On the Water
Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
Launch from our private dock into the calm, protected waters of Bowen Anchorage. Six sea kayaks — singles and doubles — are included with your stay, each with a dry bag for your gear. We also have two paddle boards available for rent if you prefer to stay close in our sheltered bay.
Glide across crystal-clear water toward the face of Ellsworth Glacier, drift past sea otters floating on their backs, and watch for harbor seals hauled out on rocky outcrops. In the surrounding bay, humpback whales and orcas are sighted regularly, along with bald eagles soaring overhead and Dahl's porpoise slicing through the surface.
- 6 kayaks (singles & doubles) + dry bags — included with your stay
- Paddle to the face of Ellsworth Glacier — right from your cabin
- Wildlife: sea otters, harbor seals, bald eagles, orca & humpback whales
- Paddle boards available for rent — protected bay, gentle conditions
Cast a Line
Fishing
The waters of Day Harbor and Resurrection Bay are legendary among Alaska anglers. Silver salmon (coho) run strong from mid-July through August — right past your cabin door. Halibut, rockfish, and Dolly Varden round out the season.
We have rod/reel combinations available to rent at a nominal fee, already rigged with lures selected specifically for the species in our waters. Catch something worth keeping? We'll handle the cleaning — free fish filleting is included, and we're happy to teach anyone who wants to learn. We can also vacuum-seal and freeze your catch so it travels home perfectly fresh.
From the Land
Berry Picking & Mushroom Gathering
The forest and meadows around Bowen Anchorage are alive with edible treasures. Late summer is peak season — the hillsides blush with blueberries and salmonberries, and morel mushrooms push up through the damp coastal soil.
Wander the trails with a bucket in hand and come back with enough for a morning pancake topping or a savory side dish. It's one of those simple Alaskan pleasures that guests talk about long after they return home.
- Blueberries — August through September | Abundant and sweet
- Salmonberries — July through August | Bright orange, mild flavor
- Morel Mushrooms — Late spring into summer | Prized by foragers
Walk the Shore
Beachcombing
A visit to Bowen Anchorage feels like discovering a secret pocket of coastal Alaska that most travelers never reach. Sheltered by steep forested mountains with Ellsworth Glacier opening at the head of the bay, beachcombing here becomes less of an activity and more of a slow, meditative exploration of a wild shoreline shaped by tides, storms, and centuries of glacial ice.
The beach is a mosaic of smooth stones, silver driftwood, and tide-polished shells. Wander the shore and you'll find kelp ribbons, tiny crab carapaces, sea-worn glass, and driftwood sculpted into something beautiful by the waves — bald eagles circling overhead the whole time.
Every few steps the view shifts: the glacier catches a new angle of light, a seal surfaces in the bay, or a flock of seabirds lifts from the rocks. No roads, no crowds, no signs of hurry — just the rhythm of the tide and the feeling that you're walking the edge of a landscape still being carved by ice.
Unwind
Hot Tub & Sauna
After a day on the water or in the forest, nothing compares to sliding into our wood-fired outdoor hot tub with Ellsworth Glacier filling the view ahead. The tub comfortably holds six adults and is heated and ready each evening for your use.
Our cedar sauna sits alongside the hot tub — the classic Scandinavian pairing of intense heat and cold Alaskan air. Alternate between the two and feel every ache and tension dissolve into the dusk.
Fresh towels are provided. The sauna and hot tub are shared among all cabin guests and available nightly — the perfect way to end an Alaskan day.
- Wood-fired hot tub — comfortably seats 6 adults
- Cedar sauna — classic Finnish design, wood-fired
- Glacier views from the water — Ellsworth Glacier right ahead
- Fresh towels provided — shared among all cabin guests
Ready for Your Alaskan Adventure?
Three private wilderness cabins at Bowen Anchorage — available June through September.
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