Experience - Low Tide at the Homer Ferry Dock and the Lee Shore of the Spit

Sea stars under the ferry dock

Summary

Low tide is one of my favorite times to visit the beach and the area around the base of the ferry dock is one of my favorite places.  Although I also really enjoy Bishop’s Beach and Mariner Park.  At low tide, you can get a glimpse of sea life you would

Hiking - Hidden Creek Trail

Hidden Creek

Stats

Distance:  2.6 miles                     Difficulty: Easy to Moderate                            Time:  2 hrs

Summary

The best part of the Hidden Creek Trail is when it meets up with the marshlands

Hiking - Ben Walter's Park Floating Dock

View from Ben Walter's Park as a Floatplane Lands

Stats

Distance:  0.1 miles         Difficulty: Easy           Time:  15 min

Summary

Tucked away at the side of Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska, Ben Walter’s Park is

Hiking - Bishop's Beach at a Very Low Tide

Low tide at Bishop's Beach

Stats

Distance:  Up to you                             Difficulty: Easy                                   Time:  Up to you

Summary

Bishop's Beach is probably the best known beach in Homer.  This beach is popular for dog walking, clamming, and driving.  On an unusually beautiful Saturday in May the low tide was lower than -3 ft.  We decided to hike on the beach to see if we could find sea stars.

Opinion

At high tide Bishop's Beach is a fairly ordinary beach, but at low tide it becomes something special.

Adventure - Kayaking with True North Kayak Tours

Kayaks on the beach

Stats

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate                                                                               Time:  half-day

Summary

Every May, the Homer Chamber of Commerce hosts the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival.  The festival celebrates the passage of huge numbers of migratory birds through Kachemak Bay.  It lasts 3 days and is jam-packed with bird-watching, hikes, talks, kayaking, and boat tours.  One of the activities we chose to do was a kayaking trip with True North Kayak.

Opinion

This trip was a lot of fun.  The price is surprisingly reasonable and

(Closed due to massive undercutting of trail) Hiking - Diamond Creek Trail to Kachemak Bay Beach

Young Eagle on the Beach

Closed due massive undercutting of the trail
-- We'll update this post when it gets opened again.
-----------------------------------
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

Adventure - Blueberry Picking at the Peterson Research Station

Sunset at Peterson Research Station

Stats

When: Early – Mid August                         Where: Peterson Research Station

Summary

Alaska seems to be the US capitol for berries.  More berries grow in this state than I’ve ever heard of anywhere else.  We’ve got blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, salmon berries, watermelon berries, elderberries, currant, marionberries, cranberries, lingonberries (low bush cranberry), nagoonberries, crow berries, serviceberries, and strawberries.  Most of these grow wild, but several cultivars are grown in home yards and farms as well.  Truly, I didn’t know half these berries existed until I moved here.

On 11 Aug 2013 our neighbors asked if we wanted to take a boat ride across Kachemak Bay to go blueberry picking at the Peterson Research Station.  The Peterson Research Station belongs to the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies based out of Homer.  The station is situated on 5 acres of wild land and coastline and their lower trails go through extensive blueberry fields, with a mix of currant and salmonberry randomly distributed throughout.  The berries are fair game to visitors, although they ask that you leave a few for the bears.

Opinion

This was a blast.  We picked berries for about 2 hours and came home with 7.5 lbs (22.5 cups)

Hiking - Walking The Spit Starting at Mariner’s Park

Stats

Distance:  Up to you                       Difficulty: Easy                              Time:  Up to you

Summary

The Spit is a Homer landmark.  It is exactly what its name says, a spit of land reaching into Kachemak Bay.  The spit is best know for the fishing charters, shopping, and fish packing, but is also a popular place for beach strolls and clamming.  We took a hike on the west side of the Spit starting at Mariner’s Park on 9 Jul 2013.

Opinion

This is one of our favorite hikes when we are in the mood for an easy stroll on the beach.  The common sites include Bald Eagles, gulls of several varieties,

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

Hiking - Homestead Trail: Self-Guided Nature Trail

Stats

Distance:  1.0 miles                                  Difficulty: Easy                                        Time:  30 min

Summary

On 3 Jul 2013 we decided to check out the Homestead Trail.  Since we had no specific goal in mind, we picked the closest and shortest of the hikes that start at Homestead Trail trailhead.  The Homestead trail hikes are inland trails and the Self-Guided Nature trail goes through the Homer wild- and swamp-land.  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 in the Homer area.  This trail is not one for sweeping vistas, but is best enjoyed by