Diamond Gulch: Short, sweet — and agates?

The hikes don’t come much shorter or sweeter than Diamond Gulch near Homer: It’s just 0.6 miles one-way alongside what I would call an arroyo if it were in the Lower 48. Up here, I suppose it’s a gulch.

While the hike itself is pretty enough — traipsing past the usual Southcentral jungle of diminutive alder trees — the main attractions are the gulch itself and sandy Diamond Beach at the hike’s end.

Keep an eye out for Alaska’s fast-moving tides, which may bring the water farther up on the beach than you’re expecting… and for agates. I’ve been told they do sometimes wash up on the beach!

This is hike 97 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska.

Hiking to Diamond Gulch

As you drive into the trailhead, the trail down to Diamond Gulch starts on the far end. The hike itself is pretty straightforward, quickly joining the gulch and then running alongside its edge, down to the beach.

Diamond Gulch itself is an interesting cross-section sliced into the landscape, letting you scope out the various layers that make up the ground beneath your feet. See Taz Tally’s excellent article in the Homer Tribune for a more detailed breakdown of what you’re looking at.

Depending on recent precipitation you may also see a few small waterfalls and cascades as Diamond Creek bounces its way down the gully and into the sea, and the trail is sometimes washed out or sporting big muddy spots, depending on the weather.

…And Then Diamond Beach

Your ultimate destination here, Diamond Beach (at the foot of the gulch), is nice sandy retreat: a rare find in Alaska. You’ll see fewer people here than on Bishop’s Beach — although in fact you could walk from here to Bishops’ Beach if you time it correctly with the tide. Speaking of the tide, Diamond Beach all but disappears at high tides, so pay close attention to the water to ensure you won’t be trapped against the bluffs that back the beach.

If you’re not from here, you should know that Alaska’s tides change more dramatically — and more quickly — than most places in the world, so when in doubt play it safe.

Here’s one other really neat thing about hiking Diamond Gulch down to the beach: The locals have told me that with some good luck, you might find agates that were tumbled smooth in the sea before washing onto the sand. I haven’t had that luck just yet, but maybe you will.