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| View From the Cottonwood Trail |
Stats
Distance: 0.25 miles Difficulty: Easy Time: 20 minutes
Summary
The Cottonwood Trail is a short
hike to a fabulous view of the Grewingk Glacier, Homer Spit and the Kachemak Bay.
It belongs to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies’ Wynn
Nature Center trail system, but the trail head is not located at the Wynn Center
proper. The trail is a bit steep, but
has many switchbacks and is quite short so we rate is as easy.
Opinion
This is a great scenic view trail
for clear days on the Kachemak Bay.
There is a very nice set of benches at the end of the trail, backed by a
spruce forest and looking out over an open meadow down the Homer bluff and out
over the spit and bay.
Trail Advice
As with all Alaskan trails,
mosquito repellent is a must. The
mosquitos love the deep shadows under the trees.
The trail is in good condition, but
it is narrow and after a rain can be a bit slippery.
Suitability
This trail is suitable for adults
and children.
Trailhead
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| Turnout to the Cottonwood Trail |
To find the trailhead, take East
Hill Rd and turn right on east Skyline.
After about a mile, the road takes a tight turn to the left and there is
a wide graveled area on the right. You
will most likely not see the trail sign until you have parked so keep your eyes
open. If you reach the Wynn Center you
have gone too far, and we would suggest you stop in ask their guides for directions.
The Hike
The trail immediately dives into
the trees at the edge of parking area.
Look closely; you can see many different flowers, mushrooms, and lichen at
different seasons. Almost immediately
you walk through a tiny open space that is home to wild geranium and a few
fireweed plants.  |
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| Walking through the Forest |
From there you walk back into the
woods and start walking down the bluff on a series of easy switchbacks. On both sides you will see Sitka spruce,
alder, and cottonwood trees. Under the
trees are ferns, wildflowers, Devil’s Club, and a variety of rainforest
understory plants.
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| Marker at the End of the Trail |
The trail ends abruptly where the
forest opens onto a meadow on the side of the bluff. Two large benches mark the end of the trail
and provide a quite place to enjoy the open view and the sounds of nature.
This is a very pleasant, short
hike that provides a unique view of the glaciers, the Homer Spit and Kachemak bay.
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| Spring View from Cottonwood Trail |
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