Hiking - Homestead Trail: Lower Trail (Roger's Loop to Rucksack Rd)

Stats 

Distance:  5.9 miles                   Difficulty: Moderate                                 Time:  3.5 hrs

Summary

On 14 Jul 2013 we decided to return to the Homestead Trail.  Homestead Trail isn’t really just one trail: it has several branches and paths.  In the winter some of the branches are used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.  This time we picked the main Homestead Trail, then branched off to Rucksack Rd.  The Homestead trail hikes are inland trails.  The main Homestead Trail starts in the Homer swampland and climbs steadily into mountain meadows.  The link to the official web site is http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation/homestead.  This is limited site that lists a few of the hikes in the Homer area.  

Opinion

This is a nice hike, but not the best hike in the Homer area.  However, the trail should be amazing when the Fireweed blooms.  Large parts of the trail wander
through huge meadows of Fireweed with a dramatic backdrop of the mountains across Kachemak Bay.  The trail starts level then climbs steadily, but not too steeply and varies from bark-paved to boardwalk to winding narrow trails through tall grass throughout the trail.  The trail is not well maintained; it is easy to lose the trail and, although it is difficult to get truly lost, you can spend a lot of time winding through tall grass.  Overall the trail is in decent condition and the hike is very pleasant.


We went back on 22 Jul to see if the Fireweed was in bloom, but it hadn't peaked, so we'll go back at least once more this year.

Trail Advice

This trail goes through swamp land.  The mosquitoes and biting flies are fierce in summer.  Also, there is limited shade.  We strongly recommend a good coating of both sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Suitability

Not wheelchair accessible, but suitable for anyone else, including children.

Trailhead

To find the trail, take Roger's Loop Rd to the north from Sterling Hwy.  Roger's Loop Rd meets Sterling Hwy in two places; either will get to the trailhead.   The trailhead is easy to spot on the north side of Roger's Loop Rd.  Parking for the trail is parallel parking on the north side of the road.

This trailhead is the jumping off point for several hikes.  Only the Self-Guided Nature Trail is covered in this article. 

The Hike

Starting at the lower elevation trail head off of Roger's Loop, this hike shares the first half a mile with the self guided nature trail Homestead Trail - Self-Guided Nature Trail.  There are two right and two left breakoffs for that trail, which are more or less marked.

The Homestead trail starts with a wide bark-paved trail which transitions to boardwalk and/or plastic mat, then to dirt.  The mid part of the trail, before it heads into the meadows, is very boggy in spots.  Some effort was made to put logs and tree branches down at the worst spots, but you will likely have to walk through mud a couple of times.

Wetland Stream

The early part of the Homestead Trail works its way through Homer swampland.  There are many hidden streams; unlike the streams you see in the lower 48, you can hear the stream from a couple hundred yards but have to be practically standing it in to actually see it.   There is also tons of willow that has been pruned by the moose to four feet tall.  Listen carefully in this area.  It is listed as a Kachemak Bay Birding Spot and you can hear a tremendous variety of songbirds.  If you are patient you might see some of them too.

As the trail heads out of the swampland, pay attention.  The tricky piece on this trail is to follow the trail not the alpine or snow shoe trail markers.  While they have a lot in common with the trail they do go their own ways at places: mostly along the utility easements.   We are looking forward to snowshoeing in the winter in this area.  Also do not take the Summer Trail turnoff to the right.  At the time we took this hike, the Summer Trail was a partially mowed path that did not look promising or well kept up.  This may be different at different times of the year.  

Middle Part of the Trail

The middle part of the hike takes you up the north hillside into a spruce forest.  It's not as thick as it could be as the area is still recovering from a pine beetle infestation, and there are a lot of downed and dead trees.  However, nature finds a way and the cycle of life is continuing.  The downed trees are making food for fungus and wild flowers to bring a different look to the area.  The trail in this area gets steadily narrower and the tree roots are a tripping hazard.

Lower Trail

Abandoned House

The last part of the hike is an alpine meadow just covered with Fireweed.  If you look closely you can see Wild Geranium, Chocolate Lilies, and wild roses tucked in to the long grass and Fireweed.   As you get into the middle of the meadow, the view opens up and, across the tall grass and Fireweed, you can see the mountains across the Kachemak Bay.  The view was just amazing and we cannot wait to see it with the Fireweed in bloom.  This part of the trail is very narrow and the grass on either side is chest high.
  

Upper Trail

View from the Ridge

Close to the top of the hill the trail reaches a very tall, very nice bench with a panoramic view of the mouth of the Kachemak bay.  Here the trail splits into at least three directions and a sign post tells you which trail is in each direction.  We chose to head for Rucksack Rd, which was supposed to be 1 mile from the bench.

The trail continued as below with a great deal of tall grass on both sides, but occasionally the trail would open up.  This is where things got tricky.  Both hikers and ATVs use the area and the ATV drivers tend to make their own path.  There were several places where the trail split with no signs to tell you which is the real Homestead Trail.  We chose the best looking trail every time we had to make a choice and ended up on a trail labeled Sunrise Trail and from there we ended up at Diamond Ridge Road on a path that was clearly not intended to be the main trail. 

Yes, There is a Trail
on the Right

Update:  Since this was written we walked from Rucksack Rd to the bench.  The Fireweed was not fully in bloom, but we did find where we missed the trail.  About 0.5 miles after leaving the bench, there is a split in the trail.  The left branch heads in the direction you have been going, is wide and well mowed; the right heads sharply right and is narrow and goes through tall grass.  You want the right fork.  This trail goes heads across a shallow ravine, you cross a boardwalk type bridge, then switchbacks up the other side and joins Rucksack Rd.  Once you reach the road, you turn right and walk to the parking area on Rucksack Rd and Diamond Ridge Rd or you turn around and head back to the Roger's Loop trailhead.  

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