Otterbahn Trail

The feel

The trail starts behind the Susan B. English School in Seldovia and runs through old-growth spruce forest. It is a dirt path with exposed roots and rocks, a few moderate inclines and otherwise fairly flat. Local school children built it, and it can be wet and muddy.

Past the alder thickets, a boardwalk crosses a salt lagoon, and after the footbridge it is a short walk to Outside Beach on Kachemak Bay. Sea otters, bald eagles and porcupines are among the wildlife here. Black bears use the same route as people.

What to expect

Route and terrain

Out and back, 1.2 miles round trip, with 36 ft of gain. Dirt trail through old-growth forest, alder thickets and a boardwalk over a salt lagoon to Outside Beach.

Time

0.5 hour to 49 min round trip.

Parking

The trailhead is at the edge of the last parking lot behind the school gym. Seldovia has no road connection to the rest of Southcentral Alaska, so you arrive by ferry, water taxi or a flight from Homer.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome and may be off leash in some areas.

Kids

Rated easy.

Hazards

Black bears use the trail. The wetland bridge floods with salt water on the highest tides of the month, and the intertidal zone is slippery. The trail can be muddy.

Season and access

Walk uphill from the harbor on English Drive to Winifred Avenue, then a few hundred yards to the school. The trail begins behind it.

Mingo says

Plan around the tide. Walking the shore to Outside Beach only works when the tide is below 10 feet. For the tide pools, pick a calm day with an ebbing tide.

Before you go

• Wear rubber boots or water shoes.
• Stay on the trail to avoid private property.
• Make noise on the trail so you do not surprise a black bear.
• Check a tide chart before you set out.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.