Windsurfing near Mariner Park, Homer AK
- Anchor Point, Alaska (27 km)
- Silver Salmon creek (76 km)
- Kenai River mouth (103 km)
- Crowley (128 km)
- 4th of July Creek (130 km)
Mariner Park, Homer Alaska.
Location & Directions:
Mariner Park is at the base of the Homer Spit in Homer Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula in South Central Alaska, U.S.A.
If you’re coming from within Alaska: From Anchorage follow the Seward Hwy (AK-1) South about 90 miles. At the junction to Seward, stay right then travel another 130 or so miles. Once in Homer, stay on the Hwy. (Bypass) and follow it out to the Homer Spit. Mariner Park is at the base of the Spit on the right.
From Outside Alaska: The quickest way to get to Alaska is to fly, but the most pleasant is a long leisurely drive up the Alaskan/Canadian Hwy. It’s 2,500 miles and takes 50 hours if you only stop for gas. A better time frame is about 2 weeks. Another way to reach Homer is via the Alaska ferry, which takes about 3-4 days. It leaves from Bellingham Washington all summer and stops in Homer among other places.
Wind & Beach Conditions:
The wind at Mariner Park is solar driven. When it's sunny, the wind blows. When it's cloudy, the wind is dead. The wind is cross-shore and very safe for kitesurfing. Low tide is the best time to be in the water as there is a massive beach for launching and landing. High tide is less ideal though it offers the benefit of allowing advanced kiters to surf right into the back slough via a small channel. High tide is slightly less safe for kiting around the main parking area as the beach disappears downwind for a short time and the waves go right up against the rocks and road. This is only a problem if you crash your kite right at the parking area and are swept downwind and are unable to get it back in the air. When the tide is high, walk down the beach away from the parking area and the end of the Spit toward the trees and homes along the bluffs. Though there are a few more rocks here, the riding is generally very safe and about 1/4 – 1/2 mile of beach is available for riding. Conversely, intermediate and advanced riders can launch at Bishops Beach (found where Main Street stops at the sea) then ride around the small point to then land at Mariner Park or continue down to the end of the spit. This can be done at low tide as well as high tide, though because the few very large boulders on the sand-flats are covered at high tide, it may be safer then.
Accommodation, Food & Other Details One can camp right at Mariner Park, though it is a pay camping area and no facilities exist beyond a toilette. Other camping areas exist in Homer, including further down the spit and at Karen Hornaday Park at the top of Main Street in Homer. There are many bed and breakfasts in Homer so check the chamber of commerce website for listings. If you can afford a roof over your head, use a B&B, the hotels in Homer are expensive and dull with offering nothing special except location as with Lands End Resort on the tip of the Homer Spit. With B&B’s you must book very early, 4 – 6 months ahead is not too early though some can be had last minute. Showers and laundry can be had in the collection of businesses at the base of the Spit. Some restaurants are here as well. Try the tasty and expensive Sourdough Express Bakery and The Farmers Market for fresh things and a fun atmosphere on Saturdays. Other great spots to eat in Homer include Fat Olives on the bypass just as you come into town from Anchorage, Cosmic Kitchen (owned by a kiter) on Pioneer Street across from Ptarmigan Arts Gallery, The Homestead Restaurant for something fancy (outside town, away from Anchorage toward the head of Kachemak Bay on East End Road). For coffee and treats go to Twisted Sisters Café on the first boardwalk on the left-hand side of the Spit as your going out.
Check out our site:
www.kitesurfalaska.com
