Best trails in Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park lies on the Kenai Peninsula near Seward, Alaska. The park protects almost %{670000_acres} of Alaskan wilderness, including the Harding Icefield, with its many glaciers and fjords. Harding Icefield provides a glimpse into the ice ages. Created more than 23,000 years ago, the icefield covers %{700_square_miles} of Alaska's Kenai Mountains in glacial ice! There are more than 30 glaciers that flow from Harding Icefield, including Exit Glacier, which ends on land. Exit Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers — you can view it up close by following a short hiking trail. The park also features more challenging trails above the tree line, where adventurous hikers will find dramatic views of the expansive icefield.
The Exit Glacier area is open year-round and is the only part of the park accessible by road. The road is closed to cars in the winter months, starting in late October or mid-November. It may remain closed as late as May, depending on conditions. During the winter months, you can still access the area via snowmobile, dogsled, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or fat bike.
You can visit Kenai Fjords year-round! The best time to visit (and the most popular) is June through August. Summer is also mosquito season, so we suggest bringing bug repellent and a head net, as well as wearing a tight-weave cotton long-sleeve shirt and pants.
There is no entrance fee to visit Kenai Fjords National Park.
Top trails
- (5644)•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...
- (3833)•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.
