Kachemak BayEmerald Lake Loop & Mallard Bay Trails |
Guide to Emerald Lake Loop and Mallard Bay Trails at Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park (SP & SWP) in Alaska. Published by Alaska State Parks.
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Guide to
Emerald Lake Loop &
Mallard Bay Trails
in Kachemak Bay State Park
Trail Access: Humpy Creek, Mallard Bay, or Glacier Spit
Trailheads
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: Emerald Lake Loop: 12.6 mi
Mallard Bay Trail: 0.6 mi
Mallard/Emerald Connector: 1.1 mi
Elevation Gain: Emerald Lake Loop: 2800 ft;
Emerald/Mallard Connector: 500 ft
Mallard Bay: 200 ft in, 100 ft out
Difficulty: Emerald Lake Loop: Easy (flats) to Difficult
(long steep climbs); Mallard/Emerald Connector: Difficult;
Mallard Bay: Easy to Moderate (long switchbacks);
Emerald Lake: Moderate to Difficult
Hiking Time: Emerald Lake Loop: 5 hrs; Emerald/Mallard
Connector: 45 min; Mallard Bay: 30 min
Emerald Lake Loop Trail: This loop accesses beautiful
Emerald Lake and its alpine surroundings. Starting at
Humpy Creek Trailhead/Campsite, head South, crossing
Humpy Creek (known for its pink “humpy” salmon). Then
Mallard Bay Trail: This trail climbs over a ridge from the Mallard Bay Trailhead/
Campsite to the Portlock River.
cross a flat, mostly open, outwash plain before passing
Mallard/Emerald Connector Trail: This trail connects the Emerald Lake Loop
several blue ponds. The trail then threads a narrow rock
Trail with the Mallard Bay Trail. From the Mallard Bay Trail junction, the trail as-
“flume” where Grewingk Creek once flowed, past the cable
cends switchbacks to the Emerald Lake Trail junction.
tram that crosses Grewingk Creek. While camping is good
here, remember that black bears frequent the area. From
Grewingk Creek, the trail climbs over Foehn Ridge, offering
views of Grewingk Glacier and outwash flats. Descending
the ridge, the trail crosses flatlands to Grewingk Glacier
Lake. Look for glacier ice floating in the lake. From Grewingk
Lake the trail climbs up exposed rock, then along a lateral
moraine into the forest. A bridge then crosses Humpy Creek
before reaching treeline. A 0.2 mile spur leads to Emerald
Lake and campsite at a junction (a small stream may be
difficult to cross during spring melt). The trail then climbs to
Portlock Plateau where there are fantastic views of Kackemak Bay. Look for bears and mountain goats high on the
ridges. Alpine portions of the trail are marked with rock
cairns and white spars. The trail then descends a ridge
(follow cairns and spars carefully) into alders then a spruce
forest plagued by spruce bark beetles and wind storms. The
trail then descends past the Mallard/Emerald Connector
Trail junction to the tidewater flats of Kachemak Bay. Continue South along the tidewater flats (area floods at extreme
high tides) to return to Humpy Creek Trailhead/Campsite.
Camping:
Developed campsites at Humpy Creek, Grewingk Glacier Lake (undeveloped)
Emerald Lake, and Mallard Bay. Undeveloped camping on small beach north of the
Mallard Bay trailhead (extreme high-tides flood the trailhead beach)
Water Availability:
Humpy Creek, Grewingk Glacier Lake, Emerald Lake, Portlock River (glacial),
Grewingk Creek (glacial) & nearby ponds, and seasonally at Mallard Bay Trailhead
Special Features:
Humpy Creek offers good fishing and wildlife viewing. Emerald Lake is very remote
and scenic. ADVISORY: Black bears frequent the mouth of Humpy Creek during
the months of July and August, when salmon are spawning.
Park Access:
Kachemak Bay State Park is accessed via boat from the Homer Harbor. Local water
taxis can provide transportation to most park trailheads.
Park Rules:
For a complete set of park rules visit:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kbay/kbay.htm
Alaska State Parks, Kenai Area Office
PO Box 1247
Soldotna, AK
(907) 262 - 5581