Explore the largest ice fields in Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the world's most well-known spots for hikers.
Trek into one of the last vestiges of the Pleistocene era at Kenai Fjords National Park, where gleaming glaciers carve out towering fjords along a rugged stretch of pristine Pacific coastline. Although it’s Alaska’s smallest national park, Kenai Fjords offers hikers a unique opportunity to visit one of the largest ice fields in North America on foot in just a day. Pack your gear for cold weather and embark on a journey that transports you to an otherworldly realm filled with stark, shimmering beauty that stretches endlessly across the horizon.
Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail
The moderately strenuous but majestically rewarding 8.2-mile round trip hike to the Harding Icefield begins at Exit Glacier Nature Center. The center also provides access to a couple of short loop trails for quick hikes that take about an hour, including a jaunt up to Glacier View. The panoramic vista over Exit Glacier as it moves down to the icy ocean in extreme slow motion is a feast for the senses. Rangers offer guided hikes daily, but you can also hike the maintained trails on your own. Just watch out for inclement weather.
The Harding Icefield Trail takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete. Be sure to take plenty of water or a good filter and something to munch on to keep your energy flowing as you climb about 1,000 feet of elevation every mile. Black bear and mountain goat sightings are common on the trail, and you might even spot a bald eagle or the Peale’s subspecies of peregrine falcon cutting an arc through the sky overhead.
After crossing a small seasonal bridge at just under a mile, the trail opens onto the wildflower carpeted wonderland known as Marmot Meadows, and a breathtaking view of the icy mountains lies before you. For less seasoned hikers, this is often a turning around spot, as the trail heads up to jagged heights after this point.
If you continue the hike, expect a heart-pumping mile of sharp switchbacks before the trail levels off a bit at the Top of the Cliffs overlook. The Harding Icefield is visible from this vantage point, and Exit Glacier lies frozen in motion far below. From the overlook, it’s just over a mile and a half along the rugged ridgeline to a simple emergency shelter that sits at the end of the trail. Take a moment to absorb the beauty as you stand on the edge of a rugged landscape that covered most of Alaska approximately 2 million years ago.
An Ocean of Ice and Wonder
Spanning more than 700 square miles and more than a mile thick at some points, the Harding Icefield is a vision of blue and white ice that captivates those who make the pilgrimage. Feeding more than 30 different glaciers, including Exit Glacier, the giant block of pure ice has actually lost mass over the last decade as warmer temperatures have accelerated melting, but the loss has not diminished its splendor.
Other Adventures in Kenai Fjords National Park
Besides the Harding Icefield Trail and the small loop trails accessible at Exit Glacier Nature Center, most of Kenai Fjords National Park consists of uncarved wilderness that should only be explored independently by the most experienced backcountry hikers. If you want to explore off-trail sections of the park and you have backcountry experience and gear, charter a plane or boat to take you to some of the remote fjords along the park’s coast. Overnight camping in these untouched areas gives you the opportunity to engage in some off-the-beaten path exploration in a landscape where the modern world is left far behind.
The 130-mile drive from Anchorage to Seward, the gateway to the park, is one of the most spectacular road trips on earth. Be sure to check out our Instagram page for even more spectacular travel photos.
