Seward Kayak & Exit Glacier Hike

More about Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park sits at the wild edge of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, where the Harding Icefield spills down into the sea through a maze of glacier-carved fjords. This combined kayak and hike adventure out of Seward gives you two of the park's most iconic landscapes in a single unforgettable day, pairing the calm saltwater of Resurrection Bay with the raw blue ice of Exit Glacier. Few places in the world let you paddle past forested shorelines in the morning and stand beside a living glacier by afternoon, and Kenai Fjords National Park is one of them.

The day begins on the water, where you settle into a stable sea kayak and glide along the coastline of Resurrection Bay, watching for sea otters drifting on their backs, bald eagles perched in the spruce, and harbor seals popping up between paddle strokes. Your guide shares stories about the geology and wildlife that shape Kenai Fjords National Park, from the ice age forces that gouged out these deep inlets to the marine life that thrives in their cold, nutrient-rich waters. After paddling, you trade your kayak for hiking boots and head to Exit Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. The trail winds through cottonwood and alder, past markers showing where the ice once stood, until you reach a close-up view of the glacier's cracked blue face and feel the cool air rolling off its surface.

This experience is perfect for active travelers, couples, and families with older kids who want a genuine taste of Alaska without committing to a multi-day expedition. Beginner paddlers are welcome, and the hike is moderate rather than strenuous, so the focus stays on the scenery and the stories. If you want one day that captures the spirit of Kenai Fjords National Park, from the quiet rhythm of the bay to the thunder of calving ice, this is the adventure to book in Seward.