On this trip to Alaska, we rented an RV for our Alaska dream vacation to visit a few National Parks. Today it’s a beautiful morning. Our Alaskan road trip itinerary today includes a visit to Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. The road to Exit Glacier on the Seward Highway sees heavy traffic during the summer months. Exit Glacier is only one glacier within Kenai Fjords National Park. There is no entrance fee for the Park. However, one way we support our National Parks is by purchasing an annual park pass. We love America the Beautiful pass because it gains us entrance into all the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. The pass costs $80 for one year.
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Sensational Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park
The park encompasses nearly 65% of the Harding Icefield. Exit Glacier Road is the only road-accessible portion of the Kenai Fjords National Park.
Exit Glacier is a glacier derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska. It is a valley glacier that flows down from the Harding Icefield. It received its name after being the “exit” for the first recorded crossing of the Harding icefield in 1968.
Getting to Exit Glacier
Exit Glacier is conveniently accessible by road. The turnoff to Exit Glacier Road is 3.7-miles from Seward (MM3) and 74-miles from Anchorage on the Seward Highway. Exit Glacier Road follows the Resurrection River, giving panoramic views of the mountains. The glacier is at the end of Exit Glacier Road.
Exit Glacier is one of the most popular road-accessible glaciers in the state. The peak months to visit Exit Glacier are June, July, and August.
The parking lot is at the end of Exit Glacier Road. When we arrive there was plenty of RV parking when we arrived early morning. However, the parking fills quickly in the warmer months, especially with tour buses from the cruise ships.
Discover the Exit Glacier Nature Center
We began our adventure with a short walk from the parking lot that leads to a small ranger station-Nature Center. You will want to start your visit here, By stopping in at Exit Glacier Nature Center open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM in summer you can get updates for the trail conditions.
The Nature Center is also a great educational opportunity. Look at the interactive displays on the glacial geology & history. Additionally an interactive panel with trail and weather information will help you to effectively plan your day. You can then decide what kind of adventure is best for your day. Before embarking on the trail to the top of the glacier, be sure to pick up a map while in the Nature Center.
We opted for the another option doing the self-guided audio tour on The Alaska App, narrated by the Park Service’s chief interpretive ranger.
The Nature Center has a clean restroom with flush toilets. You can fill up your nondisposable reusable water bottle that we recommend you bring with you. It is located directly outside the restrooms. Hydration is the most important thing when climbing in high elevations. Drink often during your visit to Exit Glacier while on your hike, carry along quick and easy snacks. Trekking poles and bear spray would certainly help if you plan the Harding Icefield Trail. At certain times of the year, bug spray may be an additional item you will need.With the cooler June temperatures, today we did not have any issues with mosquitoes.
Highly Recomment doing a Ranger-Led Tour
If you have time in your schedule we recommend doing a ranger-led walk on the trail to Glacier View Lookout for pictures. The ranger will get you to the best spots for spectacular views of Exit Glacier. The tours are offered daily at 10 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you prefer, professional guided tours are available.
What Trails Should You Hike in the Park?
Short but Sweet Hike the Glacier View Trail
Different trails give different perspectives of the glacier. The easiest trail is the “Glacier View Trail” also called the “Lower Trail.” This one-mile wheelchair-accessible loop tranverses through a dense cottonwood forest. The trail can be traveled clockwise or counter-clockwise. It took us about 20-minutes to walk the entire loop. A spotting scope is available at the viewpoint. I loved that the Glacier View had stunning views of the outwash plain and toe of the glacier.
NOTE: they paved the trail for only a portion of the walk. Soft gravel completes the trail.
Strategically placed markers showing the glacier’s recession over the past 120 years are placed along the trail. They believe that at one time, Exit Glacier reached the town of Seward about 8-miles away. It was amazing to us how quickly the recession of this glacier. On our last trip to Exit glacier we could not reach the toe of the glacier as it has receded even further. It was an incredible distance from 2012 to 2021. Climate change is real!!
Moderately Difficult – Glacier Overlook Trail
We followed the half-mile paved trail, which is a part of the Glacier View trail before veering left onto the Glacier Overlook Trail. The trail takes you through a densely wooded area before emerging onto the rocky glacial moraine.
We followed the relatively well-maintained trail reaching the top of the glacial valley. To get to the edge of the glacier is a moderately strenuous hike, which is a roughly 1.2 miles. The trail has an elevation gain of 429 feet. The Glacier Overlook Trail provides the ultimate view of the glacial valley below. It is really hard to express in words what you see, it is awe-inspiring.
The Harding Icefield – Trail All Day Hike
Harding Icefield Trail climbs 3,500 feet in 4.2 miles to the top of the cliff. It covers 700-square-miles, however; the reward is sweeping vistas of the entire glacier. Allow all day for this hike-6-8 hours. Dress in layers as the winds blow off the glacier, the air becomes chilly. There are a lot of opportunities to see wildlife as you travel through heather-filled meadows and tundra above the treeline. A good pair of binoculars makes spotting wildlife easier. This is bear habitat, so make noise and keep a keen eye while walking in the meadows.
One thing that surprised me was how the ice appears crystalline blue as the light scatters blue hues of sunlight like a prism. We could see little caverns and crevasses throughout the glacier. Visitors should take care venturing into the icefield as there can be hazards. It is amazing in the bright sunshine; the colors are stunning!
Although we set out to reach the top of the icefield, we only made it about halfway. We just did not have the time today or the stamina to make it to the top of the trail. Be aware in the spring, the trail may be unimproved and not well marked. The orange markers often shift or move during winter.
Getting Your Feet Wet!
Instead, we took the paved/gravel trail and entered the outwash plain. We were determined to reach the toe of the glacier. Flow from the base of the glacial melt zone creates many braided stream channels, so keeping your feet dry is not an option for walking the outwash plain. I would advise good hiking shoes or wading boots with neoprene socks. You must walk along and through the rushing waters of Exit Creek to reach the base of the glacier. The braided stream of the Exit Creek weaves its way across the outwash plain. No marked trail since the river is constantly changing, creating new channels with increased or decreased meltwater. The meltwaters eventually join those of the Resurrection River.
Walking the Outwash Plain – Not so Easy
The stream water is freezing, the rocks are slipper-care should be taken when walking the outwash plain. We soaked our feet walking in the water, but that did not deter us from our destination. Although today the weather is warm and sunny, we feel the ice-cold water and the wind that is created by thermal currents on the glacier surface. It was exhilarating trying to make our way along the gravel outwash. It was worth the extra effort.
From the base, you can easily walk on top of the glacier. Stepping out onto the glacier is fantastic, well worth the short hike. You can see the rushing meltwater, the ice has overhangs in some areas, be safe, these tunnels can collapse at any time. Small crevices line the glacier.
NOTE: We walked to the toe of the glacier on our 2012 trip. On the next trip in 2021, the toe was off limits and a hazard, as the ice cave could collapse.
End of the Trail – The Glacial Moraine
On our walk back, the breeze was quite cool from the occasional gusts of wind from the glacier. These gusts are katabatic wind caused by the cool air rushing down the glacier, much like the rush of air that comes out of your freezer door on a hot sunny day. Moraines align the sides of the glacier. Similar to a bulldozer pushing material away, the glacier displaces large boulders.
Exit Glacier continues to melt at a rapid pace because of the ever-increasing temperatures in Alaska. Today it is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in Alaska receding 100-200 feet per year.
The Many Views of the Resurrection River
After returning to our RV, we changed into dry footwear and grabbed a snack and warm drinks. This is the luxury of traveling by RV in Alaska. Everything is so handy. Full-time RVers have a carbon footprint of 28% smaller than a standard household.
We made our way back down the Exit Road, stopping at a few pullouts to take in the views of the mountain alpine glaciers on the other side of the Resurrection River. From these pullouts, you can take in the U-shaped valleys created by the retreating glacier. Other glacial features include cirques, rock striations, and rock slides.
Final Thoughts-You See What is Best About Kenai Fjords National Park at Exit Glacier
Exit Glacier is truly a remarkable sight and one of the best places to experience the beauty and wonder of the Kenai Fjords National Park. It gave us the chance to witness firsthand the incredible power of nature and the impact of climate change on our planet. As one of the most accessible glaciers in the park, it provided a unique opportunity to explore the natural world up close and learn about the forces that have shaped this magnificent landscape.
A visit to Seward would not be complete without stopping at Exit Glacier. WE make this stop on every return trip to Alaska. So make sure to add Exit Glacier on your Alaskan road trip itinerary.
Have you been to Alaska? Did you visit Exit Glacier? Please share in the comments below your favorite memory of Exit Glacier, Alaska.
