Outside Beach

This spot, about a mile outside the town of Seldovia, offers big views that stretch out to the mouth of Kachemak Bay and even to Cook Inlet. Across the Inlet, you can also see the Pacific Ring of Fire, including Mount Illiamna and Mount Redoubt, each standing at10,000 and 11,000 feet. Even though they're some 75 miles away, on some days they seem like they’re just beyond your grasp. You can also see Augustine Volcano, a classic volcanic-island cone that rises 4,000 feet out of the sea. Keep in mind that each member of the Ring of Fire is an active volcano—so it’s not unusual to see steam and sulfurous gasses escaping from fumaroles on Illiamna’s eastern slopes. The center of this long, crescent-shaped beach is also the access point for Trina Lake, an estuary that rises and falls dramatically with the tides. On the western edge of the beach, meanwhile, you'll see the aptly named White Rocks, and you can look down upon the outlet of the Otterbahn trail. To the east, the beach’s polished gravel turns to large boulders that sit below a stark bluff and the Seldovia Wilderness Park. Come summer, Outside Beach is a locals’ favorite for picnicking, beach bonfires, dog-walking and fishing for Dolly Varden (in late June and early July, anglers have also been known to catch some very large king salmon). Along the border of the forest and beach, you’ll find an open-air pavilion with tent sites and steel fire-rings. The park also provides services for RVs, and it’s the developing home of the SHARE project—a facility for arts, recreation and entertainment. Here’s an excuse, too, to stay all day (or overnight): this spot makes a dramatic spot for gorgeous, lingering midnight sunsets.