Welcome to Park History For More Information Because of its coastal location and access to marine resources, its diverse vegetation, and wide Homer Ranger Station range of animal life, the Kachemak Bay and Gulf of (907) 235-7024 Welcome Alaska areas have long been occupied by humans. Marine VHF Ch. 16 Backpacking Mountaineering Evidence shows area occupation by Sugpiaq Alaska’s first state park and only wilderness park Kenai Area Office cultures along the southern Kenai Peninsula coast achemak ay together encompass nearly 400,000 breathtaking PO Box 1247 Beachcombing Packrafting as early as 6,000 years ago. K B acres of mountains, glaciers, forest, coastline, Soldotna, AK 99669 State Park & State Wilderness Park and ocean. The park boasts an unmatched (907) 262-5581 Before the establishment of the park, the variety of habitats, wildlife, and recreational Berry Picking Paddle Boarding mountainous southeast coast of Kachemak opportunities including: fishing, hunting, kayaking, www.alaskastateparks.org Bay was a place of natural beauty, solitude, beachcombing, camping, and hiking on over 85 and recreation for the people of Homer. When miles of trails leading into the backcountry. Go Bird Watching Photography Kachemak Bay State Park was designated in 1970, where no road can take you, and set your course it became Alaska’s very first state park. People for one of the wildest and most remote state parks Camping Kachemak Bay Alpenglow Picnicking quickly took to the park, making it one of Alaska’s in the wildest and most remote state. Photo courtesy of Kristen Fenske most loved backcountry destinations, and over the years, legislative actions added acreage and a Canoeing Public-Use Cabins wilderness park. Today, there are nearly 400,000 acres of land within the parks, every one of them the result of concerned lawmakers and grassroots Clam Digging Relaxing citizen action to preserve and protect this marvelous corner of the Alaskan landscape. Climbing Skiing Exploring Scuba Diving Fishing Snowshoeing Glacier Traversing Surfing Hiking Tide Pooling Horseback Riding Tracking Columbine Hunting & Trapping Whale Watching Photo courtesy of Sarah Conlin Kayaking Wildlife Viewing Overlooking Kachemak Bay and Homer Spit View of Grewingk Glacier Photo courtesy of Leanne Quirk from Emerald Lake Loop Trail A Division of the Department of Natural Resources Alaska State Parks Area Highlights On the Water Always wear a life jacket. The waters within Kachemak Bay State Park are Getting There frigid and occasionally rough. When conditions are poor, be patient as the weather often improves in the evening. Carry food and warm clothing for Access to these parks is by boat or airplane. Air Public-Use Cabins an unexpected overnight. Marine charts show many of the bay’s hazards charters, water taxi services, and boat rentals are and should be carried by all boat operators. Refer to Nautical Chart #16645, Six public-use cabins located at Halibut Cove available in Homer. Moose calf in fireweed Gore Point to Anchor Point. For more information on safe boating, visit Lagoon, China Poot Lake, Moose Valley, and Tutka Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Sorlie alaskaboatingsafety.org. Bay are available for rent. Reservations can be made up to seven months in advance. For reservations and informational fact sheets for each cabin, visit Wildlife alaskastateparks.org. Grewingk Glacier Lake Kachemak Bay is a State Critical Habitat Area and Photo courtesy of Brody Reid a National Estuarine Research Reserve with fjords, Views of Kachemak Bay from Homer Spit coves, and estuaries that support a myriad of Public Mooring marine wildlife. Rich intertidal zones offer natural Halibut Cove Lagoon offers an 80-foot-long dock, capable of classrooms for marine studies. Visitors frequently mooring boats up to 26 feet long. The dock provides access to observe sea otters, harbor seals, porpoises, and the ranger station, toilet, three public-use cabins, and nearby various whale species among the waves. trails. Dock space is limited, and available on a first come, first On land, you may spot moose, black bears, served basis. There are no public mooring buoys in Kachemak Sandpipers and dunlin mountain goats, coyotes, and wolves. Many bird Dock at Halibut Cove Bay State Park. Photo courtesy of USFWS Kachemak campsite species also inhabit the area, including bald eagles, gyrfalcons, murres, and puffins. Camping Camping is allowed in most areas of the park. Several sites throughout the park have amenities for campers including: fire rings, picnic tables, tent platforms, toilets, and bear-resistant food caches. China Poot Lake public-use cabin China Poot yurt Check the map for campsite locations. Yurt Rentals Six yurts are available for rent at various locations in Grewingk Glacier Mega Tsunami Hazard Kachemak Bay State Park. A commercial operator maintains and rents these yurts. Each yurt sleeps a Grewingk Glacier is a popular visitor destination, and for good reason! The glacier is surrounded maximum of eight people and is equipped with a by miles of trail, glacier views, and a picturesque lake filled with icebergs. But this area has not wood stove. Contact the Homer Ranger Station for always been so tranquil. In 1967, a landslide triggered an estimated 100 foot wave that scoured more information. everything in its path within mere minutes. Stay alert and watch for landslide activity when recreating in the area. Know your exit strategy. Black bear cubs For more information, visit: dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/kachemakbaysp.htm Sea otter eating a crab Background photo courtesy of Ryan Manor Photo courtesy of Jill Wheeler Tufted puffin pair Photo courtesy of USFWS 0 1 2 4 Mallard Bay Kachemak Bay Miles Legend State Park Kilometers 0 1 2 4 Wilderness Park Boundary This map is not intended for navigational purposes Mallard/Emerald State Park Boundary Humpy Creek Hum Connector Trail Road p y Creek Portlock Hiking Trail G Plateau r Kachemak Bay e Trailhead w i n g Emerald Lake Loop Trail k Cabin C re Look for triangular orange trailhead signs like this one when accessing e trailheads from the water.. k Campsite Grewingk Tram Kachemak Bay State Park Spur Trail Trail Descriptions Scenic View Homer Spit Road Emerald Lake Drinking Water Trails in Kachemak Bay State Park range from family G friendly to difficult and occasionally impassable; Glacier Spit laci Tram e check the current trail conditions at r Bl L ue www.alaskastatetrails.org. For more information Kachemak Bay ak I e c Ranger Station State Park Rusty Lagoon e about trails, camping, and water availability, visit T T Kachemak Bay State r a ra alaskastateparks.org. i il Wilderness Park l ToiletRestroom Right Beach Saddle When accessing trailheads from the water, look for Trail Grewingk a triangular orange sign with a black T on it marking Bear-Resistant Trash Can Halibut Cove Kachemak Bay Alpine Ridge TrailGlacier Lake the location of the trailhead. Saddle Grewingk Tsunami Hazard Glacier Emerald Lake Loop Trail Access: Grewingk Glacier trails or Humpy Creek Gulf of Alaska Trailhead Poot Peak Trails Distance: 12.6-mile loop Access: China Poot Lake Trail to China Poot Lake l Travel Means: Foot i a Distance: 4.3 miles North to South Trail loop with r Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet T summit Peterson n o This trail accesses beautiful Emerald Lake and its Bay o Travel Means: Foot g Goat Rope alpine surroundings. The trail climbs to Portlock a Elevation Gain: 2,430 feet L Spur Trail Plateau for fantastic views of Kachemak Bay. Look China Poot Bay Halibut Cove Lagoon for bears and mountain goats on the high ridges. There are two routes that branch off the Caution: Portions of this trail might be difficult to Wosnesenski River Trail to the summit of Poot Goat Rope impassable; for trail conditions, visit the Latest News Peak. The north route is very steep and is not Summit View from Alpine Ridge Trail Halibut Cove Lagoon page at alaskastateparks.org. maintained. The south route is not as difficult and is maintained, but it is longer than the north Halibut Cove Lagoon Overlook public-use cabin Coalition Grewingk Glacier Trails route. Both trails lead to the Summit Spur Trail. Only hikers with rock climbing training should Haystack Rock continue beyond this point—climbing the peak is Coalition Loop Trail China Poot Access: Glacier Spit Trailhead, Humpy Creek Neptune Trailhead or Emerald Lake Loop Trail. hazardous due to shifting scree and falling rock. Lake Trail Bay Distance: Grewingk Tram Spur Trail, 1 mile; Blue Ice M Trail, 1.9 miles oo Wosnesenski River Trail China s Travel Means: Foot North Eldred e Poot Lake V Elevation Gain: 500 feet Access: China Poot Lake Campsite, Haystack Rock Two Loon a l View from Moose Valley Trail l Trailhead Lake e Po y Blue Ice Trail offers the only developed access to o Distance: 11.3 miles one way t P T North e r a glacier in Kachemak Bay State Park. At Grewingk Foot a a Travel Means: k i Kenai National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Kenai l Creek, there is a hand-operated cable car pulley N Elevation Gain: 900 feet th or system that requires two people for operation. 4 th ad S ie T Caution: Unless properly trained and outfitted for Beginning from the Poot Peak Trail, this route K rail Sadie Knob Lake r nob T ai glacial travel, do not climb on ice or in ice caves. winds through forests, meadows and bogs, up Eldred Passage Poot l and over a low ridge, and into the Wosnesenski Peak Wos P Caution: Localized landslides pose a mega tsunami River Valley. The Wosnesenski River is a glacial nes oo South ens t Summit Spur Trail risk along lower elevations (more information on ki River Pe l river, braided with gravel flats on either side with South Eldred Tra ak South Trai reverse page).