Strawberry Hill is a series of uplifted beach ridges on Point Bentinck, at the eastern tip of Hinchinbrook Island and the southern entrance to Strawberry Channel, which separates the island from the mainland, about 53 miles (85 km) south of Valdez and 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Cordova, Alaska. The island’s eastern shore forms the western flank of the Copper River Delta. During the Last Glacial Maximum, ice over 1,640 feet (500 m) thick covered the area now known as the delta. Sea levels were more than 328 feet (100 m) lower, and glaciers likely extended at least 12 miles (20 km) beyond the current barrier islands. For 10,000 years the Copper River has cut through the Chugach Mountains and discharged directly into the Gulf of Alaska, forming a vast delta. Today the delta stretches about 50 miles (80 km) along the Gulf and is reputedly the largest wetland on the Pacific Rim. Its marine environment includes tidal flats, barrier islands of sand and silt, and a prograding delta front. Point Bentinck was first named ‘Punta de Aguirre’ in 1779 by Ignacio de Arteaga y Bazán, who, with Juan de la Bodega y Quadra aboard the Spanish vessels La Princesa and La Favorita, were the region’s first Spanish explorers. In 1794 Captain George Vancouver named a headland 4 miles (6.5 km) to the southwest for William Cavendish Bentinck, but the headland had already been called Point Steele by Captain Nathaniel Portlock in 1787, so cartographers reassigned the name. Homer P. Ritter of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey named Strawberry Hill in 1899 for its wild beach strawberries. He established a tide station at Point Bentinck and observed a tidal curve showing that a barrier prevented the water from falling below a fixed level. Once home to an aviation radio beacon, the site now lies within Boswell Bay State Marine Park.

The Federal Aviation Administration operates air traffic support and navigational facilities throughout Alaska. Two are on Hinchinbrook Island—an active installation at Johnstone Point on the northern coast and a decommissioned one at Point Bentinck on the eastern coast. In 1946 the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the FAA’s predecessor, leased land from the US Forest Service and established the Strawberry Hill facility on an abandoned beach ridge at about 50 feet (15 m) elevation. Navigation techniques depend on an aircraft’s equipment and whether a pilot flies under visual or instrument flight rules. Under instrument rules, pilots rely solely on instruments and radio aids—such as beacons or radar guidance from air traffic control. Under visual rules, they use dead reckoning and visual cues with map references, supplementing these with radio aids or satellite positioning as needed. Most general aviation aircraft carry a range of navigation aids, including automatic direction finders, inertial navigation systems, compasses, radar systems, very high frequency omni-directional range systems and, increasingly, satellite navigation. The Strawberry Hill station comprised radio transmission towers, beacons, a small runway for service aircraft, electronic navigation equipment and several support structures. The site also featured above-ground storage tanks holding 28,000 gallons (127,290 L) of fuel, several underground tanks and extensive piping for diesel distribution. Historically, fuel was delivered by barge once a year, pumped through above-ground pipelines from a barge landing in Boswell Bay, and stored in the tanks. Following Alaska statehood in 1959, the state selected portions of Hinchinbrook Island at Point Bentinck under the Alaska Statehood Act. In the 1970s the Eyak Native Corporation chose additional areas—including Strawberry Hill—under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. In 1971 the facility was no longer permanently staffed but continued operating until 1992. That year the fuel was removed from the pipelines, which were physically taken out in 2001 and 2002.

Point Bentinck is part of Boswell Bay State Marine Park, a 3,047-acre (1,233‑ha) tract of undeveloped land adjacent to the Copper River Delta State Critical Habitat area. The park comprises a high‑energy sand beach fully exposed to the Gulf of Alaska and the sand flats along Strawberry Channel. Uplift during the 1964 Alaska earthquake shifted the pre‑quake shoreline more than a mile (1.6 km) inland, creating extensive tidal flats and wetlands that serve as key habitats for seabirds and migratory waterfowl. Although popular activities such as beachcombing, hunting, boating, camping, and clamming attract visitors, the park lacks a freshwater source. Boswell Bay State Marine Park exemplifies Alaska’s commitment to preserving its rugged coastal landscapes. The dynamic interplay of geological forces and ocean energy has sculpted an environment that remains largely untouched. This natural heritage is further safeguarded by Alaska’s network of state marine parks. Most of these parks originated as large land acquisitions—the first in 1983 and the second in 1990. Under the Statehood Act of 1959, the state selected coastal lands with the greatest potential for conservation and public enjoyment. The first 11 marine parks emerged from the determined efforts of local advocates who promoted the concept of protected coastal areas. Seven years later, 15 additional parcels were incorporated, and by 1993, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, several more parks were established. Today, Alaska boasts 35 state marine parks, ranging from the modest Joe Mace Island State Marine Park (62 acres [25 ha]) east of Wrangell to the vast St. James Bay State Marine Park (103,600 acres [41,926 ha]), about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Juneau. Fourteen state marine parks lie in Prince William Sound, where protected coves, rugged outer coastlines, secluded bays, and expansive stretches of seashore offer a rare glimpse of the state’s pristine marine environment. Together, these parks represent a strategic investment in coastal conservation and offer diverse recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Read more here and here. Explore more of Strawberry Hill and Point Bentinck here: