Tucked into the waters near Point Baker in Southeast Alaska, Joe Mace Island State Marine Park offers a quiet slice of coastal wilderness that few visitors ever find. This small marine park sits among the islands of the Alexander Archipelago, where dense Sitka spruce forests meet rocky shorelines and tidal pools teem with sea stars, anemones, and hermit crabs.

What makes Joe Mace Island special is its remoteness. There are no roads here — access is by boat or floatplane only, which keeps crowds nonexistent and the landscape raw. The surrounding waters are rich fishing grounds for salmon, halibut, and rockfish, and paddlers will find protected coves ideal for kayaking between the nearby islands. Wildlife viewing is a constant reward: humpback whales surface in the channels, bald eagles nest in the old-growth canopy, and harbor seals haul out on the rocks at low tide.

The park is boat-access only, so visitors should arrive self-sufficient with supplies, fresh water, and proper cold-weather gear. Primitive shoreline camping may be possible, but expect no developed facilities — this is backcountry Alaska in its truest form.

The best time to visit is June through August, when Southeast Alaska’s long daylight hours and milder temperatures (50s–60s°F) make for comfortable exploring. Rain is always likely in this temperate rainforest climate, so pack layers and waterproof everything.

Joe Mace Island rewards those willing to make the journey with solitude, stunning coastal scenery, and the kind of quiet that only Alaska’s Inside Passage can deliver.

Explore Nearby

• Cape Decision Light — Lighthouse in Alaska
• Tongass National Forest — National Forest in Alaska
• Five Finger Islands Light — Lighthouse in Alaska