UPDATE: Eastland Trails to Remain Closed for Winter

While Phase 1 construction of the Eastland Trails is completed, the project committee along with State Parks have made the hard decision to keep the trails closed for the winter.

New trails are especially vulnerable to damage. The Eastland Trails are designed to shed rainwater into built-in drainage areas. But when the ground freezes, even an inch or so, that frozen layer can trap water near the surface. As it thaws, the trails can quickly become slick, muddy, and easily damaged by foot or bike traffic. Despite our best efforts to get the trails opened this year, we have entered a challenging season of rain, freezing temperatures, and thawing.

Allowing newly constructed trails to settle and stabilize through their first winter is a common best practice. Freezing and thawing help the disturbed soil settle, while time allows the trail surface to firm up with mosses and other natural vegetation becoming established along the edges. This helps create a more durable trail that can withstand years of use and reduce the maintenance burden over the long-term.

A new trail may handle a rainy day just fine but struggle through repeated freezing and thawing. Opening too soon can cause ruts, erosion, and drainage problems that require significant repairs.

We know everyone is eager to explore the trails. A tremendous amount of work has gone into building them. The hard working team organizing, fundraising and building the trails want nothing more than to open them to the public and let the community enjoy. Yet, giving them time to stabilize now will help protect our investment for many years to come.

We will monitor how the trails settle after break-up and let everyone know they’re open for the summer as soon as they are ready in 2027. 

Meanwhile, education will be an important part of establishing a successful multi-use trail system at Eastland. Hikers and bicyclists will share the trails, and users will learn how to navigate, pass, and care for new trail surfaces. We’ll share more about this during the winter in anticipation of the official opening next year. 

To continue building the next phases of trails at Eastland, we need your help now. The Eastland Trails committee is hard at work to secure funding to complete Phase 2. An RTP application is being prepared for Phase 2a, and public input is needed. You can find more information about Phase 2a and the RTP grant here. Please submit all comments to cetrailsak@gmail.com.

EASTLAND TRAILS

Homer Cycling Club, in partnership with Alaska State Parks and Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park, is developing a road-accessible, multi-use, biking and hiking trail system in the Cottonwood-Eastland Unit of Kachemak Bay State Park. These trails, once open, will be accessible by road with a parking lot and trailhead 17.1 miles out East End Road of Homer.

Construction of this system is phased; Phase 1 is expected to be completed by late fall of 2026, and Phase 2 is planned to begin late spring of 2027. Once finished, the Eastland Trails will be a true attraction for residents and visitors alike, offering both progressive mountain bike routes as well as extensive hiking loops.

PHASE 2 - What’s Coming

The map to the right shows how the trail system will continue to grow beyond Phase 1. Routes in red represent the planned Phase 2a construction, which includes both mountain-bike and multi-use trails. Also shown are the the soon-to-be completed Phase 1 trails in black, the future Phase 2b mountain-bike trails in blue, and the longer-term Phase 3 multi-use trail in purple.

Once completed, the Eastland trail system will offer extensive routes for bikers and hikers of all abilities. Whether you’re seeking a short sight-seeing loop or looking to tackle a physical challenge by going the distance, the Eastland Trails will have it all.

Click the image to enlarge it.

EASTLAND TRAILS - Phase 2a (and beyond)

PREVIEW THE RIDE

This video was produced to generate some hype among the mountain bike community. It highlights the Phase 1, blue (moderate) level mountain bike trails. These trails have a playful flow designed around modest grades, offering plenty of opportunities for some creative line choices.

PHASE 2 - What’s Next

With the coming completion of Phase 1 trails, it’s now time to plan and fundraise for the Phase 2 trails. The majority of these routes will be optimized for mountain biking, designed with fun and flow in mind, and offering a modern and progressive mountain bike trail experience for all ages. Because of the more technical nature of the build, the Phase 2 trails will be more expensive and will be split into Phase 2a and Phase 2b and constructed as funds allow.

HCC is actively pursuing another Recreational Trails Program grant, and as required by the grant are providing public notice, which you can find here. The winning of this grant in 2025 is what kick-started construction of the Eastland Trails. With your support, we can do it again.

The scope of this project is huge, and as such the costs to build it out are proportionally huge. While we will be applying for some significant grants, we are going to need all the funding we can get, including at the grass-roots level. If you want to see this kind of accessible trail system on this side of the bay, consider donating to the cause. 

Your donation is tax-deductible as HCC and Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park are both federally recognized non-profits. You can mail your donation to: Homer Cycling Club, 4658 Tamara Street, Homer, AK, 99603 and just write “Eastland” on the memo line, or you can donate online below.

For more information, email cetrailsak@gmail.com

EASTLAND VIDEO TOUR

Brought to you by the Homer Chamber of Commerce, hosted by Cameale Johnson, with video edited by Stein Christopher, this video provides further context for the vison behind Eastland Trails and highlights the need for accessible trail on the north side of Kachemak Bay.

Action So Far and Future Timeline

  1. In spring of 2024, we contracted Ptarmigan Ptrails to do trail layout and design.

  2. In June of 2024, Ptarmigan Ptrails completed their field work and deliverables.
    See the full concept plan here: Eastland concept trails design

  3. In the fall of 2024, we applied for an RTP grant.

  4. In January of 2025, we got an RTP grant!

  5. In February of 2025 we advertised a Request for Quote for professional trail builders to construct Phase 1.

  6. In April of 2025, we contracted with Last Frontier Trails to build Phase 1.

  7. In May of 2025 the Interagency Land Management Administrative Decision (ILMA) was signed!

  8. In the spring of 2025, State Parks granted permits for construction of parking lot and trails.

  9. In August of 2025, East Road Services constructed the parking lot at MP 17.1 East End Road.

  10. In September of 2025, Last Frontier Trails began Phase 1 trail construction.

  11. Winter 2025/26 - Fundraise for Phase 2 trail construction.

  12. Summer 2026 - Finish Phase 1 trail construction; 3 miles of trail with walkways.

  13. Fall/Winter 2026 - Apply for RTP grant.

  14. Spring 2027 - Begin Phase 2 trail construction; 4 more miles of hiking and biking trails.