Emerald Lake Trail (6.4 mi/10.2 km)
Rating: IMPASSABLE - UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Hiking Time: Emerald Lake: 2 hours, Humpy Creek: 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 1650 ft.
Trailhead Access: Grewingk Glacier Trail; Humpy Creek Trail
Camping: Backcountry camping at Grewingk Glacier Lake; Upper Humpy Creek; Emerald Lake Campsite; above treeline (no campfires); Humpy Creek Trailhead and Campsite.
Water Availability: Grewingk Glacier Lake (glacial), Upper Humpy Creek, Emerald Lake, seasonal snowfields and streams on Portlock Plateau.
Trail Description: This trail accesses beautiful Emerald Lake and its alpine surroundings. Starting at Grewingk Glacier Lake, it climbs a rocky ridge to a splendid view of Grewingk Glacier and Lake, then follows a glacial moraine into forest, bridges Upper Humpy Creek (1 mile), and climbs to treeline. At mile 2.1, a short (800 ft.) spur trail leads to Emerald Lake and campsite (a small stream crossing here may be difficult during spring meltoff). The trail climbs to Portlock Plateau for fantastic views of Kachemak Bay. Look for bears and mountain goats on the high ridges. Alpine portions of the trail are marked with rock cairns and orange posts. The trail descends a ridge (follow cairns carefully here) into alders and on to spruce trees plagued by spruce bark beetles and wind storms. The trail ends at Humpy Creek Trail junction.