Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay are premier ecosystems with a diversity of wildlife and habitat. Enclosed by high mountains and glaciers, and protected from the high seas by barrier islands, the area is a kayaker and boater's paradise. Fjords, bays, coves, lakes, glaciers, mountains and hundreds of islands provide a rich and unspoiled beauty.
Access
Access to any of the parks in the State Marine Park system is by floatplane or boat. Shoup Bay State Marine Park near Valdez is the one exception and can be accessed by a foot trail as well as by water. The gateway communities are Whittier, Valdez, Cordova and Seward. All the towns have multiple accesses, but Cordova is limited to air and ferry.
Whittier Area
Many of the parks in Prince William Sound can be reached from Whittier. There are seven parks near Port Wells and another further south on Latouche Island. These parks offer the weekend boater plenty of options for protected anchorages in forested or glaciated surroundings. Special attractions include wildlife viewing, good camping areas, historic sites and one of the world's largest fish hatcheries.
Valdez Area
Sawmill Bay, Shoup Bay and Jack Bay State Marine Parks offer a variety of recreational opportunities within an hour's boat ride from Valdez. While located next to the main shipping channel to the Valdez Oil Terminal, these parks offer excellent opportunities for a wilderness experience. The serene, forest-ringed Sawmill Bay State Marine Park offers protected anchorages and good camping. For island camping and a fair-weather anchorage, visit Jack Bay State Marine Park. Shoup Glacier spills into an iceberg-filled saltwater lagoon accessible on most high tides by small shallow-drafted boats. Visitors will enjoy views of the glacier, interesting geologic features and a large kittiwake rookery.
Cordova Area
Three diverse marine parks are located near Cordova. Canoe Passage State Marine Park is a shallow wetlands passage cutting through Hawkins Island. Boswell Bay State Marine Park, adjacent to the Copper River Delta Critical Habitat Area, contains vast tidelands and high-energy beaches. Beachcombers and wildlife watchers will find this area an excellent spot for exploring. Kayak Island State Marine Park is located at the approximate site of the landing of the Bering Expedition in 1741, the first Europeans to set foot in Alaska. A large dagger of land thrust out into the cold, unpredictable waters of the Golf of Alaska, if offers a rare adventure to the few who visit it.
Seward Area
The five marine parks in Resurrection Bay and Day Harbor are all popular boating destinations with protected anchorage, good seasonal fishing, and dramatic views of glaciers, sharp rocky spires, dense forests and exceptional wildlife viewing. There are few good upland sites for camping, but all the parks have good camping spots along the shoreline.
For more information on the individual parks:
Alaska State Parks
Kenai/PWS Area Office
P.O. Box 1247
Soldotna, AK 99669
(907) 262-5581
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/pwssmp/smppws.htm