Tonsina Point: The long way around to a pretty (rocky) beach
For some, Tonsina Point is just a waypoint on the longer hike to Caines Head (sometimes also known as North Beach). But lots of people choose Tonsina Point as its own hiking destination, and who can blame them? It’s a family-friendly, moderately difficult stroll through the forest, and the point itself has a lovely (if rocky) beach and a pavilion set back in the trees.
This is part of hike 80 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska.
| Round Trip: 4.4 miles | Nearest community: Seward |
| Elevation gain: I’ll add this once I dig back into my GPS tracks | Typical season: May to September |
| Parking fee: No fee | Nearby trails: Caines Head, Fort McGilvray, Two Lakes Trail, Mount Alice, Mount Marathon, Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield, Lost Lake, Ptarmigan Lake/Creek |
Tonsina Point Trailhead Directions
As you drive into Seward stay on the highway, which becomes Third Avenue once you’re in Seward proper. Turn right onto Railway Avenue, which becomes Lowell Point Road. After about 2 miles take a left onto Border Avenue (follow signs for Millers Landing), then turn right and uphill onto Pinnacle View road and watch for signs directing you to the Caines Head State Recreation Area trailhead.
A quick side note: Lowell Point Road is open again following a major landslide, but other landslides could happen. The road is also unpaved and a little rough. Although passable by most passenger vehicles, the fact that it’s not paved might cause problems with some car rental companies.
Hiking to Tonsina Point
The very first part of this hike takes places on a gravel road. At 0.5 mile the road transitions to an old wagon track in the forest, and takes you up a stiff hill. At about 0.8 mile from the trailhead you crest that hill and find yourself wandering through a mossy rainforest full of tall, old trees — the sort of big trees you won’t find through most of Alaska. This is a great place to look (and listen) for birds.
The trail eventually works its way back downhill, crossing a few rocky patches, before reaching a series of three bridges over arms of Tonsina Creek; two of those branches often run dry.
Next the trail takes you through a clump of trees, where you’ll also find a covered picnic pavilion and a bearproof locker. By 2.2 miles from the trailhead, you’ve worked through a patch of grass and find yourself standing on Tonsina Point itself, looking out at the ocean from a rocky beach.
There’s a Public Use Cabin at Tonsina Point
There is a relatively new public use cabin here, the Tonsina Cabin. You won’t necessarily see it from the trail, though; it’s a tenth of a mile south on the beach.
Click through that link for the Alaska State Parks directions to the cabin and its GPS coordinates, or get the same directions when you check cabin availability on Reserve America. The cabin does need to be reserved in advance so if you haven’t booked it, please give whoever’s staying there plenty of space/privacy.
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Lisa Maloney
A long-time Alaskan, Lisa has written three award-winning guidebooks including "Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska" and "50 Hikes Around Anchorage." She also served as senior editor of Alaska magazine and has written hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles about her adventures around the state. Learn more about her at http://maloneywrites.com.
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