Things to do nearGull Island

Gull Island sits within Kachemak Bay, a federally designated critical habitat area that supports one of the most productive marine ecosystems in Alaska. The island itself is a protected seabird rookery, closed to foot traffic to safeguard the dense nesting colonies that return each spring.

From late spring through late summer, the island hosts tens of thousands of birds representing more than a dozen species. Tufted puffins nest in burrows along the grassy upper slopes, while common murres pack the bare rock ledges in tight, shoulder-to-shoulder rows. Horned puffins, pigeon guillemots, and glaucous-winged gulls round out the spectacle, creating a layered scene of activity at every elevation.

Most visitors reach Gull Island by joining one of the many boat tours departing from Homer Spit, roughly twelve miles across the bay. Naturalist guides narrate the crossing and identify species as the vessel circles the island slowly. The surrounding waters frequently yield sightings of sea otters, harbor seals, and occasionally orca or humpback whales.

For anyone drawn to coastal Alaska wildlife, Gull Island offers an unfiltered look at the natural abundance that defines the region, and a boat trip here is among the most memorable outings on the Kenai Peninsula.