Hiking
Homer Ocean Charters offers full water taxi service to most points in Kachemak Bay.
For this, we use our 28' Bayweld landing craft the "Baylink II", a six-passenger vessel. The Baylink II has an enclosed aft cabin for a smooth comfortable ride. The bow of the boat is large and open with a drop-down boarding/loading ramp and plenty of room for kayaks, mountain bikes, camping gear, freight, etc. Consider the Baylink II your gateway to exploring Kachemak Bay State Park.
Kachemak Bay State Park offers great hiking trails, tent camping, park service rental cabins, clamming, fishing, sightseeing, and many other opportunities. In addition, stay in our cozy cabins at Otter Cove Resort where you can also rent kayaks from us to paddle around the beautiful, protected bays.
Round trip taxi service runs only $70-$85 per person to most destinations. We offer special rates for small children and large groups. Contact us for more information on the park or transportation options.
Our Transport Vessel: The Baylink II
Hiking in Kachemak Bay State Park
Access to Great Hiking
Don't miss the great hiking opportunities in Kachemak Bay State Park. Join us for a guided hike from Glacier Spit to Glacier Lake, Sadie Knob, or Grace Ridge. See trail details and descriptions below. These hikes are offered daily and provide an opportunity for you to hike in the state park with a knowledgeable guide who will truly enhance your hiking experience!
Interpretive Hike to Grewingk Glacier: Water taxi across Kachemak Bay to Glacier Spit in Kachemak Bay State Park and join your guide for a hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake. Your guide will identify and allow you to taste edible vegetation along the way, point out the stages of reforestation along the glacial moraine, and provide you with a wealth of information you would not obtain walking this trail on your own. The trail crosses flat terrain, through stands of cottonwoods and spruce, and across the dry outwash plain of the Grewingk Glacier. It ends at the broad, open beaches of Grewingk Glacier Lake. This trail offers superb views of the glacier and its surrounding peaks. Icebergs floating in the lake present opportunities for great photos. The tour includes a round trip water taxi, a guide, and your state park fee. Not included are sales tax, gratuity, and food or drink. Wear warm layered clothes and comfortable walking shoes. We suggest bringing light rain gear, a camera, binoculars, and your drinks and snacks for the day. There is a 2 person minimum for these trips, and they are available Memorial Day to Labor Day. Departure and return times will be arranged upon booking. The cost is $160 per person.
You may also wish to visit Otter Cove Resort and stay in the cabins with access to the Sadie Knob Trail right outside your cabin door. Being nearby the resort, you can take our water taxi and hike the spectacular Grace Ridge Trail. If you are an avid hiker, you can do both trails! These trails are often underrated and ignored but those who hike them are so glad they did. Both the Sadie Knob and Grace Ridge Trails are beautiful!
Guided hikes for these trails can also be arranged upon request.
Glacier Lake Trail
Trail access is a short ride across Kachemak Bay on our water taxi the Baylink.
Length: 2.2 mi/3.5 km
Rating: Easy, popular family hike
Camping: Small camping area at Glacier Spit Trailhead; Right Beach (accessible at low tide from Glacier Spit); Rusty's Campsite; Grewingk Lake.
Camping Advisory: Please consider camping on higher portion of Grewingk Lake flats; landslides from area ridges falling into lake could generate splash waves of 50 feet or more along the shore.
Hiking Time: 80 minutes from Glacier Spit Trailhead (wind exposed beach: morning drop off best, afternoon/evening pickup at Saddle Trailhead) hike to trailhead at junction of Grewingk and Glacier Lake trails (1 mile).
Water Availability: Right Beach; Rusty’s Campsite; small stream near the junction of the Saddle Trail.
Trail Description: A popular loop route joined by the Saddle and Grewingk trails. The trail crosses flat terrain, through stands of cottonwoods and spruce, and across the dry outwash plain of the Grewingk Glacier. It ends at the broad, open beach of Grewingk Glacier Lake. The trail offers superb views of the glacier and its surrounding peaks. This is an excellent day hike.
Saddle Trail
Trail access is a short ride across Kachemak Bay on our water taxi the Baylink.
Length: 1 mi/1.6 km
Rating: Moderate, short steep climbs
Hiking Time: 25 minutes
Elevation Gain: 350 feet
Camping: None at trailhead; stream near Grewingk Glacier Lake sites
Water Availability: Right Beach; Rusty’s Campsite; small stream near the junction of the Saddle Trail.
Trail Description: Leading over a low ridge between Halibut Cove and Grewingk Glacier, this trail provides a popular loop with the Glacier Lake Trail. The trail switches back through steep, forested terrain and it accesses the Alpine Ridge and Lagoon Trails. Cliffs prohibit hiking the beach from the trailhead to the Right Beach Beach Campsite – boat transportation is necessary.
Sadie Knob Trail
in Kachemak Bay State Park with trail access from Otter Cove
Length: 4.5 miles
Rating: Moderate to difficult (long climbs)
Hiking Time: 3 hours to Sadie Knob
Elevation Gain: 2100 feet
Water Availability: Seasonal creeks at trailheads; small streams near low areas; no water on summit.
Trail Description: Sadie Knob Trail accesses an alpine ridge (visible from Homer) between Sadie Cove and Kachemak Bay. It does not access Sadie Peak to the south. The Ridge Route climbs through a spruce forest, flower meadows, and along a subalpine lake. Emerging above the timberline, and marked only with rock cairns or orange trail markers, the trail follows the ridgeline to Sadie Knob. Hikers gain superb and expansive 360-degree views of Kachemak Bay, Sadie Peak, Sadie Cove, Eldred Passage, and Cook Inlet volcanoes. Watch for mountain goats, black bears, and eagles along the way.
Grace Ridge Trail
in Kachemak Bay State Park with trail access is a short ride in our water taxi across the Bay from Homer or from Otter Cove.
Length: 8.2 miles
Rating: Moderate to difficult (long climbs)
Hiking time: 1.5 hours to first alpine knob; 2.5 hours to summit; 6-8 hours entire trail
Elevation Gain: First knob at 1745 ft.; summit at 3145 ft.
Trailhead: North end is at Kayak Beach campsite and South End in Tutka Bay across from the Sea Star public use cabin
Camping: Kayak Beach has a campsite at the trailhead
Water availability: Seasonal stream at Kayak Beach; good stream near mile 1.6; no water on ridge; seasonal creeks near South Grace Trailhead.
Trail Description: The trail begins on left side of gravel beach at Kayak Beach Campsite (an area once used as a gravel quarry). It follows an old road now densely inhabited by alders and then begins climbing through an old-growth Sitka spruce forest. Mile 1.4 offers an excellent view of Sadie Knob. Huge spruce trees dot the narrow ridge and the roar of hidden waterfalls below can be heard. At mile 1.6, a creek rushing along the trail offers a good water source (before climbing to the alpine areas). Climbing through subalpine alders and meadows to mile 2.9, an alpine knob offers an excellent destination for a half-day hike. Stunning views of Eldred Passage, Sadie Peak, Cook Inlet volcanoes, and beyond are available here. Watch for mountain goats, black bears, and golden or bald eagles. To continue, follow the marked route through the alders to the southeast, across a saddle, and climb the alpine ridgelines to the peak. There is good spring skiing in the bowls of this area. The alpine portion of this route is up--unmarked, but it is easy to follow the "knife" ridges. Descending into the alders again, the trail switchbacks into the spruce forests and ends at Tutka Bay.
