Kayaking is the best way to discover the Kenai Fjords like a local.

So naturally, sea kayaking is a central aspect of our eco-lodging experience! All reservations include unlimited use of our fleet of sea kayaks and associated gear. Shearwater Cove is positioned within the most scenic and protected water in Resurrection Bay, making it the ideal jumping-off point for daily kayaking adventures.

Nearby destinations include:

• Humpy Cove and the Hidden Waterfall

• Hat Island

• Fox Island, and the Fox Island Spit, a.k.a. Sandspit Point State Marine Park

• Eldorado Narrows

• Cape Resurrection

New to kayaking or unsure about paddling on the ocean? We offer guided kayaking sessions!

Learn how to gear up for kayaking, how to put the kayak in and out of the water, how to enter and exit the kayak, and how to safely paddle with an awareness of your surroundings. Reach a nearby destination and learn more about the wildlife and scenery from our knowledgeable guide. The option to add a guided kayaking session to your reservation will appear once you have selected your dates.

Shearwater Cove is home to abundant and diverse wildlife above and below the water.

Humpback whales are common near the Cove in June, and there is always a chance of spotting a group of resident orcas. A harbor seal or sea lion may join you as you paddle along the coastline, and the bright white heads of bald eagles are commonly spotted in the hemlocks just above the water. Salmon run in a nearby stream in August and early September, attracting locals like black bears, river otter families, eagles, and resident orcas. Take a paddle at low tide and see hundreds of sea stars, urchins, chitons, anemones, barnacles, sculpin, and a host of other intertidal species. Bring your binoculars to scan the basalt peaks above Shearwater Cove for the shaggy outlines of mountain goats.