Emerald Lake Trail

Access: Get to the trail from Humpy Creek or the Grewingk Glacier Trail. Description of this trail is from access via Humpy Creek North Trail. Trail begins at 650 via the Humpy Creek North Trail. The trail gains elevation quickly for close to 2 miles and will eventually leave the dead and down forest into alder fields. At this point you start to get great views north and south of Kachemak Bay. You will see the Homer Spit in all its glory. At 1800 feet, you come into the alpine and beautiful fields of geranium, fleabane, lupine and fireweed. Follow rock cairns and orange trail markers in the alpine for about 1.5 miles before you start downhill to Emerald Lake. The trail will take multiple switchbacks down as it heads towards the lake. Camping at Emerald Lake is serene. Don?t pass up the opportunity. The last 1.5 miles of the trail is mostly downhill. There is a great log bridge that spans the creek that comes out of Emerald Lake. It is a fantastic place to watch for Dipper birds working the waterline for food. The trail ends on a rocky moraine that overlooks Grewingk Lake and glacier. This trail offers some of the best views in the park. On clear days you can see the volcanoes of Iliamna and Redoubt. If you are either descending or ascending from Emerald Lake, there are great views of the lake and the massive Grewingk Glacier behind it. Emerald Lake Trail Note: Be aware that sections of this trail can be hard to follow early in the summer due to snow. Watch for orange trail markers where the trail enters the woods from the alpine areas.