OVERVIEW

Kenai Fjords National Park, located along the southern coastline of Alaska, is a remote and stunningly beautiful park characterized by mesmerizing glaciers, diverse wildlife, and an endless maze of fjords. 

Kenai Fjords National Park is different from most of the other US national parks in that very little of it can be seen or toured by roads. Rather, visitors can explore the park through a variety of activities such as hiking, kayaking, scenic boat and aerial tours, and wildlife viewing. 

Popular hiking trails like the Harding Icefield Trail offer a thrilling adventure while providing extraordinary views of the park’s scenery. If feeling even more daring  you might consider a guided hike across one of the park’s immense glaciers.

Among Kenai Fjords National Park’s most notable attractions are Exit Glacier and the adjacent Harding Icefield, a vast expanse of snow and ice covering over 700 square miles. The fjords from which the park is named are home to tidewater glaciers continuously calving into the sea creating a dramatic spectacle.

Regardless of where you go in the park or how you choose to explore it, you’re guaranteed an incredible experience. Hopefully this guide will help to simplify your plans and outline some of the can’t miss sights and activities within Kenai Fjords National Park.

ABOUT THE PARK

Statistics

Kenai Fjords became the 56th US National Park on December 2, 1980. It’s one of the country’s smaller national parks covering 669,984 acres and sees about 400,000 visitors annually.

The park is named after the numerous fjords carved by glacial activity along the Kenai Peninsula. It’s home to over 40 glaciers, including notable ones like Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield, and Bear Glacier. These glaciers collectively cover more than 300 square miles of the park’s landscape.

The park’s diverse ecosystems support a wide array of wildlife, including marine animals such as humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, and sea otters, as well as land mammals such as black bears, mountain goats, and moose. Nearly 200 bird species have also been identified within the park, including the majestic bald eagle.

One of the more historic events involving the park was the grounding of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound in 1989. This caused enormous contamination of the Kenai Fjords coastline. Cleanup was challenging and Exxon settled with the government, paying about $900 million for damages and restoration costs.

Layout and accessibility

Kenai Fjords National Park lies along the Kenai peninsula on the southern shores of Alaska, near Seward. The park consists of a number of fjords along the peninsula, most notably Aialik Bay, Northwestern Fjord, and Resurrection Bay.

The best way to view these fjords is from along the coast by boat. A number of boat tours are available from the harbor in Seward, going along the coast and into the fjords for amazing views. Kayaking and flight tours are another option.

Leading north from the fjords are several glaciers, including Exit Glacier, Bear Glacier, and Northwestern Glacier. These coalesce into the massive Harding Icefield that stretched across the majority of Kenai Fjords National Park.

There is only one paved road providing access to the park. Exit Glacier Road leaves from Seward and leads into the northeast area of the park where it terminates at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. From here there are a few trails with viewpoints of Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield.

LOGISTICS

When to go

The best time to visit Kenai Fjords National Park is during the summer months, roughly June through September. Temperatures will be warm and you’ll have longer daylight hours. Snow will have vanished and much of the park will now be accessible and ripe for exploration.

Popular summer activities include hiking, kayaking, fishing, boat tours and wildlife viewing. Seward will be bustling during these peak tourism months. You should expect larger crowds during these months and lodging accommodations will likely be more expensive.

Spring will offer the chance to view wildlife as the snow begins to melt and the region emerges from the quiet winter months. Autumn may also be a good choice if wanting to see the stunning park scenery during fall foliage. 

Kenai Fjords National Park sees the fewest visitors in winter. Some of the activities during these months are snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the Exit Glacier area. 

How to get there

Chances are good that you’ll be arriving in the region through Anchorage International Airport. Anchorage, a city of 290,000 residents, is the economic and cultural hub of southern Alaska. 

Some of its popular attractions include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Museum, Alaska Zoo, and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. There’s an abundance of unique shops, restaurants, and seasonal events in the city if you’ll be spending any time there. 

Kenai Fjords National Park is located 120 miles south of Anchorage, along the southern coastline of Alaska. It’s about a 2.5 hour drive but the roads to get there are incredibly scenic and filled with must see attractions.

The drive will take you along the northern shoreline of Turnagain Arm. There are several scenic viewpoints to stop along the route providing stunning panoramas of the snow-capped peaks throughout the Kenai Peninsula.

Make sure to visit Girdwood on the way to the park. Girdwood is a small community nestled in the Chugach Mountains. There’s several hiking opportunities in the area and in the winter you can enjoy the world-class Alyeska Resort.

Where to stay

The best place to stay for accessing Kenai Fjords National Park is in Seward. The charming coastal town is nestled on the shores of Resurrection Bay, providing stunning natural beauty, rich history, and a vibrant community. 

Seward is a historic town with quaint shops, colorful city streets, and has an inviting atmosphere. You can explore some of the town’s main attractions such as the renowned Seward Depot and Alaska SeaLife Center, showcasing some of the region’s amazing marine life.

Seward serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier Road leaves from Seward and is the only road into the park. It provides access to some of the trails inside the park, including the iconic Harding Icefield Trail.

Seward is the primary hub of Kenai Peninsula and has numerous tour agencies offering scenic ferry rides, kayaking, and glacier walks. The area surrounding Seward is prime territory for outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, whale watching, and wildlife viewing.

We stayed in Cooper Landing during our three days touring Kenai Fjords National Park. Although this was almost an hour away from the park entrance, we loved the location and amenities and it worked out well for our itinerary. 

How much time to spend

Two full days in the park is sufficient to get a good feel for the fjords and glaciers. One day can be spent doing a full day fjord cruise and the other day could be spent hiking the Harding Icefield Trail.

With more time you could consider a flight tour, kayaking, fishing, hiking additional trails, or venturing out on a guided glacier trek.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN KENAI FJORDS

Hike to Harding Icefield

The hike to Harding Icefield is the most well known trail in Kenai Fjords National Park. The trail begins at the end of Exit Glacier Road (at the Exit Glacier Nature Center) and ascends to three distinct levels (Marmot Meadows, Top of the Cliffs, and the Harding Icefield Summit).

It’s a demanding out-and-back trail as you’ll ascend nearly 3,500 feet over four miles. The trail begins in the forest along a series of switchbacks and stairs built from large stones. A clearing in the vegetation is reached at Marmot Meadows where you’ll have views of Exit Glacier, Outwash Plain, and the lush meadows of the valley below.

You’ll continue hiking up through a rocky meadow, now well above the treeline. You’ll have unobstructed views of Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield upon reaching the Top of the Cliffs.

From here the trail ascends more gradually along the mountainside and through some lingering snow to a viewpoint across Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield. You’ll see mountain peaks protruding through the top of the glacier and be in awe of Alaska’s natural beauty.

Fjord cruise

Booking a scenic cruise is a fantastic way to explore the amazing landscapes of Kenai Fjords National Park. Over the course of a day you’ll have the opportunity to view the abundant wildlife, rugged coastlines, and pristine glaciers located in the remote reaches of the park.

There are a couple cruise lines and they leave from the coastal town of Seward. They generally follow the same route and offer the opportunity to explore Aialik Bay, Northwestern Fjord, and Resurrection Bay. 

Wildlife viewing from the vessels is incredible as you’ll likely see orcas, puffins, bald eagles, harbor seals, sea lions, and humpback whales. We particularly enjoyed seeing the sea lions basking in the sun while floating upon the numerous icebergs in the Northwestern Fjord.

A cruise is a great way to gain access to areas of the park not accessible by driving or hiking. You’ll spend the day weaving between the Fox and Chiswell Islands while making your way toward the remarkable Northwestern Glacier. This ship will bring you so close to these mammoth ice formations that you’ll be able to see the deep crevasses and hear the constant thundering of the glaciers calving.

Drive Exit Glacier Road

Exit Glacier Road leaves Alaska Route 9, about 12 miles north of Seward and is the only road within Kenai Fjords National Park.

It provides access to Exit Glacier and the Exit Glacier Nature Center. At the Nature Center you’ll find some fascinating exhibits, ranger led programs, park information, and learn about the glaciers and fjords in the area. 

The road is an 8 mile scenic drive through what used to mark the base of the Exit Glacier. You’ll drive past a series of sign postings indicating how far the glacier used to stretch at a certain date, illustrating the extent that it has receded over the past 100 years.

At the end of the road is a parking lot where you’ll find a few trailheads. This marks the access point to the Harding Icefield trail but you’ll also find some shorter and family friendly trails in the area.

Glacial Loop Trail and Glacier Overlook Trail

These are two trails that begin near the Nature Center at the end of Exit Glacier Road. They’re easy and flat but provide great views of Exit Glacier and its beautiful surroundings.

The Glacial Loop Trail is a 0.8 mile flat loop hike offering close-up views of the terminus of Exit Glacier and barren landscape left in the wake of its unfortunate retreat. You’ll find informational postings along the trail providing information about the glacier and the ecosystem of the park.

The Glacier Overlook Trail is a slightly longer and more challenging trail. It’s a 1.9 mile round trip trail with some elevation gain up to a viewpoint overlooking the base of Exit Glacier.

FINAL IMPRESSIONS

A trip to Kenai Fjords National Park will be a remarkable opportunity for exploration in some relatively untouched areas of Alaska. You’ll see colossal glaciers, majestic fjords, and a vast array of wildlife during your visit to the area.

The park is somewhat unique in that it’s not connected by a network of roads. It’ll take some creativity to effectively explore the area, but kayaking, scenic cruises, and aerial tours are all options. We loved hiking along some of the park’s renowned trails as the views were spectacular and the wildlife encounters were frequent.

With as little as two day you can thoroughly explore the park’s main attractions and get a taste for the southern fjords of Alaska. Make sure to add Kenai Fjords National Park to any Alaskan itinerary as you’re sure to have a thrilling adventure in this natural paradise.