Guide to Glacier Lake, Saddle, & Blue Ice Trails in Kachemak Bay State Park

Trail Access: Glacier Spit, Saddle, or Humpy Creek Grewingk Tram Spur (1 mile, easy) Allowable Uses: Hiking This spur connects Glacier Distance: 3.2 mi one-way (Glacier Lake Trail) Lake Trail and Emerald Lake Loop Trail. There is a hand- 1.0 mi one way (Saddle Trail) operated cable car pulley 6.7 mi one-way (Glacier Spit to Blue Ice Trail end) system over Grewingk Elevation Gain: 200 ft (Glacier Lake Trail) Creek. Operation requires 200 ft (Glacier Lake to Saddle Trailhead) two people. Maximum capacity of the tram is 500 500 ft (Glacier Spit to Blue Ice Trail end) pounds. If only two people are crossing the Difficulty: Easy; family suitable (Glacier Lake Trail) tram, one person should stay behind and assist in Camping: Moderate (Saddle Trail) pulling the other across. Two people in the tram cart without assistance from others on the plat- Glacier Spit, Grewingk Glacier Lake, Grewingk Creek, Moderate (Blue Ice Trail) form is difficult. Gloves are helpful in operating Tarn Lake, Humpy Creek, Right Beach (accessible at Hiking Time: 1.5 hours (to end Glacier Lake Trail) low tide from Glacier Spit) the tram. 30 minutes (Saddle Trail) Water Availability: 5 hours (Glacier Spit to Blue Ice Trail end) Glacier Lake & Saddle Trails: Grewingk Creek (glacial), Grewingk Glacier Lake

A Popular route joins the Saddle and Glacier Lake (glacial), small streams near glacier and on Saddle Tr. Blue Ice Trail: Trails. The Glacier Lake Trail follows flat terrain Safety and Considerations: This is the only developed access to Grewingk through stands of cottonwoods & spruce, and CAUTION: Unless properly trained and outfitted for Glacier. The trail starts from mile 4.9 of the Emerald across the dry outwash plain of Grewingk Glacier. It glacier travel, do not climb on the ice or within the Lake Loop Trail. It passes along the shoreline of ends at the broad open beaches of Grewingk caves. Hidden crevasses (cracks) are deadly perils. Grewingk Lake and follows a creek to Tarn Lake, a Glacier Lake. This trail offers superb views of the Enjoy this natural wonder at a safe distance. Do not small lake in the area recently uncovered by glacial glacier and its surrounding peaks. Excellent day- attempt to ford Grewingk Creek, it is very swift and ice, and hence denuded of vegetation. The glacier hike. Most people get dropped off at the Glacier cold! ` has retreated to leave a moraine in its wake. Hikers Spit Trailhead, hike to the lake, hike the Saddle Trail, Park Rules: can travel a short distance to the moraine and look and get picked up at the Saddle Trailhead. This is For a complete set of park rules visit: down on the glacier, or explore newly exposed also recommended because afternoon day breezes http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kbay kbay.htm rocky ridges to the south of this point. complicate pick-ups at the Glacier Spit Trailhead.

Alaska State Parks, Kenai Area Office PO Box 1247 Soldotna, AK (907) 262 - 5581