska. The park features a unique 0.75-mile hand-powered tramway connecting Oliver Inlet to Seymour Canal, a public-use cabin on the Seymour Canal shore, world-class kayaking in protected waters, significant brown bear population, and a rock reef entrance requiring minimum 10-foot tide for boat access.
Oliver Inlet is one of Alaska’s most unique state marine parks — accessible only by boat or floatplane, the park’s signature feature is a hand-powered tramway that carries you and your kayak 0.75 miles from Oliver Inlet to Seymour Canal. This tramway opens access to the protected waters of Seymour Canal — one of Southeast Alaska’s premier kayaking destinations with humpback whale watching, brown bear viewing, and old-growth rainforest shoreline.
Admiralty Island (Tlingit: Kootznoowoo, “Fortress of the Bears”) has one of the highest brown bear densities in North America — approximately one bear per square mile. The park’s public-use cabin on Seymour Canal provides a weather-protected base for multi-day kayak explorations.
The Tramway
The park’s most distinctive feature is the hand-powered tramcar — a 0.75-mile rail system connecting Oliver Inlet (Pacific side) to Seymour Canal (interior waters). The tramcar carries personal gear and small watercraft (kayaks, canoes) between the two bodies of water. This tramway makes Seymour Canal kayaking accessible without a long open-water paddle around the southern tip of Admiralty Island.
Things to Do
- Kayaking — Seymour Canal protected waters
- Hand-powered tramway — 0.75 mi portage experience
- Public-use cabin — overnight on Seymour Canal
- Brown bear viewing — one bear per square mile
- Whale watching — humpback whales in Seymour Canal
- Fishing — salmon in nearby streams (fall)
- Photography — wilderness marine park
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern Admiralty Island, near Juneau, SE Alaska |
| Access | Boat or floatplane only — 10-ft tide min for entrance reef |
| Tramway | 0.75 mi hand-powered — Oliver Inlet to Seymour Canal |
| Cabin | Public-use cabin — wooden platforms, kerosene stove (BYOF) |
| Water | No potable water — purify from nearby streams |
| Wildlife | Brown bears (~1/sq mi), humpback whales, eagles |
| Managed By | Alaska State Parks (DNR) |
| Coordinates | 58.0953° N, 134.3128° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Oliver Inlet State Marine Park?
Oliver Inlet State Marine Park on Admiralty Island is accessible only by boat or floatplane from Juneau. The inlet entrance has a constricted rock reef requiring a minimum 10-foot tide to safely motor across. Once inside, a hand-powered tramway (0.75 miles) transports you and your kayak to Seymour Canal for protected-water paddling. A public-use cabin is available on the Seymour Canal shore.
Are there bears at Oliver Inlet on Admiralty Island?
Yes — Admiralty Island (Tlingit: Kootznoowoo, “Fortress of the Bears”) has one of the highest brown bear densities in North America, approximately one bear per square mile. Use extreme caution at Oliver Inlet State Marine Park, especially in fall when salmon run in nearby streams. Store food properly, carry bear spray, and make noise on trails.
Last updated: May 2026
More parks nearby: Taku Harbor State Marine Park is a short drive away, while Wickersham State Historic Site lies a short drive away.
Park Location
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