Waterfall camping near Seldovia with campfires
The secluded town of Seldovia is your gateway to pristine Alaskan wilderness camping.
- Seldovia
Popular camping styles for Seldovia
Waterfall camping near Seldovia with campfires guide
Overview
At the southwest tip of the Kenai Peninsula, Seldovia rewards the adventurous travelers who journey to its shores. Known locally as “the city of secluded charm,” Seldovia can only be reached by airplane or by ferry from Homer, but the payoff for this undertaking is big. Seldovia has beaches with spectacular views of the Cook Inlet, forest trails that begin in town, and an old-timey feel without the crowds of the other summer season hotspots on the peninsula. Popular recreational activities during Seldovia camping trips include kayaking, backpacking, fishing, birding, and wildlife viewing—look out for whales, otters, eagles, moose, and bears.
Where to go
Seldovia Surrounds
Seldovia has a few great trailheads right in town. For a panoramic lookout over Seldovia Bay, head up the Rocky Ridge Trail. For a flatter forest hike that ends in awesome views of the Cook Inlet, take the Otterbahn Trail to Outside Beach. There is also Jakolof Bay Road, a scenic 10-mile stretch of waterfront road heading out of Seldovia that is popular with mountain bikers. Book a private campsite just outside of town for a secluded tent or RV experience. Kayak rentals and fishing charters can also be found in Seldovia, from where boaters may spot orcas, beluga whales, sea otters, puffins, and other marine animals. Summer is sockeye salmon fishing season in the Cook Inlet too.
Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park
The combined Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park is a colossal nature reserve just east of Seldovia that contains 400,000 acres of forest and mountains and 78 miles of shoreline. Like Seldovia, there are no roads into the park, so it must be accessed by water taxi from Homer. But with backcountry campsites and a spectacular variety of trails, this remote park makes for an epic day trip or overnight excursion.
Homer Area
For more camping options on the Cook Inlet with views of the Aleutian Range, head north of Homer to the Stariski State Recreation Site or Deep Creek State Recreation Area. The latter is renowned for its razor clamming and salmon fishing. And if you are driving from Homer back to Anchorage, note that you can stop in Seward to visit Kenai Fjords National Park. Go hiking at the park’s Exit Glacier Area, or take a boat ride into the fjords from Seward Boat Harbor.
When to go
Seldovia experiences extreme seasonal differences. July temperature highs are in the low 60s with over 17 hours of daylight. In December, the highs are in the low 30s and the sun is in the sky for just six hours a day. The sweet spot for visiting this region is from June to September, when the ferries are operating on a summer schedule.
