This trail takes you along lower Beluga Slough, a salt marsh where the freshwater of Beluga Lake mixes with Kachemak Bay's saltwater tides via shallow channels of flowing water. The tides of Kachemak Bay can reach 25 foot, though salt water fills the slough only when the tide rises above 18 feet. The bay is rimmed with Active volcanoes.
The trail starts at Bishop's Beach parking area and goes 0.6-miles to the Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center. The scenery transitions from the gray gravel and sand of Bishop's Beach through a grassy meadow of sedges and succulent plants. Then you ascend a hillside to pass through a spruce forest and finally reach the Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center Visitor's Center. It is interesting to check out the Visitor Center to learn about the plants and birds here, and then go directly out and see them! Lots of plants and some trees on this walk. Also birds, birds, birds. Many of the birds are migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. You might see Canadian Geese, nesting cranes, swans, merlins, wigeons, swallows, sandpipers and others. You have a good chance of seeing a bald eagle or two flying around, or just hanging out in the trees near the Visitors Center.
The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival takes place here in May during peak migration.
You can also start this walk at the Visitor's Center, of course, because it has its own parking area. It's located at 95 Sterling Highway in Homer. The trail is now a galvanized-steel grate deck (ADA accessible) to protect the wetland area. read more