Kenai Fjords National Park Glaciers and Wildlife

By Kathryn Frazer

THIS PAST SUMMER, we spent two and a half incredible months road tripping around Alaska in our home on wheels, and it was hands down the highlight of our three-plus years living on the road.

When we return to Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park will be one of the top spots on our list to revisit. In this one park, you can experience almost everything iconic about Alaska. During our three days exploring the park, we witnessed giant glaciers calving, hundreds of seals floating on icebergs, plus other wildlife, stunning mountains, and an endless sheet of ice. I think we said “wow” more times than we could count!

But beyond its beauty, what makes this park extra special is that anyone can enjoy it! With accessible activities in addition to the tougher experiences, folks of all ages and abilities can immerse themselves in its beauty. In this article, we’re sharing everything you need to know to visit the park yourself, including the best things to do, and a three-day itinerary.

When to visit

Although you technically can visit Kenai Fjords National Park in the winter, the best time to visit is in the summer, when the trails are free of snow, boat tours are running, and there’s a bit more to do in the town of Seward. Keep in mind that Alaska summers are not quite the same as in the lower 48. It was rainy and chilly during our July visit, so we recommend packing layers and being prepared for changing conditions!

Where to stay

Seward is the best home base for those looking to explore the park, as it offers hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants, and is the launching point for any water excursions.

For those looking to boondock, which is what we did, there are a couple of areas off Exit Glacier Road, before the park entrance. These spots are right along a riverbed and have sweeping views of the area. However, it is a tight drive from the main road, so we wouldn’t recommend it for large RVs; just vans, truck campers, and tents.

Harding Icefield

How much time do you need?

We suggest spending at least two days at the park, which gives you enough time to experience it by water and foot. Three to four days will be better if you want to experience multiple hikes, take a handful of tours, or spend more time in Seward. We’re including a three-day itinerary at the end of this article!

About Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and is named after the numerous fjords that have been created by the glaciers in the park. It’s home to forests, ocean, mountains, tons of marine and land wildlife, dozens of glaciers, and Harding Icefield, the largest icefield located entirely in the United States.

Things to know before visiting

ENTRANCE FEE

Unlike most national parks, Kenai Fjords is totally free to visit, minus any paid tours.

BE BEAR AWARE

The park is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Be sure to carry bear spray, make noise while you hike, and brush up on what to do if you see either type of bear.

DOG RESTRICTIONS

Similar to most national parks, dogs are not allowed on trails in the park.

BOOK TOURS IN ADVANCE

We suggest booking any tours you’d like to take in advance, just to ensure you don’t miss out!

Exit Glacier

DID YOU KNOW?

Kenai Fjords is located near Seward, Alaska

It is home to the largest icefield in the United States, the Harding Icefield 50% of the park is covered in ice

Harding Icefield

The best things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park

GO ON A BOAT CRUISE

If you can only do one thing at Kenai Fjords National Park, this is it! Since so much of the park is not accessible by foot or vehicle, getting out on the water is one of the best ways to see the glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and fjords.

We did a 7.5-hour tour with Major Marine Tours, and it was jaw-dropping. We saw more wildlife than we could count and got to witness multiple glaciers calving, which is when the ice breaks off and slams into the water, making a thundering roar.

It was truly one of the most spectacular days of our lives, and next time we hope to do the 8.5-hour Northwestern Fjord tour in order to see more of the park.

If you want something more adventurous, Liquid Adventures offers kayaking tours that take you out by boat to some of the same glaciers as the boat cruises, and gives you the chance to kayak by the glaciers!

VISIT EXIT GLACIER

This is the only area of the park that’s accessible by road. Exit Glacier is one of the many glaciers that stems from the Harding Icefield. It got its name from an expedition in 1968, when the first group of mountaineers to officially cross the Harding Icefield “exited” the ice at Exit Glacier.

There are a handful of short and easy trails in the Exit Glacier area that will take you to different viewpoints of the glacier. Some of these are stroller

and wheelchair accessible. We suggest hiking all of these trails, but we especially loved the Outwash Plains area, where we got to see the toe of the glacier head on.

HIKE THE HARDING ICEFIELD

The Harding Icefield is one of the wildest things we have ever seen! It covers about 700 square miles, is up to 4,000 feet deep, and is also the source of 38 glaciers in the park.

Viewing the icefield requires a 9.2-mile (round trip) hike, with 3,600 feet of elevation gain. It’s a tough hike and takes most of a day, but for those able to accomplish it, it’s one of the best things you can experience in the park.

The hike features a wide variety of scenery, from forest and mountain views to more barren, rocky land that felt like walking on another planet. And there is a good chance you’ll see some wildlife too, including marmots or even a bear!

WALK ON A GLACIER OR GO ICE CLIMBING

You can actually go onto Exit Glacier while you’re in the park. Exit Glacier Guides offers a handful of experiences, including walking on the glacier, ice climbing, and helicopter tours. While we did not go ice climbing at Kenai Fjords, we did ice climb on another glacier in Alaska, and it’s a thrill!

GO FISHING

Alaska is known for incredible fishing, and Kenai Fjords is no exception! There are many guides in the Seward area that can take you fishing in Kenai Fjords National Park, which is not only an epic fishing experience, as you catch many salmon, halibut, and rockfish, but also gives you spectacular views of the park and the chance to see wildlife.

EXPLORE SEWARD

You should definitely spend some time in Seward when visiting the park! Seward has different shops and restaurants, as well as some trails outside of the park boundaries, including Mount Marathon (4.1 miles round trip), Tonsina Creek Trail (3.4 miles round trip), and the Lost Lake Trail (13.8 miles round trip).

Major Marine

HOW TO GET TO KENAI FJORDS

Alaska is home to eight national parks, and only three are accessible by car. Kenai Fjords National Park is one of those three, but out of the park’s 600,000-plus acres, you can actually only drive to the Exit Glacier area.

The park is located on the Kenai Peninsula, and the Exit Glacier area is just 20 minutes from the charming seaside town of Seward, which is a scenic 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage. But a car isn’t the only way you can get to the park—you can also take a train from Anchorage to Seward, along the Alaska Railroad, which we hear is an amazing ride!

THREE-DAY ITINERARY

We spent about three days at Kenai Fjords National Park, including travel to and from the area, and were able to see the major highlights, including one tour and two hikes. Here’s how we suggest spending three days in the park.

DAY 1

• If you’re not already in Seward, head toward the park! The 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage is beautiful, so be sure to plan extra time to stop and enjoy the views.

• Grab some coffee with a view at Barrio Coffee + Kitchen in the Millers Landing area.

• Visit the Exit Glacier area of the park and hike the short trails.

• Spend the rest of the day in Seward.

DAY 2

Go on a tour with Major Marine Tours. This will take almost all of your day, but when you return, spend the rest of the day enjoying Seward.

DAY 3

• Hike the Harding Icefield Trail. Start early, as this will take up the majority of the day.

• Head to your next destination in Alaska or stay a bit longer to explore the Seward area.

Find more of Kathryn’s travel guides and adventure inspiration on Instagram at @adventuresofaplusk