Best of Kachemak Bay: Alaskan Style Basecamp
Guided Backpacking Trips
4-5 Day, 3-4 Nights 20+MI / 32KM
Trip Highlights
The trails and coastline of Kachemak Bay at the southwest tip of the Kenai Peninsula are some of the most majestic yet accessible stretches of wilderness that Alaska has to offer. Less than a half hour boat ride across the bay from the town of Homer is a backcountry playground for both Alaskans and visitors from around the world to enjoy. This ‘basecamp’ style backcountry trip allows guests to experience an ‘off the grid’ and minimalist camping experience of backpacking, without the demand of carrying heavy packs every day for several miles. At camp and on the water taxis, the opportunities to sea marine life like otters, orcas, sea lions and sea birds are endless. Both at camp and on trail, there are many chances to come across moose, mountain goats, bears, eagles and even salmon spawning. With day hikes to incredible vistas and through a variety of terrain, this trip offers greater opportunity to experience the incredible variety of what Alaska has to offer (including sea kayaking to a glacier!) than almost any other itinerary.
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Glaciers & Mountain Views
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Backcountry Day Hikes
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Abundant Wildlife
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Scenic Coastal Boat Rides
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Mountain Solitude
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Lake Kayaking to Glacier
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Fires on the Beach
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
4-5 Day, 3-4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 8 miles -
Group Size
1-6 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip only requires hiking with a multi-day backpack (35-45 pounds) for limited periods. The rest of the hiking is with a day pack weighing 10-15 pounds. The trails are very rugged in places, with rocky, muddy, overgrown and possibly snow-covered sections. The hiking distances (up to 6-7 miles) and elevation gain/loss (up to 3,000 feet in a day) are done with light day packs.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle: 4.5 hours
Hiking Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Our Alaskan adventure begins with a drive from Anchorage through the Kenai Peninsula to ‘the end of the road’ at Homer. The Kenai, or locally known as “Alaskans’ Playground”, is known for its towering mountains, rich canyons, and turquoise-blue rivers teeming with salmon. Arriving at the Homer Harbor, we will quickly load our gear onto a water taxi for a 20 minute boat ride across Kachemak Bay to a remote shoreline. After a short 2 mile hike to a breathtaking, glacial lake, we’ll set up camp for the night and enjoy our first dinner in the backcountry.
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 7 miles day hiking
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2200 feet
Day 3
Hiking Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 100 feet
Today we get up close and personal with the distant glacier that has been our backdrop at camp. Instead of hiking, we’ll kayak across the silty lake to explore the ice near the terminus of Grewingk Glacier. After kayaking back, we’ll break camp and move it to a spectacular site on the beach overlooking Kachemak Bay. Tonight we’ll keep an eye out for otters, whales and other marine life that frequent the shoreline as we enjoy another delicious dinner prepared by your guide.
Day 4 (5-Day Tour Only)
Water Taxi: 25 minutes
Hiking Distance: 6-8 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: up to 3000 feet
This day is only offered on the 5-day itinerary. This morning after breakfast, we’ll take a detour from the north side of the park and hop on another water taxi for a trip to Grace Ridge. This trail is not accessible by the main network of trail systems, and we’ll enjoy a scenic boat ride through the territory of rich marine life that calls the Kenai coast home. We might see whales, orcas, porpoises, sea lions, otters, or even the Kenai’s famous puffin! Hiking to the top of Grace Ridge, we’ll return to the alpine for breathtaking views of the glacially carved inlets and channels of the peninsula’s southernmost region. Our water taxi will return us once again to our beach camp for a final night on the shores of Kachemak Bay.
Final Day
Hiking Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
Shuttle: 4.5 hours
After enjoying one last meal in the backcountry and packing up camp, our water taxi will pick us up for the final time to return us to Homer. Departing from Homer we will travel once again through the Kenai and enjoy a hike through a pristine rainforest before returning to Anchorage, where we’ll say our goodbyes and begin dreaming of our next adventure.
Trip Dates
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Bear canisters for food storage
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Anchorage and back
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All entrance fees, permits and passes
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct an orientation meeting at 6:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. This will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Anchorage.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and its connecting flights from many major US cities make Anchorage very accessible. The major airlines that fly to Anchorage are Delta, United, American, Alaska Airlines and Sun Country. Direct flights are often available from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time during the pre-trip communication. Generally, you can expect it to be around 6 am, although the exact time will depend on several factors such as planned activities, current weather and road conditions. On the final day of the trip, you can expect a return to Anchorage around 6 pm, and your guide will drop you off at your hotel or the airport. Note: A variety of circumstances can influence our timeline on the final day of a trip, therefore Wildland Trekking does not guarantee return times.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Brenna Triest
1 year agoAlaska Adventures
Our alaska hike was amazing beginning to end with our excellent guide Jessie. Our trip began on the Homer spit waiting for our water taxi and onto the beach to Basecamp for 5 days. Wild Alaska through us for several weather and climate type loops, which Jessie navigated with ease. The Grewingk Glacier kayak was the most surreal part of the trip. The Grace Ridge hike was the most challenging part of the trip. Our water taxis showed us another side of Alaska that we didn't expect. This was my 3rd trip with Wildland Trekking. I've met some life long hiking buddies through their service.
Susanna W
1 year agoWild and Amazing
The Alaska coast truly is wild and amazing. It was rainy for a few days of our trip and our guide Jessie adapted the trip perfectly so that the weather didn’t ruin our plans. My favorite part of the trip was kayaking in the glacier lake where we saw icebergs floating. It was one of those moments that I just couldn’t believe was real life.
Sarah E
1 year agoThis trip was really great!
This trip was a great challenge. The hikes were just tough enough and the rewards were fantastic views. I could have stayed by the glacier lake all summer, so beautiful. Kayaking was relaxing and fun. Our guide made the best food, you wouldn't think you could eat that well while camping in the wilderness. Thank you Wildland Trekking - I'll be back.
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