Kachemak Bay State Park

Open — Open year-round for camping and cabin rentals. Access by boat or plane only from Homer. Fires allowed only on beaches, gravel bars, or in provided metal fireplaces. Halibut Cove Lagoon is only navigable at high tide due to extreme tidal currents.

About

Kachemak Bay State Park, established in 1972 as Alaska's first state park, protects roughly 400,000 acres of pristine wilderness along Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. The park is entirely roadless and accessible only by boat or floatplane from Homer, creating a true backcountry experience for adventurous campers. The dramatic landscape features twisted rock formations shaped by tectonic activity, towering mountains, active glaciers, dense coastal forests, and miles of remote shoreline. Camping is permitted throughout most of the park, with both developed and undeveloped sites scattered across the wilderness. Developed camping areas may include metal fireplaces, picnic tables, tent platforms, bear-proof food caches, and pit toilets. The park also offers several remote public use cabins in areas like Halibut Cove Lagoon, China Poot Lake, and Sea Star Cove, available for reservation year-round. Over 80 miles of trails provide access deep into the backcountry, leading to iconic destinations like Grewingk Glacier, Poot Peak, Humpy Creek, and China Poot Lake. Kachemak Bay experiences the second-largest tidal range in the world, with an average 15-foot difference between high and low tide and extremes reaching 28 feet. Strong tidal currents create rapids in narrow passages like the entrance to Halibut Cove Lagoon, which is only navigable at high tide. The bay's waters support a critical marine habitat where visitors frequently spot sea otters, harbor seals, porpoises, and whales. Land mammals include moose, black bears, mountain goats, coyotes, and wolves. The area is renowned for birding, with eagles, gyrfalcons, and puffins commonly observed. The park's severe and unpredictable coastal weather demands proper preparation with rain gear and extra clothing.

Directions

No road access. Accessible only by boat or airplane from Homer. Water taxis, air charters, and boat rentals available in Homer. Halibut Cove Lagoon entrance is only navigable at high tide.

Nearby Campgrounds