Kenai Fjords National Park protects a wild edge of the Kenai Peninsula where ice meets the ocean. More than half of its roughly 670,000 acres lies under the Harding Icefield, which feeds nearly 40 glaciers that slide down into steep-walled fjords.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
Late May to early September, when boat tours run, the nature center is open and whales are present.
How long
Two days covers Exit Glacier and a full-day fjord cruise; add a third for a long hike or kayak trip.
Getting there
Drive the Seward Highway from Anchorage in about two and a half hours, or ride the summer train.
Why visit Kenai Fjords National Park
Few places let you watch a glacier calve into the sea and a humpback whale feed in the same afternoon.
It is also one of the most accessible wilderness parks in Alaska.
Seward: the gateway town
Founded in 1903 as the ocean terminus of what became the Alaska Railroad, Seward is a working port of a few thousand people with an ice-free harbor, a walkable historic downtown and the steep bulk of Mount Marathon rising behind it.
Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center
The park's main visitor center sits at Seward's small boat harbor, right where the tour boats leave. Rangers can help with trail conditions, public-use cabin information and wildlife reports, and there is a park film and bookstore.
Alaska SeaLife Center
On the waterfront at the end of downtown, the Alaska SeaLife Center is the state's only public aquarium and a working marine research and rescue facility.
Caines Head State Recreation Area
South of town along the bay, a coastal trail from Lowell Point leads past Tonsina Point to Caines Head, where the concrete bunkers and gun emplacements of Fort McGilvray guarded Resurrection Bay during the Second World War.
Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield
Exit Glacier Nature Center and trails
Turn off the Seward Highway near Mile 3 onto Herman Leirer Road, often called Exit Glacier Road, and drive about eight miles to the end, where the Exit Glacier Nature Center sits at the trailhead. Short, easy trails lead toward the glacier and an overlook.
Harding Icefield Trail
For the park's signature hike, the Harding Icefield Trail climbs from the nature center through cottonwood and alder forest, across meadows and onto rocky alpine slopes to a viewpoint over the icefield. It is about 8.2 miles round trip and gains roughly 1,000 feet per mile. At the top, an endless white plain stretches to the horizon, broken only by isolated peaks called nunataks.
The fjords by boat
Day cruises from Seward range from short trips within Resurrection Bay to full-day voyages deep into the park. Longer routes reach tidewater glaciers and the open Gulf of Alaska, where wildlife is richest.
Bear Glacier
Just west of the mouth of Resurrection Bay, Bear Glacier is the largest glacier in the park. It ends in a broad lagoon filled with icebergs, separated from the sea by a moraine.
Aialik Bay and Holgate Glacier
The most popular full-day cruises turn into Aialik Bay, home to Aialik and Holgate glaciers. Boats idle in front of the ice faces so you can hear cracks and booms and watch chunks fall into the water.
Chiswell Islands
These rugged islands at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska are part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and host Steller sea lion haul-outs and colonies of puffins, murres and kittiwakes.
Northwestern Fjord
The longest cruises continue west to Northwestern Fjord, where several glaciers spill from the mountains and the scenery feels truly remote. Expect a long day of eight to nine hours.
Fox Island and Resurrection Bay
Shorter cruises stay within Resurrection Bay, sometimes stopping at Fox Island for a meal.
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Food and local flavors
Seward is a fishing town, and seafood dominates its menus.
Coffee shops and bakeries cater to early tour departures, and full-day cruises usually include a simple lunch or a buffet.
Popular dishes to try in Kenai Fjords National Park
Where to stay
Small boat harbor. Lodging near the harbor puts you steps from tour boats, the visitor center and seafood restaurants.
Downtown Seward. The historic center has older inns, apartments and the SeaLife Center, plus a waterfront path that links to the harbor.
Lowell Point. South of town on the bay, this quiet area has cabins and campgrounds close to the Caines Head trail and kayak outfitters.
Where to stay in Kenai Fjords National Park
Best time to visit
The main season runs from late May to early September, when most boat tours operate and the Exit Glacier Nature Center is open.
Around the Fourth of July, Seward fills for the Mount Marathon Race, in which runners climb the steep peak behind town and plunge back down. Book well ahead if you visit then.
Getting there and getting around
By air. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the nearest major airport, about 127 road miles from Seward.
By road. The Seward Highway, a designated scenic byway, follows Turnagain Arm and crosses the Kenai Mountains.
By sea. Many large cruise ships begin or end Alaska voyages in Seward.
Getting around. A car is handy for Exit Glacier, though shuttles run there in summer.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Drive or take the train from Anchorage, stopping at viewpoints along Turnagain Arm.
Second day
Board a full-day cruise to Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord, watching for whales, sea lions and puffins. Back in town, have a seafood dinner by the harbor.
Third day
Hike the Harding Icefield Trail if you are fit and the weather is clear.
Practical tips
- Book boat tours, kayak trips and lodging well ahead for June through August.
- Take seasickness medication before longer cruises that enter open water.
- Pack waterproof layers, a warm hat and gloves for the boat, even on sunny days.
- Never approach or climb onto icebergs or glacier faces; ice can roll or collapse without warning.
- Be bear aware on trails, make noise in brush and carry bear spray.
- Do not rely on mobile coverage in the backcountry or on the water.
Find local businesses in Seward on WiserMap
Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords, with tour operators, kayak outfitters, seafood restaurants and lodging around the harbor.
