Easily accessible glacier flowing from an icefield into a forested valley, offering close-up views, interpretive trails, and dynamic ice formations.
General Information
Hours:
Open year-round with 24-hour access; visitor services and facilities are typically available daily during summer and limited in winter
Fees:
No fee to access the glacier area
Entrance fees may be required for the surrounding park
Entrance fees may be required for the surrounding park
Pet Policy:
Pets are allowed in parking areas but are not permitted on trails leading to the glacier
Closest cities with hotels:
Seward (12 mi)
Seasons:
Best visited late May through September for full trail access and ranger programs; winter offers quieter visits with limited access
Location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6H5z9mWQv2N3gY9U7Exit Glacier, Seward, AK
Website:
https://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm
How to Get There
From Seward (12 mi): Take Exit Glacier Rd north from town and follow it for about 12 miles directly to the glacier parking and trailhead area.
Overview
Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, from the Harding Icefield, is the most accessible glacier in the park, since a paved spur road off the Seward Highway leads to a nature center about 9 miles from Seward. It was named for serving as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968, and it has been retreating fast, and markers show where the ice was in different years.
Top Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier View Loop | 1 mile | Easy | Paved, wheelchair-accessible views of the glacier |
| Glacier Overlook Trail | About 2.2 miles round trip | Moderate | Close look at the ice from a higher viewpoint |
| Harding Icefield Trail | 8 to 9 miles round trip | Strenuous | A 3,000-foot climb to an ocean of ice |
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Exit Glacier", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
