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| Young Eagle on the Beach |
-- We'll update this post when it gets opened again.
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Stats
Distance: 0.5 miles + Difficulty: Easy / Moderate Time: 30 min +
Summary
This hike is in Homer, AK. The first time we walked this trail was 16 Jun 2013. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to go for a walk on the beach. We hiked the trail again a couple of weeks later. It is close and easy, so we'll be doing this hike often.
The link to the official web site is http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation/diamond-creek-trail. This is limited site that lists a few of the hikes in the Homer area.Opinion
We love this hike for an easy day hike. We prefer this hike and beach access to the better-known Bishop Beach. The beach here is more interesting
and less crowded and the cliffs are closer.
It is a relatively easy, short, and very pleasant hike down to Homer’s rocky beach. It is moderately steep (most noticeable on the way back up) and was a bit boggy in spots during the spring run-off. However, the trail was well maintained with easy footing.
and less crowded and the cliffs are closer.
It is a relatively easy, short, and very pleasant hike down to Homer’s rocky beach. It is moderately steep (most noticeable on the way back up) and was a bit boggy in spots during the spring run-off. However, the trail was well maintained with easy footing.
Trail Advice
We strongly recommend
checking the tide tables and taking this hike at or near low tide. Although the hike is lovely any time of day,
the beach is more interesting at low tide and, especially on sunny days, you
can often see seals sunbathing on the large rocks exposed by low tide.
The mosquitoes were fierce
in the shady areas along the trail. We
strongly recommend a good coating of both sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
Keep an eye on your small
children during the trail hike. There
are places where the trail comes very close to a steep cliff and the trail is
occasionally undercut in those locations.
The trail is plenty wide enough to be safe, but a small child might not
notice.
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| Young Pushki |
There is a great deal of Pushki on both sides of the trail. Pushki is a very common, large, very dramatic flowering weed. The picture shows it early in the season; later in the year it is even larger with white flowers on long stalks. However, the sap is a blister agent that can cause burns (sometimes severe) on exposure to air. Don’t push through this plant or break the leaves or stems
Suitability
Not wheelchair accessible,
but suitable for anyone else, including children.
Trailhead
To find the trail, take the
small dirt road that starts on Sterling Hwy.
The road is is slightly offset to the north of where Diamond Ridge Rd
meets Sterling Hwy. Diamond Ridge Rd
heads up the hill to the cliff overlooking Homer (a very nice drive) and the
trail access road heads down the hill toward the beach. The trail access road does have recreation
are signs on Sterling Hwy.
Take the trail access road
about a mile down the hill. It ends at a
small parking lot with a well-marked trailhead.
Please be polite when you park and make sure not to block anyone in and
to leave as much space as possible for other hikers to park. The lot is small and will easily accommodate
only about six cars.
The Hike
The trail starts at the
small parking area and heads steadily down hill to the beach. At first glance, it looks like the trail will
be very steep, but in fact it is moderately steep at worst and often gentle. The
trail is well groomed.
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| Diamond Creek |
The trail goes through an
alder forest and parallels a steep cliff above Diamond Creek for much of the hike. The
trail has a wide variety of plants (weeds) on both sides that gives it a lush
feeling and makes for a pleasant walk.
Based on the plentiful fireweed along both sides, the trail is likely
spectacular when they bloom in August/September.
The trail ends at the
beach. From there you can walk along the
beach as far as you like in either direction.
If the tide is out, you can go for miles, but be careful. There are places where the cliffs are close
to the water and can be impassible during high tide; there are not that many
beach access locations and you can be trapped of you are not careful.
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| Weed covered rock at low tide |
The first time we took the hike, the tide was in and we saw very little wildlife, but many flowers. The second time we did the hike, the tide was out and the area was teeming with life. We didn't see any seals, but we did see lots of birds and eagles. We also saw evidence of clams in may areas.
We spent 5 minutes watching a juvenile eagle. It was on the verge of developing the white plumage of an adult. It was strolling down the beach eating the scores of fingerling fish that littered the beach at low tide. At one point the bird walked up within five feet of Chris.
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| Lupines on the Homer Beach |
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| Lupines by a waterfall |
Look and you might see bald eagles and ravens soaring on thermals off the cliffs. Listen carefully and you can sometimes hear the eagles twittering to each other on the wing. Out on the water you can see the fishing boats. Across the bay you can see the mountains and off to the west, on a clear day, you can see the volcanos.
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