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| What can I do on the drive to Homer? |
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 photo opportunities 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: |
| Seward Highway |
|
Sterling Highway |
- Mile 117: Potter's Marsh
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
- Mile 110: Beluga Point
Beluga Point juts into the Cook Inlet, offering a sweeping panorama.
Step up to the viewing scope to spot beluga whales chasing salmon
that come in with the tide, or killer whales hunting belugas.
The best time to see these white whales is during high tide from
mid-July through August, when salmon make their spawning runs.
At low tide, you can walk the rocky beach. Displays explain whales,
tides, and the cycles of life in the silty waters below.
- Mile 106: Windy Point
Mountain goats and Dall sheep 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. Out on the arm, watch for windsurfers
braving the freezing waters and extreme tides.
- Mile 102: Bird Ridge Trail
Stop here for a lung-burning climb-3,000 feet in little more than
a mile-through birch trees. Your reward? Breathtaking views of
the fjord-like Turnagain Arm. This is also a great place to take
in a springtime wildflower bloom; due to its southern exposure,
Bird Ridge blossoms earlier than the normal (i.e. late June and
early August).
- Mile 99: Bird Point
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 2-2 1/4 hours after low tide in Anchorage (1.5 hours
after at Beluga Point, 3 hours at Girdwood, and 4 hours at Portage).
Bore tides are created by the wide range between high and low
tides (more than 35 feet in Cook Inlet) and the narrow, shallow,
and gentle sloping of the arm. Check Bird Point's interpretive
signs for further explanation of this phenomenon and a (possible)
schedule.
- Mile 75-69: Turnagain Pass
Watch for cars pulled off and people bent over-a good sign of
berry picking. Join them to gather highbush cranberries, rose
hips, raspberries, service and watermelon berries in season. Late
summer is primetime for blueberries. The pass offers pull-offs
aplenty for panoramic photos and gorgeous views. The setting is
alpine, with 1,000 feet of elevation, and you'll see sub-alpine
wildflowers as well.
- Mile 45.5: Summit Lake Lodge
Surrounded by mountains, Summit Lake Lodge offers a scenic, high-country
stop for a mid-drive luncheon. This log roadhouse, hand built
in the 1950s, includes a gift shop, rooms for rent, and a restaurant.
The fare isn't fancy-tuck into good burgers and excellent salads.
From a table in the atrium, you may be able to see the lake.
www.summitlakelodge.com
»
- Mile 37: Tern Lake
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.
|
- Mile 47.7: Kenai Princess Wilderness
Lodge
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.
- Mile 47.4: Sackett's Kenai Grill
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 pasta,
smoked prime rib, and great soups.
- Mile 39: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
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:
- 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 round-trip, 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.
- 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.
- Mile 96: Soldotna
Just blow through "Slowdotna" as fast as you can, unless you need
to stop and do a little shopping at Fred Meyer.
- Mile 117: Clam Gulch
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 license to dig. For a fee, a local lady will clean them
for you.
- Mile 157: Volcanoes
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 scenic
pullouts. 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.
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Transportation option coming soon!
