Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park
Just a short hop from Homer is Alaska's first state park. Kachemak Bay State Park along with the adjoining Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park to the south contains almost 400,000 acres of mountains, glaciers, forests and ocean that ranges from the Harding Ice Field and 4000-foot peaks with glaciers spilling out from between them to lush forests of spruce, moss and shoulder-high devil's club. The shoreline is a ragged series of protective coves, bays and lagoons where intertidal zones are alive with starfish, crabs and other marine life. The gravel beaches have long been favorites among Homer clam diggers.
Wildlife is plentiful here. The rich lagoons and waters just off shore attract whales, sea otters, seals, dolphins and impressive salmon runs. The seashore and the tidal marshes are teaming with life; mollusks, anthropoids and sea stars are just a few that can be seen at low tide. In many rivers and streams there are impressive runs of salmon, in particular kings which gathering in Halibut Cove Lagoon in May and June and pinks that spawn up Humpy Creek in July and August. Birders are particularly attracted to the area by a wide variety of sea birds, including horned and tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots, marbled murrelets and common murres. Gull Island near Halibut Cove is a rookery for more than 12,000 seabirds, especially puffins.
Many visitors arrive to escape into the wilderness for a few days by boating, kayaking or hiking to such scenic areas as Grewingk Glacier, Poot Peak, China Poot Bay, Humpy Creek, Halibut Cove Lagoon, Tutka Bay and Sadie Cove. Others reserve a public-use cabin or book a week at a number of wilderness lodges in and around the park.