A Complete Visitor's Guide to Shearwater Cove in Seward, Alaska (Worth It?)

This past weekend my husband and I headed out on a brand new Alaskan adventure that brought us to Shearwater Cove, a collection of off-grid yurts that sit right on the rocky shores of Resurrection Bay. Before I visited, I had this place completely hyped up in my head from all the social media posts I'd seen online, so my expectations were high. Below, I'm covering exactly what you need to know to plan an incredible trip, activity options you can do during your stay, and the honest question of is it actually worth it?

​​​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Getting to Shearwater Cove (Logistics + What to Pack)

Booking + Getting There

My number one tip for visiting Shearwater Cove is to plan ahead. Yurts are limited (with 7 total yurts onsite) and they usually book out months ahead of time, plus they're only open seasonally during the Summer months. If you want to include a stay at Shearwater Cove on your trip to the Seward area, then I recommend picking your dates and booking about 6 months to even 1 year ahead of time. Shearwater Cove offers two types of Yurts - their Original Yurts and their Premium Yurts. They both have great views, but Original Yurts have one queen bed and Premium Yurts have 2 queen beds. You'll also want to know stairs are required for any of the yurt stays, Premium Yurts have the largest climb, with the Hummingbird Original Yurt having the least amount of stairs.

Getting to Shearwater Cove itself is pretty straightforward. About one week before your check in date you'll receive an email with step by step instructions, similar to what I have listed here. If you have a vehicle, you'll want to park in one of the overnight lots (the North Lot is the best option for proximity, but if it's full I'd try the South) and pay the $15 per day fee ahead of time to avoid any penalties. Then, you'll want to meet the Shearwater Cove team over at J-Dock (it's important to note this location could change, so read your instruction email carefully). J-Dock is located right in between the J-Dock Seafood Market and the Harbor 360 Hotel. I recommend bringing all your stuff a few minutes early so you're ready to go.

On your way out of the harbor keep your eyes peeled for wildlife! You can often see seals, sea lions, otters and eagles hanging around in this area. The ride itself is around 30-45 minutes, and if you're lucky like us, you might even see a whale or two in the area! Once you arrive to Shearwater Cove, you'll be met by one of the onsite managers. They'll help carry any stuff you have, show you around your yurt, and give you a thorough kayak orientation if you plan to go kayaking. Prior to checking in, you should have also gotten an email to fill out your kayak waiver forms for each person wanting to kayak - I'd fill these out ahead of time since there's no cell service or Wifi at Shearwater Cove.

What to Bring
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If you're not sure what to pack or bring, here's a few recommendations I'd specifically bring to Shearwater Cove. You can also shop my entire list of what I typically bring to cabin stays in Alaska, or in this case, yurt stays in Alaska.

• Slippers - I wore my slippers inside the yurt and when I'd go to the bathroom, which is located on the deck of the Original Yurts.
• Outdoor Shoes - I brought my Xtratufs since we planned to visit the waterfalls and I knew my shoes would likely get wet, but hiking boots are fine too.
• Layers - Think warm socks, long pants, sweaters, raincoats, etc. Just like any packing list for Alaska, you'll want layers of clothing you can take on and off as the weather changes. If you're visiting from somewhere warm, then you might even want light gloves and a hat.
• Swimsuits - We read in one of the guest reviews that you can jump off the dock and into the waters of Resurrection Bay, so you'll want your swimsuit just in case!
• Sleep Mask - Yurts tend to have a large opening in the middle of the ceiling, and when it's bright 24/7 in the Summer it can be a bit of a challenge. Even though sleep masks are provided, if you have your own that you'd prefer using you'll want to bring it.
• Bug Spray + Sunscreen - When I visited in mid-June there were hardly any bugs. However, this is Alaska so I always recommend bringing some kind of bug repellant with you. If you plan to do some kayaking or hiking during your stay, you'll want some sunscreen as well! Even though my husband and I brought bear spray on our visit, you don't need it! Each yurt has a bear spray canister inside, so you can simply carry that on your hikes.
• A Book to Read - There's no cell service or Wifi at Shearwater Cove, minus the one bar of LTE you might get at The Perch community space. Chances are you'll have some downtime, so if you have a good book you're reading, I'd bring it!
• Camera - Leave your phone on airplane mode in the yurt (you won't have service anyways) and stay more present by bringing a camera on your adventures!
• Food - Since Shearwater Cove is an off-grid stay, you'll want to plan ahead and bring all the food you need for your visit. Each yurt has it's own bear safe coolers for food storage, but you'll also need to bring your own ice. I recommend just grabbing a bag or two of ice while you're in Seward. And if you don't feel like planning your meals, Shearwater Cove offers a Food Preparation Service you can add onto any stay. Drinking water is available in all yurts, so you won't need to worry about bringing that.

​My Favorite Tours from Seward : 
- Alaska Railroad Roundtrip to Seward
- Full Day Kenai Fjords Cruise

During Your Stay (What to Do + My Honest Experience)

Onsite Activities

Remember how I mentioned there's no cell service or Wifi at Shearwater Cove? That might worry some people, but others might view it as a way to unplug and reconnect to your surroundings. That's exactly what I recommend doing during your stay at Shearwater Cove. Your first chance is right when you're picked up from J-Dock. You can enjoy the views on the way out to Shearwater Cove and look for any wildlife as you coast through Resurrection Bay.

If that isn't enough, you can also add on boat tours during your stay! Shearwater Cove partners with Sound Water Tours to offer full day, small group boat tours of Kenai Fjords National Park. This is an excellent way to explore more of the Fjords and still get picked up and dropped off right from the Shearwater Cove dock.

As long as you filled out your waiver, you can also go kayaking! Shearwater Cove offers single and double kayaks, and they have all the gear you need. You can visit various areas, like Hat Island or Fox Island, or head into Humpy Cove. Ask the staff to give you directions to the nearby waterfall (if they haven't already), it's a pretty short paddle and hike to a stunning 30+ foot waterfall. No matter where you go, if you end up landing just make sure your kayak is above the high tide line - otherwise you might come back to find your kayak has floated away while you were out exploring. If you've never tried sea kayaking before, Shearwater Cove also offers guided kayaking sessions.

Hiking is another option for Shearwater Cove guests! There's 3 trails you can head out onto from camp - the Alpine Trail, the Forest Walk, and the South Beach Trail. My husband and I tried all 3 during our stay, and although the Alpine Trail is a bit steep, the other two are fairly short and easy to do. Even though they've only really seen black bears in the past, I recommend bringing the bear spray provided with you on any of the hikes you choose to do!

• Alpine Trail - fairly steep, leading to an incredible overlook of Resurrection Bay from an alpine meadow
• Forest Walk - fairly flat, leading to a waterfall (there was no water flowing during our visit)
• ​South Beach Trail - a bit hilly, leading to a rocky beach (visit at low tide for tidepooling!)

Worth It?

If you've made it this far and are still wondering if Shearwater Cove is worth a stay - I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best places I've stayed at in Alaska. Without mentioning the views or location, my husband and I were so impressed with how organized everything seemed - trust me when I say you don't always get that here in Alaska. Every staff member we interacted with was so kind and knowledgable, they really went out of their way to accommodate guests and their needs and made sure we properly knew how to use every feature - from the heater, to the composting toilets, to the showers, and even to the kayaks.

The views and location are unbeatable as well. You'll be tucked away in a little cove right off Resurrection Bay, and you have the chance to see all kinds of wildlife right from your Yurt Deck. If you're considering booking a trip to Shearwater Cove, believe me when I say it is 100% worth it.

Watch My Visit to Shearwater Cove!

Coming Soon!

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​Other Blog Posts You Might Be Interested In : 
-> Best Places to Eat in Seward Alaska
-> A Local's Guide to Granite Point
-> Best Things to Do in Seward

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