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Alaska
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Alaska State Parks

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USA Parks
Alaska
Southcentral Region
Kachemak Bay State Park
Kachemak Bay State Park © Laurel Fan / CC BY-SA 2.0
Kachemak Bay State Park © Wonderlane / CC BY 2.0
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KACHEMAK BAY STATE PARK
KACHEMAK BAY STATE PARK
PO Box 1247
Homer, Alaska   99603
(lat:59.4723 lon:-151.1026) map location

Phone: 907-269-8700
Reservations: 907-269-8400
Alaska's first state park, and only wilderness park, contains roughly 400,000 acres of mountains, glaciers, forests and ocean. The bay's twisted rock formations are evidence of the movement of the earths crust. Highlighted by constantly changing weather patterns, the park's outstanding scenery is a backdrop for high quality recreation. Park visitors will find opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, camping and mountain sports.

Kachemak Bay is a critical habitat area, supporting many species of marine life. Visitors frequently observe sea otters, seals, porpoise and whales. Inter tidal zones offer natural settings for marine studies. Land mammals include moose, black bear, mountain goats, coyotes and wolves. The many species of birds that inhabit the bay, including eagles, gyrfalcons and puffins, make it a popular area for bird watching.

Hiking and camping along the shoreline and in the surrounding forests and mountains are excellent. Above timberline, skiers and hikers will find glaciers and snowfields stretching for miles. Special park attractions include Grewing K Glacier, Poot Peak, China Poot Bay, Halibut Cove Lagoon, Humpy Creek, and China Poot (Leisure) Lake

Hunting and fishing are allowed in the park. Consult regulations, Rangers, or the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for information.
History of the Area
Established in 1970, this park is Alaska's first state park. It spans over 400,000 acres on the Kenai Peninsula.

The area was originally inhabited by Sugpiaq Alutiiq people who utilized its rich resources for thousands of years.

In the late 18th century, Russian explorers arrived and established fur trading posts around Kachemak Bay.

During World War II, it served as a strategic location with Fort McGilvray built to defend against potential Japanese invasions.
Cabins
Lagoon-Overlook Cabin (16' x 20')Sleeps 8 with a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights. Located on a rocky point, overlooking the lagoon. Access the cabin at the Halibut Cove Lagoon Public Dock. Expect to carry gear 500 feet along a boardwalk. The 2-bedroom cabin is equipped with double wooden bunks, a table, counter, and chairs or benches. A latrine is nearby. Water is available when the generator is running at the ranger station, and should be treated before drinking. A woodstove is available for heat.

Lagoon-East Cabin (16' x 16')Sleeps 6 with a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights. Located on a rock bluff, the log cabin overlooks the lagoon and dock. Access the cabin at the Halibut Cove Lagoon Public Dock. Expect to carry gear 250 feet along a boardwalk. The 1-room cabin is equipped with a double wooden bunk, a wooden sleeping platform, table, counter, and benches. A latrine is nearby. Water is available when the generator is running at the ranger station, and should be treated before drinking. A woodstove is available for heat. This cabin is designed for persons with mobility disabilities, as long as the individual has assistance up the ramp from the dock to the cabin boardwalk system.

Lagoon-West Cabin (16' x 16')Sleeps 6 with a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights. Located on a rock bluff, the log cabin overlooks the lagoon. Access the cabin at the southwest corner of Halibut Cove Lagoon, just east of the Halibut Cove Lagoon Trailhead. A long, steep stairway to the beach provides access to the cabin, or individuals may access the cabin along a short trail to the trailhead. Two mooring buoys are also available off the trailhead. The 1-room cabin is equipped with a double wooden bunk, a wooden sleeping platform, table, counter, and benches. A latrine is nearby. Water is available from a nearby creek, and should be treated before drinking. A woodstove is available for heat.

China Poot Lake Cabin (16' x 16')Sleeps 6 with a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights. Located on the shores of scenic China Poot Lake, also known as Leisure Lake. China Poot Lake is approximately 2.4 trails miles from Halibut Cove Lagoon trailhead or 13 air miles from Homer. Air taxis can land on the lake, but there is no dock facility at the cabin. Water is available from the lake, and should be treated before drinking. A woodstove is available for heat.

Moose Valley Cabin (12' x 12')Sleeps 2 with a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights. The Moose Valley public use cabin is located just off the Moose Valley Loop trail. It is approximately 2.4 miles from the Halibut Cove Lagoon Ranger Station. The trail leaves the China Poot Lake trail about 1.2 miles from the station and ?loops? through Moose Valley and up to the South side of Poot Peak. From Poot Peak, access the South Spur trail to China Poot Lake (Leisure Lake) or the Wosnesenski River Trail. Water can be taken from the stream, just off the front porch, but boil, filter or treat before drinking. A small outhouse is nearby. A small woodstove is available for heat. The cabin is suitable for use later in the season as this trail is not normally cleared until mid to late June.
Camping
Camping is permitted in most areas of the park. A number of sites have been developed that may include fireplaces, picnic tables, tent platforms, information, outhouses or food caches. Contact park staff for details.
Marinas
Halibut Cove Lagoon Public Dock is an 80-foot-long floating structure, capable of mooring boats up to 26 feet long. The dock provides access to the Ranger Station, public restrooms, 2 public use cabins, and a major trailhead. Space is limited, and is available on a first come, first served basis.
Boating
Public Mooring Buoys are white, with an aluminum frame. An iron ring atop the buoy makes for easy tethering to a vessel. Buoys are rated to a maximum vessel length of 40 feet. Buoys are located at Saddle Trailhead, Right Beach, Halibut Cove Lagoon Trailhead, and Tutka Bay Public Use Cabin.


Location
Kachemak Bay State Park is

Trails
1. Grewingk Glacier Lake Trail: A 3-mile trail leading to the glacier lake, offering views of icebergs and wildlife.

2. Alpine Ridge Trail: This challenging 5-mile round trip hike offers panoramic views over Kachemak Bay and surrounding mountains.

3. China Poot Peak Pathway: An intense uphill climb spanning approximately 4 miles with stunning vistas at the summit.

4. Grace Ridge Trailhead North End - Tutka Bay Lagoon Route : Approximately a strenuous10 mile trek featuring beautiful wild flowers along its path

5. Saddle-Trail-to-Mallard-Bay-and-China-Poot-Lake Loop : About an easy-moderate level hiking route that is around six miles long which features scenic forest settings

6 . Halibut Cove Lagoon Ranger Station Trails - These trails range from half-a-mile to two miles in length, providing access for bird watching or beach combing activities.

7 . Moose Valley/Mallard/Emerald Lake Loop - Roughly about eight mile loop showcasing diverse terrain including forests, meadows and lakeside areas

8 . Sadie Knob via Otterbahn & Trout Lily Lane- Around seven mile moderate rated outback trail known for its picturesque landscapes

9 . Humpy Creek-Ocean Connection (HCO) / Emerald-Humpback Connector (EHC): Two short connector trails each less than one kilometer connecting various longer routes within park boundaries

10.Poot Peak Traverse/China Poot Mountain Summit Access Routes - Challenging hikes ranging between four-five kilometers rewarding climbers with breathtaking aerial view of entire bay area

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
April 26 It is what Alaska is all about. by Dave
park review stars; one to five A great place to see the wild side of Alaska fairly close (5-6 miles) from the road system.
December 22 Wilderness Adventure by John at Bear Paw Adventure
park review stars; one to five On one of our adventures to Kachemak Bay State Park, we waited for high tide and then traveled the narrow, scenic channel that leads into Halibut Cove, with its deep water and its incredibly rocky shoreline that protects this isolated place. There we enjoyed a night of camping and hot dogs, watching puffins, ducks, sea otters and salmon in the lagoon. We had a great hike with the grandkids on one of the trails.
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Area Campgrounds
Homer Spit Campground
4535 Home Spit Road
Homer, AK
907-235-8206
Area Accommodations (over 20 miles away)
businesss listing main photo
Cottages and Cabins
This beautiful Eco-Lodge is located on a privately owned, remote beach inside Alaska's Kachemak Bay State Park, midway between the villages of Seldovia and Halibut Cove, and only 10 miles by boat from Homer, Alaska, the Bear Viewing Capital of the World.
20.4 miles from park*
businesss listing main photo
Bear Paw Adventure - ANCHOR POINT, AK
Cottages and Cabins
Bear Paw Adventure's first class, completely equipped log vacation homes and cabins offer Alaskan decor and everything you want for a great stay. Private, natural area located near historic Anchor Point on the Kenai Peninsula. See eagles and moose as you relax on your private BBQ deck.
33 miles from park*
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
Access to the park is by boat or airplane, as there are no roads to the park. Air charters, water taxi services, and boat rentals are available in Homer.

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Alaska
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Alaska State Parks

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