Kayak Island State Marine Park

Kayak Island State Marine Park is located on the west-central coast of Kayak Island, a extremely remote, blade-like island projecting 20 miles out into the open Gulf of Alaska, approximately 50 miles southeast of Cordova. Spanning 1,437 acres, this marine park is the most remote and challenging outpost in the entire Southcentral Alaska park system. Steeped in global maritime history and marked by the iconic Cape St. Elias Lighthouse, Kayak Island is a high-risk, expert-only destination that rewards seasoned offshore mariners with raw, wild ocean beauty.

⚓ Extreme Moorage & Ocean Swell Hazards

Kayak Island offers no reliable, all-weather shelter and represents a highly hazardous anchoring environment:

Exposed Open Ocean: The park is completely open to the heavy, continuous swells of the Gulf of Alaska. Winds from the south, southwest, and southeast funnel directly onto the shore, generating massive breaking waves and dangerous surf.
Poor Holding Ground: The bottom consists of shifting volcanic sand, large gravel beds, and exposed bedrock. Holding is poor, and anchors are highly prone to sliding under tension.
Moorage Tactics: Anchoring should only be attempted in 30 to 100 feet of water during rare, stable high-pressure weather windows with calm northerly breezes. Mariners must never leave the vessel unattended and must keep engines ready to start instantly if the wind shifts or swells build.
Offshore Surf Launching: Beaching any vessel is extremely dangerous due to heavy breaking beach surf. Landing shore parties is best achieved via robust tenders or inflatable zodiacs managed by experienced coxswains wearing immersion suits.

🏛️ Historic Cape St. Elias & The Bering Expedition

The island is revered as one of the most culturally significant contact sites in Pacific history:

First European Contact (1741): On July 20, 1741, Danish explorer Vitus Bering, commanding the Russian vessel St. Peter, anchored off the island, making the first recorded European contact with Alaska.
The Steller Legacy: Georg Wilhelm Steller, the expedition’s naturalist, spent a historic 10 hours on the island. During this brief landing, he collected and documented numerous new species, including the spectacular blue-crested Steller’s Jay, which proved to Steller that the expedition had indeed reached the American continent.
Cape St. Elias Lighthouse: Located on the rugged southern tip of the island (15 miles south of the park boundary), this historic lighthouse was established in 1916 to guide ships transiting the treacherous Gulf waters. The lighthouse features a dramatic 300-foot volcanic rock pinnacle, known as Pinnacle Rock, soaring directly out of the surf adjacent to the station.

[!CAUTION] EXPERT MARINERS ONLY — OPEN OCEAN DANGER: Kayak Island is not a cruising harbor; it is an active offshore survival hazard in poor weather. There is zero protection from ocean swells, and a sudden wind shift can easily drag a vessel onto the rocky beaches. Cruisers must possess deep offshore navigation experience, high-capacity bilge systems, and heavy-ground tackle. Do not attempt this voyage without an active, long-range weather routing plan.

📋 Critical Mariner Checklist

Establish 24-Hour Anchor Watch: Never leave the helm unattended or let the entire crew sleep simultaneously when anchored at Kayak Island.
Verify Offshore Weather Routing: Access offshore marine forecasts for the Gulf of Alaska (NOAA Area PKZ711/712) and ensure a minimum 3-day stable high-pressure window.
Prepare Immersion Suits: Ensure all crew members are equipped with properly serviced U.S. Coast Guard-approved immersion (cold-water) suits.
Rig Storm Ground Tackle: Deploy heavy-duty primary anchors with all-chain rodes to minimize the risk of dragging on the rocky sand bottom.
Have a Bailout Plan: Identify clear deep-water escape routes heading northwest back toward the relative safety of Prince William Sound (e.g. Orca Inlet or Hinchinbrook Island coves).