{"id":8111,"date":"2017-04-15T08:10:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-15T14:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8111"},"modified":"2019-04-23T23:04:21","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T05:04:21","slug":"tonsina-point-on-ressurection-bay-caines-head-state-recreation-area-alaska-8-28-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8111","title":{"rendered":"Tonsina Point on Resurrection Bay, Caines Head State Recreation Area, Alaska (8-28-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 30, Part 1, of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

No Dingoes allowed!\u00a0 Extraordinarily disappointing, but the\u00a0place was swarming with tourists.\u00a0 Park rangers patrolled near the\u00a0nature center at the start of the trail.\u00a0 Signs\u00a0banning American Dingoes were prominently displayed.\u00a0 There wasn’t going to be any getting around this one.\u00a0 Lupe couldn’t go.\u00a0 Time to break out Plan B.<\/p>\n

The day had started out well enough, with sunny skies full of\u00a0promise.\u00a0 A gorgeous drive from the Mystery Hills almost all the way to Seward had taken up the morning.\u00a0 Lupe enjoyed beef stew for breakfast along clear, rushing Ptarmigan Creek.\u00a0 Now here she was,\u00a0all ready for her next big adventure.<\/p>\n

That big adventure was supposed to have been a hike from the Exit Glacier<\/strong><\/a><\/span> Nature Center\u00a0along the\u00a0Harding Icefield Trail<\/strong><\/a><\/span> all the way to the end.\u00a0 Lupe would have had a sweeping view of the 700 square mile Harding Icefield, the largest icefield entirely within the United States.\u00a0 Now it was clear that wasn’t going to happen.<\/p>\n

What SPHP hadn’t realized was that the Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield are in Kenai Fjords National Park<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Since US National Parks are forbidden territory for Carolina Dogs,\u00a0Lupe’s Harding Icefield adventure\u00a0was over before it started.\u00a0 At least Lupe had gotten to see the Exit Glacier from a distance on the way to the nature center.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At least Lupe did get to see this view of the Exit Glacier on her way to the nature center. Unfortunately, she was banned from the Harding Icefield Trail where she would have had a fabulous view of the 700 square mile Harding Icefield. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fortunately, there actually was a Plan B.\u00a0 Lupe could go to Tonsina Point on Resurrection Bay!\u00a0 Compared to the Harding Icefield Trail, Plan B wasn’t too ambitious,\u00a0but maybe that was OK.\u00a0 Yesterday, Lupe had a big adventure in the Mystery Hills involving more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain.\u00a0 Perhaps an easy day was for the best.<\/p>\n

SPHP drove back along Herman Leirer Road (the road to the Exit Glacier)\u00a0to mile 3 on the Seward Highway, turned S, and drove all the way through Seward to\u00a0a “T” at the end of the highway at the S end of town.<\/p>\n

A right turn\u00a0took\u00a0Lupe to a gravel\u00a0road\u00a0perched slightly above the W shore of Resurrection Bay.\u00a0\u00a0The dusty road went S for 3 miles to Lowell Point, where it curved to the E.\u00a0 There was private property in Lowell Point, and signage didn’t mention Tonsina Point.\u00a0 Which way?\u00a0 SPHP had no clue, but stayed on the same road.<\/p>\n

The road made another turn to the S.\u00a0 Happily, it soon\u00a0ended at a trailhead.\u00a0 (Note: $5.00 daily parking fee)<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0A path could be seen leading from the parking lot\u00a0to Resurrection Bay, only a short distance away.\u00a0 This must be it!\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 (12:48 PM, 72\u00b0F), and Lupe got out.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP took the short path to Resurrection Bay.<\/p>\n

The temperature was in the low 70’s \u00b0F, no doubt a warm day in Alaska, but SPHP was surprised to see Lupe had arrived at a public beach.\u00a0 Even more surprising was that a few hardy Alaskans were actually in the water.\u00a0 Resurrection Bay is\u00a0an arm\u00a0of the North Pacific Ocean.\u00a0 Streams and rivers\u00a0pour glacial meltwaters into it.\u00a0 How warm could it be?\u00a0 Those Alaskans must be tough!\u00a0 Neither Lupe nor SPHP was tempted to take a dip.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
To SPHP’s surprise, Lupe arrived at a public beach on the S side of Lowell Point. A few tough Alaskans were swimming in these glacial fed waters of the North Pacific Ocean! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ixnay on the swimming, but a little sunbathing might be enjoyable.\u00a0 The beach certainly had a wonderful view of Resurrection Bay and the surrounding mountains, many of which still had snow or even small glaciers visible on them.\u00a0 Offshore, a small island rose dramatically from the bay.\u00a0 A large bird was perched up on top.\u00a0 It looked like it might be an eagle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From the beach at Lowell Point, a small rocky island rose dramatically from Resurrection Bay. A large bird, perhaps an eagle, was perched on top. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The camera’s telephoto lens revealed the truth.\u00a0 The big bird actually was an eagle – a bald eagle!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The big bird actually was an eagle – a bald eagle! Now that was cool!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While SPHP wouldn’t have minded dozing and sunbathing on the beach at Lowell Point for a little while, the truth is, American Dingoes aren’t much into that sort of thing.\u00a0 Lupe wanted action!\u00a0 So Lupe and SPHP headed SW toward the end of the beach, where SPHP expected to find the trail to Tonsina Point.<\/p>\n

The beach ended at a very steep forested embankment coming all the way down to the sea.\u00a0 No sign of a trail anywhere.\u00a0 Puzzling.\u00a0 SPHP finally concluded it was best to return to the trailhead for information on the trail’s location.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, there were two trailheads, the one the G6 was parked at\u00a0near the beach, and\u00a0another\u00a0trailhead for the\u00a0Caines Head State Recreation Area<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 The second trailhead was only a short hike away up a hill.\u00a0 The trail to Tonsina Point starts from there.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the G6 parked where it was,\u00a0taking a muddy trail through an amazing forest up to the second trailhead.<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0 The Caines Head State Recreation Area trailhead has its own parking lot at the end of a short road (a R turn to the S)\u00a0off the Lowell Point road from Seward.\u00a0 There was a sign for it, but SPHP hadn’t\u00a0made the turn\u00a0since the sign didn’t mention Tonsina Point.\u00a0 The same $5.00 daily parking fee applies here.<\/em><\/p>\n

A sign at the\u00a0upper trailhead showed a map of Caines Head State Recreation Area.\u00a0 The trail to Tonsina Point is only the first short section of a much longer trail to destinations near Caines Head.\u00a0 Lupe was only going as far as Tonsina Point.\u00a0 Beyond Tonsina Point, parts of the trail\u00a0are flooded and\u00a0impassable at high tide, possibly forcing an overnight stay waiting for low tide.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Map posted at the Caines Head State Recreation Area trailhead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail going S to Tonsina Point and beyond started as a single track at the parking lot, but soon merged with a road leading to private\u00a0properties, which seemed\u00a0a bit weird.\u00a0 Farther on, it left the private road, continuing as a 5 or 6 foot wide trail improved with a layer of fine slate gray gravel.<\/p>\n

All the way to Tonsina Point, the trail went through a thick forest providing not even a glimpse of Resurrection Bay.\u00a0 Tiny streams flowed next to the trail in some places, providing Lupe with fresh, cold water.\u00a0 The trail was relatively busy on this warm day in August, though\u00a0it was a ghost town compared to\u00a0the crowds Lupe had seen at the Exit Glacier.<\/p>\n

After leaving the private road, the trail\u00a0climbed\u00a0steadily at an easy pace, ultimately gaining about 200 feet of elevation.\u00a0 The\u00a0trail then became more primitive and switchbacked down a\u00a0considerably steeper slope.\u00a0 At the bottom of the switchbacks, Lupe arrived at an arched bridge over Tonsina Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the bridge over Tonsina Creek. Photo looks upstream (W).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the bridge, Lupe had a great view downstream\u00a0of Tonsina Creek emptying into nearby Resurrection Bay.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From the arched footbridge, Lupe had a great view of Tonsina Creek emptying into nearby Resurrection Bay. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once across the bridge, Lupe left the main trail to follow a\u00a0path toward Resurrection Bay, stopping briefly to wade in Tonsina Creek along the way.\u00a0 Salmon could be seen swimming in the creek.\u00a0 Signs near the main trail indicated fishing for them was prohibited.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe hadn’t been interested in swimming in Resurrection Bay back at Lowell Point, but she didn’t mind wading in Tonsina Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster near the mouth of Tonsina Creek where it empties into Resurrection Bay. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had arrived at Tonsina Point, the big delta formed by Tonsina Creek where it reaches Resurrection Bay.\u00a0 Being a delta, the whole area was flat.\u00a0\u00a0Away from the ocean, above the high tide\u00a0mark, bright green grasses and other plants flourished in luxurious profusion.\u00a0 The tidal plain close to Resurrection Bay was all sand, mud and small stones.\u00a0 Seagulls congregated near the edge of the water.<\/p>\n

When Lupe arrived, the tide was at least partially out, exposing a large stretch of tidal plain beyond the onshore vegetation.\u00a0 Lupe went way out near the water’s edge to check out the\u00a0impressive views of Resurrection Bay and surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From Tonsina Point, Lupe could see a glacier in the mountains on the E side of Resurrection Bay. Photo looks ENE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Snow remained on many mountains, even though Lupe was here in late August. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Seagulls liked to hang out near the edge of the bay. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The 1.5 mile long trail Lupe took to Tonsina Point starts at Lowell Point, seen on the L. Lowell Point is about 3 miles S of Seward, Alaska. Seward is situated at the far NW end of Resurrection Bay. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several old tree trunks, bleached white by the sun, were washed up near the high tide mark.\u00a0 People were using them as benches, from which they had great views of Resurrection Bay while relaxing and having lunch.\u00a0 That seemed like a good idea, so Lupe and SPHP headed over there to join them.\u00a0 On the way, Lupe found something on the beach which greatly interested her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe thinks dead fish are really cool! SPHP isn’t as keen on them. The Carolina Dog sometimes likes to roll in stinky things like dead fish, probably an instinctive action to hide her scent. Boy, does that ever work!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the bleached tree trunks, SPHP took a break and had a bite to eat.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t tired or hungry.\u00a0 She met a dog named Pinecone, and spent her time\u00a0enticing Pinecone to play with her, at which she was partially successful.<\/p>\n

After SPHP’s break, Lupe continued her exploration of Tonsina Point’s tidal plain, working her way around toward the S.\u00a0 A\u00a0very large\u00a0piece of driftwood with many branches was stranded out there all by itself.\u00a0 Lupe sniffed around it, and decided it made a good, scenic platform for her next couple shots of Resurrection Bay.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe goes out on a limb to present you with this beautiful picture of Resurrection Bay from Tonsina Point! Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Out on a limb! Oh, SPHP, you’re such a riot!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the S end of Tonsina Point, Lupe’s advance was blocked by another channel of Tonsina Creek.\u00a0 The main trail crossed this channel at a 2nd bridge located farther inland.\u00a0 Lupe went over to the 2nd bridge, but did not cross it.<\/p>\n

At\u00a0Tonsina Point, Lupe had only seen a small portion of Caines Head State Recreation Area.\u00a0 The main trail continues S beyond the 2nd bridge for miles leading to more trails, an old\u00a0fort, various facilities, and\u00a0lots more beautiful views.\u00a0 No doubt it was all worth further exploration, however, the tide was starting to come in.\u00a0 At high tide, parts of the trail S\u00a0of Tonsina Point are\u00a0under water.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP were not prepared to spend the night camping out, if Lupe got cut off from Tonsina Point by high tide.\u00a0 So Lupe took the main trail back N through a lovely forest to the 1st bridge over Tonsina Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe in the forest on the Tonsina Point delta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the trail back to the first bridge. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe squints in the bright sunlight on the 1st bridge over Tonsina Creek. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s time at beautiful Tonsina Point was over.\u00a0 She had only scratched the surface of what there is to see at Caines Head State Recreation area, but Tonsina Point had been an easy, fun excursion.\u00a0 Lupe returned to the G6 happy with her Tonsina Point experience (3:47 PM).<\/p>\n

Before leaving the gorgeous Seward area, Lupe played tourist in town.\u00a0 She dropped by a park where a statue featuring a prospector and his dog commemorates Alaska’s pioneering spirit, and the Iditarod National Historic Trail, which goes all the way from Seward to Nome.\u00a0 Lupe shares Alaska’s pioneering spirit.\u00a0 She was certain the statue could be improved by the addition of an American Dingo.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The 1.5 mile long trail to Tonsina Point was lovely, but American Dingo, Lupe, was ready for a bigger challenge on the 958 mile Iditarod Trail going from Seward to Nome! Unfortunately, SPHP wasn’t up to it, and chickened out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was enthused.\u00a0 She was\u00a0all for setting out on the 958 mile long Iditarod Trail, but SPHP just doesn’t have quite the same degree of Alaskan pioneering spirit and chickened out.<\/p>\n

Well, fine.\u00a0 Lupe had another idea.\u00a0 How about something less pioneery, and more decadently luxurious?\u00a0 There was a big, comfy ship in town that looked like it could take Lupe and SPHP to Nome in grand style by sea.\u00a0\u00a0American Dingoes love being pampered, too, you know!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Since SPHP wasn’t up to the Iditarod Trail, Lupe was also willing to consider a luxurious sea voyage to Nome aboard this very spiffy Holland America cruise ship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had to admit the cruise ship was beautiful and would be a lot of fun, but whined piteously something negative about\u00a0a budget.\u00a0\u00a0Most disappointing, but Lupe finally did manage to negotiate a consolation deal.<\/p>\n

After a stop at Safeway, Lupe left Seward in the G6, perched in comfort high up on her blankets and pillows, heading N on a wonderful scenic drive along the Seward Highway while sharing ice cream sandwiches and chips with SPHP.\u00a0 Before the day was over, she was going to get to go through a long, long tunnel and take the trail to Portage Pass to see the Portage Glacier.<\/p>\n

Of course, that’s another adventure for another post.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tonsina Point on Resurrection Bay, Caines Head State Recreation Area, Alaska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Caines Head State Recreation Area<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Lowell Point State Recreation Site<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Resurrection Bay Brochure & Map<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 30, Part 1, of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska No Dingoes allowed!\u00a0 Extraordinarily disappointing, but the\u00a0place was swarming with tourists.\u00a0 Park rangers patrolled near the\u00a0nature center at the start of the trail.\u00a0 Signs\u00a0banning American Dingoes were prominently displayed.\u00a0 There wasn’t going to be any getting around … Continue reading Tonsina Point on Resurrection Bay, Caines Head State Recreation Area, Alaska (8-28-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[726],"tags":[704,105,760,106,26,104,759,1136,758],"class_list":["post-8111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-caines-head-state-recreation-area","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-resurrection-bay","tag-seward","tag-tonsina-point"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_2490.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8111"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22449,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8111\/revisions\/22449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}