Homer Alaska Drive

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Driving non-stop from Anchorage to Homer

would take a good 4.5-5 hours. However,

you'll find plenty of reasons to pull over on

the drive south: Wildlife often appears along

the roadside. Pullouts offer photoopportunities of whales, waves, and

volcanoes. Trailheads lead to fabulous

alpine and ocean views.

Restaurants offer lunch breaks beyond the

usual fast-food fare. Enjoying all the

scenery and activities along the way could

easily stretch this trip into a daylong

adventure. Here's our highly selective list of

highlights, from north to south:

Potter's Marsh (Mile 117)

Photograph waterfowl from the boardwalk, read the wildlife

displays, search for spawning salmon, or just soak in the sights and

sounds of this peaceful marsh. Thousands of migrating birds rest

here including trumpeter swans, rednecked grebes, golden eyes,

and pintails. On still days, the surface of the water becomes a giant

mirror that reflects the mountains and sky, making an idyllic photo.

Potter Section House Railroad Museum (Mile 115)

National Archives photos and model railroads help you imagine the

lives of railroad crews who lodged here long before the road

existed. Chugach State Park offices are now here (907-345-5014).

Check out the massive, 9-foot-high rotary plow out back, used to

clear the snow-piled tracks.

Turnagain Arm Trailhead (Mile 115)

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Just across the road, the mostly level trail contours the

mountainside with spectacular views breaking through the trees.

Follow it 9.5 miles to Windy Point, or cut out after 3.5 miles at

McHugh Creek.

McHugh Creek Picnic Area (Mile 111)

A waterfall tumbles over boulders into a still pond impounded by a

70-foot cliff at this scenic spot. You'd never guess that the

thundering creek is only five miles long. Hike the trail along the

creek to its source at Rabbit Lake-3,000 vertical feet-or go in just a

short distance to smell the lush forest. Across the highway, you

may see windsurfers braving the waves of Turnagain Arm.

Beluga Point (Mile 110)

The point juts into the Cook Inlet, offering a sweeping panorama.

Step up to the viewing scope to spot belugas chasing salmon thatcome in with the tide, or killer whales hunting belugas. Displays

explain whales, tides, and the cycles of life in the silty waters

below. You can walk the rocky beach below at low tide.

Windy Point (Mile 106)

You'll know you've reached Windy Point by the parked cars and

people milling about with cameras. Other than Denali, this is one of

the state's best spots to see mountain goats and magnificent Dall

Sheep. They roam to the road's edge to feed on plants and lick salt

residues. Or, look for them high above on the craggy cliffs where

their surefootedness protects them from wolves and bears. You

might mistake them for specks of snow - until you see them move!

Indian Valley Mine (Mile 104)

This well-kept secret was founded in 1910 by a 56-year-old

vagabond who ran away from home at 12, joined the circus, and

came to Alaska with the Gold Rush. The Cowles family will show

you his 100 year-old cabin, teach you to pan for gold, and regale

you with Alaska stories. Pet wild deer, pigmy goats, and exotic birds

at nearby Indian Valley Meats.

Bird Creek and Bird Ridge Trail (Mile 102)

Only in Alaska can you drive down an empty highway at 11:30 at

night, come around a bend, and suddenly see hundreds of people

running around, camping, and fishing. This is the scene at Bird

Creek from mid-July through August, when its mouth fills up with

pink and silver salmon (and anglers) at high tide.

Bird Ridge Trail climbs 3,000 feet in a little more than a mile to

magnificent views of the fjord-like Turnagain Arm. South-facing, it is

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one of the first trails to dry out in spring, even while surrounding

mountains are still shrouded in white. Hike up just a few hundred

vertical feet to look for flowers and see the views.

Bird Point (Mile 99)

A short boardwalk leads to the water to view the bore tide, a

rushing wall of water up to 6 feet high. Turnagain and Knik Arms

are the only U.S. locations where they occur regularly. Look for the

bore 2.25 hrs after low tide here at Bird Pt (1.5 hrs after at Beluga

Pt., 3 hrs at Girdwood, and 4 hrs at Portage). The bike path across

the highway leads 7 miles into Girdwood along the old highway.

Girdwood Turnoff (Mile 90)

Just before the turnoff into Girdwood [link to Girdwood landing

page], notice the ghost forest that met its doom during the 1964

earthquake when the land sunk as much as 10 feet and saltwater

penetrated the soil. Girdwood began as a mining camp in the early

1900s, and today it's Alaska's premier resort town. The mall at the

turnoff is your last chance for gas if you're continuing on toward

Seward, another 90 miles south.

Old Portage (Mile 80)

The Good Friday Earthquake sunk the earth 6-10 feet, submerging

the former boomtown of Portage. An abandoned horse stable and

cabin struggle to stand among the grassy wetlands. Photograph the

standing "ghost forest," killed when saltwater flooded their roots.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Mile 79)

Visit Alaska's only drive-through wildlife park, sanctuary to

orphaned and injured animals. Get close-up shots of bison, elk,

deer, musk ox, moose, caribou, and eagles. Meet Mike Miller who

hand-built the sprawling log cabin lodge (907-783-2025, $5 per

person, $20 max per vehicle).

Portage Turnoff (Mile 78.9)

Here's your opportunity to detour down Portage Valley. This scenic

drive takes you to Whittier and Prince William Sound, and on theway you can stop at Portage Lake, once filled by Portage Glacier.

The glacier has receded from view, but you can put your fingertips

on icebergs from the melting glacier, take a boat ride on the MV

Ptarmigan to its face, and learn about glaciers at the visitor center.

Continue south on the Seward Highway-next stop, Kenai

Peninsula.

Turnagain Pass (Mile 75-69)

Climb almost 1,000 feet up from sea level to Turnagain Pass, which offers pull-offs aplenty for
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Do the forests along this stretch of the highway look healthy? These rust-red trees have been killed

by spruce bark beetles-along with 1.1 million acres of spruce forests on the Kenai Peninsula.

Devil's Pass Trailhead (Mile 39.5)

This 9.5-mile hike climbs 1,400 feet from the Seward Highway over Devil's Pass to connect with the

Resurrection Pass Trail. Hikers are treated to magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and

good fishing for Dolly Varden at Devil's Pass Lake.

Jerome Lake turnout (Mile 38.3)

Try your luck for Dolly Varden or rainbow trout. Interpretive signs are provided at the turnout.

Sterling Highway junctions and Tern Lake (Mile 37.7 & Mile 37)

Turn on to the Sterling Highway to head toward the Kenai River, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,

Kenai, and Homer. At mile 37, you'll descend from the trees to Tern Lake, where Arctic terns share

the area with loons, bald eagles, beavers, and other wildlife. The best views are from the bird-

watching platform, where you'll find helpful interpretive signs.

Sackett's Kenai Grill (Mile 47.4)

Located on the shore of Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Sackett's Kenai Grill (907-595-1827) is

another good place to stop for food about halfway to Homer. Dinner is their strong suit, with

awesome pasta, smoked prime rib, and great soups.

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge (Mile 47.7)

Located about two miles off the highway, this gorgeous lodge's dining room and deck overlook the

Kenai River. While the food is on the upscale side of the spectrum-pecan-encrusted halibut, for

example-you don't need to dress up to fit in. One Homer local recommends the panzanella salad

with blackened halibut, if you spot it on the menu.

Russian River Campground (Mile 52.75)

If you're ready to catch your own dinner, just past Cooper Landing is the Russian River, with its

famous runs of red salmon. Spend a few hours here (along with all the other combat anglers).

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Mile 55)

After filling up, you may need a little exercise to aid digestion. If you have your own canoe or kayak,

stop for a paddle on Skilak Lake, located in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. For a quick hike with

good views, go down Skilak Lake Road, past Hidden Lake campground, to Skilak Lake Overlook

Trail. Get a glimpse of Skilak Glacier and look out over the lake. You can be up and back in 1-1.5

hours. Up for something longer? Here are two good day hikes:

Details

Depending on time, tackle the Skyline Trail. Right off the Sterling Highway, you'll see a sign on

the side of the road at a pullout, about 2-2.5 miles past the Skilak Loop Road turnout. Though

just two miles roundtrip, the trail's elevation gain (1,800 feet) pushes your hike to a good five

hours. Still, the views of Skilak Lake and the Kenai Mountains are spectacular.


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Right past Cooper Landing, cross two bridges (the second above the Kenai River) to get to the

Resurrection Pass Trail. It's about four miles in to beautiful Juneau Falls. There's some elevation

gain in beginning, but switchbacks keep the difficulty down.

Soldotna (Mile 96)

Just blow through "Slowdotna" as fast as you can, unless you need to stop and do a little shopping

at Fred Meyer.

Clam Gulch (Mile 117)

Whenever Cook Inlet tides are -1 or lower, you can harvest razor clams from Clam Gulch beaches.

Check with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for bag limits; you'll need a non-resident fishing

icense to dig. For a fee, a local lady will clean them for you.

Volcanoes (Mile 157)

The town of Anchor Point marks the westernmost point to which

you can drive in North America. On a clear day, you'll be able to

see five volcanoes-four active and one dormant-from scenicpullouts. These peaks mark the beginning of the Aleutian Chain and

are part of the "Ring of Fire," a string of volcanic and seismic hot

spots circling the Pacific. The last eruption from these five

volcanoes occurred in 1992, when Mt. Spurr dumped a dark cloud

of ash over Anchorage.

Homer (Mile 172.8)

You've arrived at the end-of- the-road town of Homer, where you'll

find world-class halibut fishing, a thriving arts community, and a

scenic setting. Another few miles down the road (mile 179.5) takes

you to the Spit, a long, narrow finger of land jutting 4.5 miles into

beautiful Kachemak Bay-the end of the Sterling Highway.

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Homer Alaska Drive