Pair an Exit Glacier overlook hike with hands-on Alaska gold panning
4+ hours
Guide, trekking poles, gold pans
Follow a guide to the Exit Glacier overlook in Kenai Fjords National Park, then pan for gold at a sheltered site near Clear Creek. Stay off the ice while learning about glacier landscapes and Alaska gold-mining history.
15 minutes - shuttle to Exit Glacier grounds (Kenai Fjords National Park) 2 hours - round trip hike to Exit Glacier Overlook Loop Trail 15 minutes - shuttle back to our office 1.5 hours - Gold panning activity on our premises
Cancel 8+ days before departure for a full refund; 3–7 days before departure for a 50% refund. Cancellations within 48 hours, no-shows, and cancellations after the activity starts are nonrefundable. Trips run rain or shine. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather.
Product ID: H7DVVC
No. You hike to the Exit Glacier overlook without stepping onto the ice.
No. You pan for gold under a tarp-covered log structure using rustic water troughs, so you do not need to enter the creek.
Dress in layers and wear water-resistant or waterproof hiking shoes with warm socks. Bring synthetic activewear, rain jacket and rain pants (if you have them), plus binoculars and a camera.
31872 Herman Leirer Road, Seward, AK 99664
Standing at the edge of Kenai Fjords National Park, you hear the deep crack of calving ice before you see it. Massive walls of blue-white glacier meet the cold Pacific, and the air carries the salt of the Gulf of Alaska. Kenai Fjords National Park draws you into a landscape where ice age conditions persist today, shaping every rocky shoreline and fog-draped inlet.
The guides here consistently shine in these reviews, with names like Bird, Lauren, Momo, Kelly, Jackson, and Blaine earning particular praise for their knowledge, safety consciousness, and genuine passion for Alaska's wilderness. People rave about the Bear Glacier helicopter and kayaking combination, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience paddling among massive icebergs. The Exit Glacier hikes and Resurrection Bay kayaking also get stellar feedback. The team, especially Deklan in the office, receives compliments for going above and beyond with patient communication and handling complex booking needs. A couple of hiccups appear in the reviews. One guest was disappointed their guide brought a young child along on what should have been a personalized tour. Another felt the kayak-to-glacier trip was rushed without enough wildlife viewing time on the water taxi return. The gold panning experience left some adults feeling it wasn't worth the cost for what amounted to a brief, somewhat staged activity. These seem like isolated incidents though, as the overwhelming majority describe smooth operations, perfect guide-to-guest ratios, and that magical combination of adventure and safety that makes for an unforgettable Alaskan experience.
A captain-guided small-boat cruise tailored to Resurrection Bay conditions
Glide through Kenai River headwaters, gentle rapids, and glacial valley scenery
Set your own course through Resurrection Bay with a private captain
Ride a beginner-friendly moped around Seward at your own pace
Explore glaciers, wildlife, and coastal history with live captain narration
Drift through Kenai Refuge backchannels with mountain and river views