Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is the most accessible glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, and it is the one visitors can walk to without a boat or helicopter. The Exit Glacier area sits at the end of an 8.4-mile road that leaves the Seward Highway near Seward, and it is the only part of the park reached by road. From the nature center, a gentle loop of about a mile runs through cottonwood forest to a broad view of the glacier, and a branch leads up to the glacier overlook. The famous long hike is the Harding Icefield Trail, an 8-mile round trip that climbs above the treeline for a view of the vast icefield that feeds the glaciers. The area has a nature center with exhibits and rangers, a small tent campground, picnic areas and, in summer, ranger-led programs. Admission to explore the area is free, which makes it one of the best-value experiences in Alaska.

Season and access. The Exit Glacier area is open year-round, but most visitors come from June through August. The National Park Service notes that the road is usually closed to cars from late October to mid-May because of snow, and winter access is by other means with a shuttle service. Parking at the nature center is limited, especially in the middle of the day, so arrive early, carpool, or use a shuttle or taxi from Seward.

There is no cell service or public Wi-Fi in the area, so download maps in advance.Choosing a trail. The Glacier View Loop is accessible, takes little time and suits almost everyone, including families with strollers and older visitors.

The Glacier Overlook Trail adds a steeper climb to a closer view and is moderately strenuous. The Harding Icefield Trail is a serious day hike with a steep climb and rapidly changing weather, so start early, carry water, food, layers and rain gear and turn back if conditions worsen. Bears live in the area, so make noise on the trail, keep food stored and follow the ranger guidance.

Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the trails. Making the most of it. Many visitors pair Exit Glacier with a morning on the Kenai Fjords cruise or an afternoon at the Alaska SeaLife Center, because both are in Seward.

The glacier has retreated markedly over the decades, and signs along the trail mark where the ice stood in earlier years, which turns a scenic walk into a lesson in climate and change. If you do not have a car, shuttle and taxi service connects Seward and the nature center. For a different way to see ice from above, the helicopter and dog sledding tour from Seward offers a bird's eye view, but nothing beats the free, quiet walk to the glacier on a clear day.

Check the park's current conditions page before you go, because trail closures and bear activity can change quickly, and plan an alternative if weather rolls in.