RT Kachemak Bay

Stunning coastal bay featuring mountains, glaciers, marine wildlife, and protected waters ideal for kayaking, boating, and scenic exploration.

General Information

Hours:

Accessible year-round with no set hours; access depends on weather, tides, and transportation availability

Fees:

No general entrance fee
Boat tours, water taxis, and guided activities require separate fees

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed but should be controlled, especially around wildlife and in protected areas

Closest cities with hotels:

Homer (0 mi)

Seasons:

Best visited May through September for boating, kayaking, and wildlife viewing; winter offers quiet scenery with limited services

Location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z8y7n4Qw3Xf1Vg2T8Kachemak Bay, AK

Website:

https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kachemakbay/

How to Get There

From Homer (0 mi): Access the bay directly from Homer Spit via water taxi, boat, or guided tour to reach various remote beaches, trails, and recreation sites across the bay.

Overview

Kachemak Bay is a 40-mile arm of Cook Inlet on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula, with the towns of Homer and Seldovia. It has Alaska's first state park and only state wilderness park, Kachemak Bay State Park, across the bay from Homer, with no roads, glaciers, and hiking trails. It also has the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the largest in the U.S. system. Water taxis from the Homer Spit take you to Halibut Cove and to trailheads.

Things to Do

Explore One of Alaska's Premier Coastal Wilderness Areas

Kachemak Bay is a spectacular marine environment located across the water from Homer on the Kenai Peninsula. Known for its dramatic mountains, glaciers, forests, coves, wildlife, and protected waters, the bay is home to Alaska's first state park and offers some of the state's finest opportunities for hiking, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and backcountry recreation.

Visit Kachemak Bay State Park

Kachemak Bay State Park and the adjoining State Wilderness Park encompass nearly 400,000 acres of mountains, glaciers, forests, shoreline, and ocean habitats. Accessible primarily by boat or plane from Homer, the park features extensive recreation opportunities and more than 80 miles of trails.

See Grewingk Glacier

Grewingk Glacier is one of the area's most popular destinations. Visitors can reach the glacier via the Glacier Lake Trail, where they are rewarded with views of a glacial lake, icebergs, and the massive glacier stretching down from the surrounding mountains.

Go Sea Kayaking

Protected coves, sheltered bays, and abundant wildlife make Kachemak Bay a premier kayaking destination. Visitors can paddle through scenic coastal environments while viewing glaciers, forests, marine wildlife, and rugged shorelines.

Enjoy Exceptional Wildlife Viewing

Kachemak Bay is a designated critical habitat area supporting diverse marine and terrestrial wildlife. Visitors frequently observe sea otters, seals, whales, porpoises, puffins, bald eagles, black bears, moose, mountain goats, and numerous seabird species.

Visit Scenic Coves and Lagoons

Popular destinations throughout the bay include Halibut Cove Lagoon, China Poot Bay, Humpy Creek, Tutka Bay, and Sadie Cove. These locations offer opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, photography, wildlife viewing, and overnight stays in public-use cabins and wilderness lodges.

Experience Backcountry Adventure

The roadless nature of Kachemak Bay makes it a true wilderness destination. Visitors can hike remote trails, camp along the shoreline, stay in public-use cabins, explore alpine ridges, and enjoy a level of solitude rarely found in more accessible areas of Alaska.

Top Trails

Grewingk Glacier Lake Trail

Length: Approximately 3.2 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Minimal to Moderate
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

The most popular trail in Kachemak Bay State Park, this route leads through forest and wetlands to Grewingk Glacier Lake, where hikers enjoy spectacular views of the glacier, icebergs, and surrounding mountain scenery.

Alpine Ridge Trail

Length: Approximately 5 miles round trip (plus Glacier Lake Trail access)
Elevation Gain: Significant
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

This scenic alpine hike climbs above treeline to panoramic viewpoints overlooking Grewingk Glacier, Kachemak Bay, and surrounding mountains. During late summer, hikers often find berry-covered alpine tundra along the route.

Grace Ridge Trail

Length: Approximately 8 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Significant
Difficulty: Strenuous

One of the most iconic hikes in the region, Grace Ridge traverses a high alpine ridge with sweeping views of Kachemak Bay, nearby islands, mountains, and coastal wilderness landscapes.

China Poot Peak Trail

Length: Approximately 1 mile from the trail junction
Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,632 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous

Although relatively short, this trail gains elevation rapidly and rewards hikers with exceptional views of Kachemak Bay, China Poot Bay, and surrounding wilderness areas.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article and official pages for Travel Alaska - Kachemak Bay State Park & State Wilderness Park, Alaska State Parks - Kachemak Bay State Park, Kachemak Bay, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.