Five acres may not seem like a lot in Alaska, but sometimes the smallest properties hold the most significance to their surrounding ecosystems and communities. This parcel, known as the “Saddle Trail property,” provides important beachfront access to the neighboring Saddle Trail — one of the most popular hiking trails in the entire state. Before 2022, the property had been under private ownership and under threat of being closed to park visitors. Today, the property is owned by the State of Alaska and is permanently protected for public access to Kachemak Bay State Park.

The beach in front of the Saddle Trail property, locally known as Hawaii Beach, is a beautiful sandy beach that provides safe access for boats and water taxis to transport park visitors. In fact, the hike to Grewingk Glacier on the Saddle Trail is one of Homer’s most popular tourist activities and is a large economic driver for the region. On a busy summer day, water taxis drop off and pick up hundreds of tourists on the beach to hike the trail. But when the tide is high, Hawaii Beach is inundated, and visitors are confined to the staircase at the start of the Saddle Trail. Now that the Saddle Trail property is protected for the park, visitors can forever use the property for public access, recreation, and water taxi transportation.

“As a Homer resident, I can’t express how much Kachemak Bay State Park and this property mean to me. I am thrilled that Hawaii Beach and the Saddle Trail property are protected forever and will be enjoyed by current and future generations, including my children. I am honored to have been a part of this special project.”

—Chris Little, The Conservation Fund’s Alaska Associate

 

Those who visit Hawaii Beach also see evidence in the sand that unique history happened here. These old beach pilings reveal that the Saddle Trail property was home to a herring saltry in the early 1900s. During this time, Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet supported a bountiful herring fishery, attracting fleets from California and the Pacific Northwest. Now protected, the Saddle Trail property will help to preserve this important history for Kachemak Bay.

Historic photo courtesy of the University of Alaska.

SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS

Tourism and recreation are essential to the economy of Homer and the Kenai Peninsula, so protecting this property for the park was a top priority. Thanks to this collaborative effort, The Conservation Fund was able to purchase the Saddle Trail property and fundraise $300,000 to be able to donate the property for Kachemak Bay State Park. Special thanks Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park for their guidance and support, and to all the funders that made this project possible, notably The Homer Foundation for contributing $20,000 and ConocoPhillips Alaska for contributing $25,000. Other critical funders included many locally oriented individuals, businesses, and foundations.

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