Best trails in Kenai Fjords National Park
Near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, this park protects the Harding Icefield and at least 38 glaciers and fjords stemming from it. The only area accessible by road is Exit Glacier, while the rest is viewed by boat tours.
Commercial boat tours are used to access the park. Please contact those services directly to ask about accessibility.
Top trails
- (5633)•Hard•8.6 mi•Est. 6–6.5 hrThis spectacular trail takes you from the valley floor, climbing over 1,000 feet to a view of to the largest existing icefield that is completely located in the United States. You'll travel through beautiful meadows to an area well above treeline. It's a good idea to be prepared for storms and big temperature changes, even in the summer months. Snow can remain on the trail through early July and can cause avalanche danger. Its a good idea to check the weather and trail conditions at the...
- (3825)•Easy•2.2 mi•Est. 1–1.5 hrThis is the only area of Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by road. Start the trail at the Exit Glacier Nature Center parking lot and follow the Glacier View Loop Trail through the cottonwood forest to the Glacier View, a panoramic vista of Exit Glacier spilling down from the Harding Icefield. This one-mile trail loops back to the parking area, or you can continue southwest towards the Exit Glacier Overlook via the Glacier Overlook Trail. The Exit Glacier Area is open year-round....
- (217)•Easy•1.1 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe Exit Glacier Area is open year-round. Upon the arrival of snow, usually in mid-November, the road to Exit Glacier is inaccessible to cars, due to a state road closure, but open to winter recreation, including snowmobiles, dogsleds, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat bikes. The road often remains closed through early May, so be sure to check current conditions if you are visiting during the off-season (fall through spring). Accessibility: Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility...
- (10)•Moderate•2.4 miThe trail starts at the tip of a peninsula in the Kenai Fjords National Park, south of the Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. From the shoreline, head west and climb the obvious ridge in front of you. The route ends at a high point with stunning panoramic views of the bay. You can get to the start of this trail via water taxi or private boat.
Visitor info
There are no passes for Kenai Fjords National Park.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
Kenai Fjords National Park does not charge an entrance fee, but the Interagency Access Pass allows pass holders to receive a 50% discount on other park amenities, such as camping.
The Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center and the Exit Glacier Nature Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms.
Additional information about accessibility at Kenai Fjords National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center and the Exit Glacier Nature Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms.
The Exit Glacier Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and accessible vault toilets.
The coastal public-use cabins (Alialik and Holgate) and winter public-use cabin (Willow) have wheelchair accessible features, but assistance may be needed to get from the beach to the cabin.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
