Things to do nearExit Glacier

Exit Glacier sits within Kenai Fjords National Park on the Kenai Peninsula, one of the most accessible outlets of the vast Harding Icefield. The icefield itself covers more than 700 square miles and feeds dozens of glaciers, but Exit Glacier is the only part of the park reachable by road. Dated markers along the trail document the glacier's retreat across the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, making the landscape a vivid record of climate change written in rock and ice.

The trail network suits a range of abilities. A flat, paved loop brings visitors close to the glacier's active terminus, where meltwater streams rush over grey gravel and the ice glows with an otherworldly blue. More ambitious hikers can take the Harding Icefield Trail, a strenuous climb that tops out above the treeline with sweeping views over the frozen plateau. Rangers at the Kenai Fjords National Park Exit Glacier Nature Center offer interpretive programs and current trail conditions throughout the summer season.

Wildlife is a constant presence in the valley. Black bears, moose, and Dall sheep have all been spotted on or near the trails, and the riparian zone along Resurrection River supports a rich variety of birds. The combination of geological drama and living wilderness makes Exit Glacier one of the most compelling natural destinations on the peninsula, well worth the short drive from Seward.