Came across a black bear about a half mile before the glacier lake. The final stretch of trail heads through a heavy alder section before spitting you out on the lake shore for your spectacular views. Kachemak State Park is a short water taxi from Homer and home to Grewingk Lake, our campsite after a flat 3-mile trail from the beach. Our favorite so far on our eight-day Alaskan road trip. It is one of the easiest hikes in the park as the trail is well maintained, and you can't beat the view of the glacier at the lake. The Tram: the tram holds a maximum of 2 people with packs. The Grewingk Tram Spur Trail leaves the forest and takes you across a glacial plain. Please check your email to verify your subscription. Enjoy lounging on the beach, watching icebergs or exploring up the beach looking for wildlife (the occasional black bear has been spotted along the trail). All reviews saddle trail grewingk glacier great hike water taxi icebergs floating hand tram kachemak bay floating ice lots of water halibut cove gorgeous park marked trail shorter hike black beans sea otters easy hike hiking boots . After 1.5 miles, the trail proceeds straight towards the lake on alluvial flats. Black Bears: Multiple individuals have been sighted in the Grewingk Valley along the Glacier Lake, Grewingk Tram, and Saddle Trails, and at Grewingk Lake on the southern end where people camp. Recommend adding on the Alpine Ridge trail to make it worthwhile. The Hand Tram. You can camp at Rusty's Lagoon, at Rusty's Campsite (watch for the short Spur Trail less than half a mile in), or backpack in and camp on the beach at Glacier Lake. We arrived at Kachemak Bay State Park via water taxi on a bluebird day! Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. Hiked to Grewingk Glacier, with a short diversion to the river tram. The tram was exactly a mile away and boy was it a sight to behold. Dort war der Startpunkt des Grewingk Glacier Trial, der uns zu dem Grewingk Glacier führte. Glacier Lake Trail, Grewingk Tram and Saddle Trail is a 16.3 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Homer, Alaska that features a lake and is rated as moderate. For the first 1.5 miles, the trail meanders through mixed cottonwood and Sitka spruce. Completed on 8/12/2020 and we went pretty late in the day - definitely the last pickup from our water taxi. This trail offers superb views of the glacier and its surrounding peaks. The first was about 1-1.5 miles from glacier trailhead. Very dusty now as there has been no precipitation. I would recommend this trail to anyone that wants to be “blown away “ when they get to the glacial lake!! 1/2 Meile am Strand entlang gehen um zum Startpunkt des Trails zu gelangen. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Beautiful and easy trail. The Alyeska Resort Aerial Tramway brings you to a viewing deck which provides breath-taking panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, streams, and an array of wildlife, plus access to myriad hiking trails. Fantastic well maintained trail! For the first 1.5 miles, the trail meanders through mixed cottonwood and Sitka spruce. She was bedded down in high brush and did not give us any warning. The guide points out these features and more, continuing to tell a … Beautiful views! Grewingk Creek Tram: This is a hand-operated cable car pulley system. There's a gradual ascent until the trail opens up onto the gravel out wash plain of Grewingk glacier, where you'll hike through low cottonwood/spruce vegetation. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Selected filters. After 1.5 miles, the trail proceeds straight towards the lake on alluvial flats. 8 mile trek, good for a moderately skilled hiker. Cairns mark the trail across the rocky surface. Please be bear aware. Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. Just hiked the Saddle Trail to the lake. Beautiful vistas and icebergs at lake. My friend and I couldn’t stop gushing over the vibrant summertime colors and breathtaking scenery. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. We were dropped off on the glacier trail side and picked up at saddle trailhead. At mile 1 on the Grewingk Lake trail, you’ll come to a spur on your left leading to the Grewingk Tram. Saw plenty of bear scrat but no bears. Marine Wildlife on the way there, Glacial Lake with Glacier Ice Calves, Grewingk Glacier, Tram across Grewingk Creek. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Hike to a mountain glacier, take a kayak tour, or just relax and enjoy the scenery of Kachemak Bay. Absolutely loved it!! The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. This trail will lead you over to Halibut Cove where you will most likely be picked up by your water taxi. That part of the trail was very narrow with high brush on both sides. The trails were well kept the entire way with only one blown down tree. An absolute must if you’re in Homer/Kachemak Bay Area. At mile 2.4, the trail crosses the 250-foot Grewingk Creek in a narrow channel of bedrock. Discover Alaska's best destinations and excursions. Plan your cruise, land tour, or custom package. When we arrived at the first trail sign, we opted to take the path to the Grewingk Tram — as per our taxi driver’s suggestion — and headed straight. Explore thing to do in Homer at the “End of the Road”. For the first 1.5 miles, the trail meanders through mixed cottonwood and Sitka spruce. This hike was absolutely stunning! Only the saddle trail portion was steep. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. On the way back, we took the side trail up to Grewingk Glacier Lake, and finally ended our day at the Saddle Trailhead. It took us 4.5 hours to do all the trails at a normal walking pace, but we relaxed at the glacier for a long time and walked around the lake quite a bit too. Cost a pretty penny to get to the park but the trail was well worth it. We did come across bears twice. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It’s nice to have two (or more) people to operate it, as it is somewhat heavy. This was a beautiful hike. Schedule a kayak paddle on the lake with a local guide or base here and hike to the glacier or Alpine Ridge. 2-5 day small ship explorations. There was a problem with your submission. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. China Poot Lake Trail via Halibut Cove Ranger Station, Porcupine, Mountain Goat, Bear and Wolverine Loop, Mountain Goat, Raven, Wolf, Bear and Wolverine Loop, Saddle and Grewingk Lake Trail (Halibut Cove to Grewingk Lake), Glacier Lake Trail, Grewingk Tram and Saddle Trail. This trail crosses the glacial river via a hand pulled tram and ends at the edge of Grewingk Glacier. Keep an eye out for small hawks and bald eagles hunting from treetops in this area. The Glacier Lake Trail follows flat terrain through stands of cottonwoods & spruce, and across the dry outwash plain of Grewingk Glacier. Shortly after the trail splits the forest starts to give way to the oldest of the many moraines. Very well maintained and the new reconstructed trail from lake , over saddle through mixed forest, to halibut cove (where the water taxi will pick up) is pristine. we saw at least 6 bears plus a Sow with 2 Cubs, a couple were within 40 ft. recommend packing a pistol. Wonderful easy trail. It is one of the easiest hikes in the park as the trail is well maintained, and you can't beat the view of the glacier at the lake. The hand tram stretched across a rushing river and looked out over the bay. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from May until October. Please try again. By Jay Barrett • Oct 13, 2020 Credit Alaska State Parks Alaska State Park Rangers reported a violent bear encounter Monday on the trail between the Grewingk Saddle Trail Junction and … This trail, hands down, is one of the most popular hikes in the Kachemak Bay State Park. This trail, hands down, is one of the most popular hikes in the Kachemak Bay State Park. The hike out over saddleback was steep up and then very steep down towards the beach. Glacier Lake Trail, Grewingk Tram and Saddle Trail is a 10.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Homer, Alaska that features a lake and is rated as moderate. 10 ft max by the time she stood up and started grunting. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map. This trail, hands down, is one of the most popular hikes in the Kachemak Bay State Park. Awesome clear day and beautiful shining glacier. The view of Halibut Lagoon while climbing up the Saddle Trail. Videos, photos, and hundreds of expert advice articles. We are avid hikers, so we did the all day hike out to the Grewingk Glacier - we took the water taxi across the bay, used the hand-powered tram to cross the river, then hiked up and over the big hill and all the way out to the glacier. Saw a black bear for fleeting second. The trail is well-maintained and marked. so beautiful Date of experience: June 2013 Ask cheribree2016 about Kachemak Bay State Park Leaving the forest, the trail opens onto the outwash plain of Grewingk Glacier. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Very flat most of the way except the last section (saddle trail). Grewingk Glacier Hike My friends, Dave and Lorraine from Ottawa , Ontario (formerly at Indiana State University ) visited in September. Zuerst mussten wir ca. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. Beautiful!! The Grewingk Hand Tram . Make sure you take the self powered tram over the river from Grewingk Glacier. That one was too close for comfort. Absolutely – this trail is an easy, well beaten trail that is a fun day hike for ALL ages! Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. Grewingk Glacier Lake Trail. Keep an eye out for small hawks and bald eagles hunting from treetops in this area. It ends at the broad, open beaches of Grewingk Glacier Lake. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Hike to Grewingk Glacier Hi Blog! Nach ungefähr der Hälfte The hand tram is well kept and the glacier is really breathtaking. These cottonwoods are some of the largest in the park so take time to appreciate their enormous size. Be prepared for sore arms; using the tram is a real upper body work out. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. These cottonwoods are some of the largest in the park so take time to appreciate their enormous size. 7-10 days is the most common. The lake was beautiful and the views of the glacier were fantastic. The tram crosses the Grewingk river, and lets you access trails on the N. side of Grewingk flats. Gestern morgen fuhren wir mit einem "Water Taxi" von Homer aus durch die Kachemak Bay zur Halibut Cove! Grewingk Glacier is a 12.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Homer, Alaska that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? She was off trail about 10 yards. As we were hiking out to the creek, we met a family of four coming back. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. After pulling the dingy up the beach above the high tide mark, with camera gear and bear protection in hand, we began our hike toward Grewingk Glacier. The glacier has retreated three miles in some 35 years and left a freshly scoured landscape yet to be taken over by foliage. Doable with little ones in a backpack. We took Mako’s Water Taxi across Kachemak Bay to hike the Grewingk Glacier trail and cross the glacier river via hand-pulled tram. A little over a mile in true glacier viewers will need to veer off towards the Tram Spur Trail, leading to the only way to safely cross over the fast moving glacial creek: the hand tram. View Grewingk Glacier up close on the Blue Ice Trail. Like most hikes in Kachemak Bay, you will need to schedule a water taxi to gain access to the trailhead. Alaska State Park Rangers reported a violent bear encounter Monday on the trail between the Grewingk Saddle Trail Junction and the Glacier Lake Trail Tram. Overwhelmed by choices? Rather exciting for avid hikers but don’t try this if you aren’t in shape! State Park Rangers have reported that a violent bear encounter occurred yesterday between the Grewingk Saddle Trail Junction and the Glacier Lake Trail Tram. The beginning of trail is on level, but rocky terrain. Dave and I rowed from the boat to the beach. Loved it! what an amazing place. Maximum weight of 2 persons with packs or 500 pounds (227 kg). The first 2.5 miles from the Glacier Spit to the tram were fairly smooth on a hard-packed trail. While hiking, give them their space if encountered. Self-drive vacations. Great hike. The walk to the tram is very flat and not much to see. Beautiful trails. Car, train, or group tour. You may even see a bear and other mammal life. There's a gradual ascent until the trail opens up onto the gravel out wash plain of Grewingk glacier, where you'll run through low cottonwood/spruce vegetation. Privies are available at the trailhead and the lake. Saw a mama and baby black bear in the trail, not at all scared of people. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Hike to a mountain glacier, take a kayak tour, or just relax and enjoy the scenery of Kachemak Bay. Lots of bears and tons of scat on trail. The views are gorgeous and the spur to the tram worth the mile out and back. Go to the official website (info is under the Grewingk Glacier Trail description) to be familiar with its operation. Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. The tram spans the glacier river: After the tram the trail begins a steady climb up about 500 feet up a little knoll. Gorgeous hike. Soooo the hike in was super easy! At 2.7 miles you pass the Saddle Trail junction. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. The final stretch of trail heads through a heavy alder section before spitting you out on the lake shore for your spectacular views. Is this trail kid friendly? The tram can only hold up to 500 lbs, and is best for two average sized people at once. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Read reviews in English Go back. The trail was quite overgrown in areas so it felt like wading through the grass and the pace slowed. Enjoy lounging on the beach, watching icebergs or exploring up the beach looking for wildlife (the occasional black bear has been spotted along the trail). We saw a bear on the glacier trail and it eventually just walked slowly away. only accessible by boat. We haven’t done that hike yet. This trail will lead you over to Halibut Cove where you will most likely be picked up by your water taxi. This trail crosses flat terrain, through stands of cottonwoods and spruce, and across the dry outwash plain of Grewingk Glacier. Did you know Grewingk Glacier is named after Constantin Grewingk? According to an announcement, a family with dogs and children were hiking along the trail when a black bear sow emerged from the bushes behind the group and charged toward a child in what was reportedly a predatory manner. Starting at the Glacier Spit Trailhead, you'll enter mixed old growth forest. Cubs scattered up the tree. The hike to Grewingk lake is flat and was sunny and hot on the day we went, but worth it. easy clean trail kid friendly. Well worth it. This trail offers superb views of the glacier and its surrounding peaks. Trail Description: A popular loop route joined by the Saddle and Glacier Lake Trails. There were reports that she’s guarding the trail, so just be cautious. Not only will nature here blow you away here but we only saw 2 other groups camping the entire weekend despite it being a national holiday which means you’ll have this place virtually to yourse We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. August 31st, 2017 | Taz Tally This 7-mile-long (one way) trail is the only trail to the Grewingk Glacier. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. Amenities include a gym, full spa, boutique, and four restaurants, including the four-diamond Seven Glaciers. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). The tram is suspended on cables, and is operated by hand. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Second was the sow and cubs that others have mentioned. Filter. You may want … Kachemak Bay State Park, Homer Picture: The tram across the river - Check out Tripadvisor members' 8,880 candid photos and videos. We started at the Glacier Spit Trailhead, took the spur out to the tram crossing and back, hiked on to the lake, and then hiked out via the Saddle Trail to the Saddle Trailhead instead of hiking back out the same way (7.5 miles total distance hiked). We did see some fresh bear scat on the trails, so make sure you have some bells, spray, and lots of conversation/singing! The glacier lake is beautiful. You'll pass a junction at about mile 1.2 that leads to the Tram Trail; stay on the Glacier Lake Trail at this point. Things got interesting when we arrived at the tram. a must do! It is one of the easiest hikes in the park as the trail is well maintained, and you can't beat the view of the glacier at the lake. A family with dogs and children were hiking along the trail when a black bear sow emerged from the bushes behind the group and charged toward a child in a predatory manner. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. The trail is well-maintained and marked. Operation may require two people. We saw no bears on the Glacier Lake or tram spur trails and minimal scat until very close to the lake. The first section was through the woods, while the next section traversed over the glacial river basin area so the trail was rocky and the vegetation was primarily short, scrubby poplar trees. At 2.7 miles you pass the Saddle Trail junction. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Explore thing to do in Homer at the “End of the Road”. Keep food in bear proof containers or with you. Spectacular hike. Kachemak Bay State Park: Great hike to Grewingk Glacier - See 181 traveller reviews, 121 candid photos, and great deals for Homer, AK, at Tripadvisor. Which one is right for you? Kachemak Bay State Park: Great hike to Grewingk Glacier - See 181 traveller reviews, 121 candid photos, and great deals for Homer, AK, at Tripadvisor. A park ranger instructed us toward the Saddle Trail which would lead us to Grewingk Glacier Lake with views of Grewingk Glacier. Beautiful. It ends at the broad open beaches of Grewingk Glacier Lake. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. This hike generally takes 1.5-2 hrs each way. The other branch is the Grewingk Glacier Trail. Camping here is an ideal Alaskan experience. Kachemak Bay State Park: Traveled to the Grewingk glacier on the "easy" trail - See 181 traveller reviews, 121 candid photos, and great deals for Homer, AK, at Tripadvisor. The trails are mostly flat (unless you get dropped off at the the Saddle Ridge entrance, which would be a steeper set of switchbacks). We had about 5 hours to do the trail and that was a perfect amount with the time to lay out on the glacier beach! The met our taxi at the head of the Saddle Trail. Beautiful flat trail in, switchbacks out down the saddle view trail. If … That was right after the switchbacks on Saddle trail.
2020 grewingk glacier tram