Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Inspiration Ridge Preserve is a stunning mosaic of forest, bogs, meadows, ponds, and creeks. Stewarded with love for decades by Nina Faust and Ed Bailey and now managed by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, IRP encompasses 693 acres of important wildlife habitat. Our trained naturalist will lead you on a guided hike through the well-maintained trails, where you can learn about the history of IRP, the amazing animals that utilize this habitat and wildlife corridor, and the unique natural history of the area.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies is excited to offer two seperate options to explore this amazing habitat:
1.5 -hour hikes where the naturalist will guided you around ~2 miles of rolling trails and show you beauitful views of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, beautiful flowers, and hopefully an animal or two!
3-hour hikes where the naturalist will guide you around ~4 miles of semi-steep trails, where you can take your time to take pictures of beautiful landscapes, explore the hidden trails of Inspiration Ridge Preserve, and again, see some wildlife!
Directions to Inspiration Ridge Preserve are provided upon confirmation of a booked tour.
Call 907-235-6667 for more information about guided nature tours and programs,
The Making of Inspiration Ridge Preserve-Youtube Video
Scheduled Daily Summer Tour. Take a boat ride across Kachemak Bay with opportunities to view marine birds and a seabird colony. Once onshore, you will be guided by our expert naturalists on a maintained forest trail system to experience the incredible richness exposed by Kachemak Bay's extreme tidal changes first hand and a coastal forest ecosystem on the edge of the wilderness. You will view the evidence of the awesome geological forces that shaped the Bay, visit a bog, learn the names and lore of coastal plants, see what prehistoric people have left behind, and have hands-on experiences with the many types of animals from the zone between Kachemak Bay's tides. Kachemak Bay's broad tidal range, among the largest in the world, and the rocky beaches in Peterson and China Poot Bay provide the opportunity for viewing and photographing an astonishing variety of colorful and fascinating marine animals. You will have time to relax at the Peterson Bay Field Station and have more close-up views of intertidal inhabitants at the Station's aquaria and live tanks.
