Tucked into the western shores of Prince William Sound near Whittier, Granite Bay State Marine Park offers one of Alaska’s most intimate encounters with coastal wilderness. Accessible only by boat or kayak, this marine park rewards the effort of getting there with a quiet, uncrowded stretch of shoreline backed by dense Sitka spruce forest and framed by the glaciated peaks of the Chugach Mountains.

Granite Bay is a favorite among sea kayakers paddling out of Whittier, serving as both a destination and a staging point for longer explorations of Prince William Sound’s western passages. The protected bay provides calm water for paddling, while the surrounding waters teem with sea otters, harbor seals, and humpback whales during summer months. Bald eagles are a near-constant presence overhead, and black bears occasionally forage along the tideline.

The park offers primitive shoreline camping with no developed facilities — no running water, no restrooms, and no established trails. Visitors should arrive fully self-sufficient and prepared to practice Leave No Trace principles. The gravel beach provides solid tent sites above the high-tide line, and the surrounding forest offers natural windbreaks.

The best time to visit is June through August, when longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures make water-based travel more comfortable. Even in summer, expect cool, damp conditions and pack rain gear — Prince William Sound receives substantial rainfall year-round.

Granite Bay is the kind of place that reminds you why Alaska’s marine parks exist: wild, quiet, and impossibly beautiful.

Explore Nearby

• Chugach National Forest — National Forest in Alaska
• Upper Dickey Lake Trail — Public Land in Alaska
• One Mile Trail — Public Land in Alaska
• Cape Hinchinbrook Light — Lighthouse in Alaska