Near Island: South End Trail

Date Hiked: September 2023 and January 2025

Distance: 1.8 miles

Elevation: 528 ft

Difficulty: Easy

Features: Forested trail, views of open water and mountains across Chiniak Bay, small beaches, Hot Wheels, little bridge

Description: The South End Trail is a personal favorite of mine when considering easy after work walks. Would be a good running trail too. I would highly recommend this trail at sunset, as the sun sets over the snow-covered mountains far across the bay. I like to take the right side of the trail first. This beginning is difficult to navigate, with fallen trees across the path. But then it reaches the edge of the area where fishing boats get pulled out of the water, offering views of the Near Island and Kodiak harbors and Pillar Mt. There it connects with the well-maintained portion of the trail.

After connecting into the well-maintained section, the trail takes you past beaches, cliffs, and open fields on the southern point of Near Island. There are several benches that overlook the vast Chiniak Bay and gorgeous surrounding small rocky islands. After passing the point, the trail becomes wooded again, taking you along small cliffs with beaches and eventually across a bridge. After the bridge there is a bench and a Hot Wheels trading box! Along this area is where sea planes land and motor to the plane base near the start of the trail. I have also been swimming on one of the many beaches and enjoyed the starfish and sea life. Trail is very dog friendly.