Kenai Fjords National Park

CATE: Coastal and Island Regions

Description: Kenai Fjords National Park is a national park in the United States that includes the Harding Icefield, glaciers flowing from it, and coastal fjords and islands.

Nestled along the rugged coastline of south-central Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park is a true natural wonder, a sanctuary of towering glaciers, deep fjords, and breathtaking wilderness. Stretching across over 600,000 acres, this awe-inspiring national park offers a diverse array of landscapes and experiences that have captivated visitors for generations. Overall, Kenai Fjords is a must-visit destination for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Kenai Fjords National Park Overview

Kenai Fjords National Park is a U.S. national park that includes Harding Icefield, its glaciers, and coastal fjords and islands. It spans 669,984 acres on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, located to the west of Seward.

The park features the Harding Icefield, one of the largest in the U.S., and is known for the fjords created by glaciers flowing from the ice field. The ice field feeds around 38 glaciers, with Bear Glacier being the largest. The fjords are valleys carved by glaciers and later submerged below sea level due to rising seas and land sinking. Exit Glacier, found at the end of the park's sole road, is a popular spot for visitors.

Originally named Kenai Fjords National Monument by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, it was later designated as a national park following the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980. The park safeguards the icefield, a strip of forested land along the coast, and the deeply carved coastline. Various land and marine animals inhabit the park, including bears, moose, sea otters, seals and whales.

Things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park offers a wealth of activities and experiences for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Experience Exit Glacier

The only section of the park you can reach by road is the Exit Glacier area. Here, you have the opportunity to hike on trails with stunning views or join a guided walk led by a ranger.

This location allows you to observe firsthand how glaciers transform a landscape and understand how plant life gradually covers the rocky terrain left behind as the glacier recedes. The Exit Glacier Area is open throughout the year. From late October to mid-May, the road leading to Exit Glacier is usually closed to vehicles due to snow, often remaining shut until early May.

Once the road to Exit Glacier is covered in snow and inaccessible to cars, it can be reached by fat bikes, cross-country skis, snowmobiles, dog sleds, and other means. Winter activities typically begin in early November and can continue until May.

Winter offers a great opportunity to see moose at Exit Glacier, but it's important to admire them from a distance as they may be under stress during this season when food is scarce.

Ranger-led Program

Participating in a guided tour with a park ranger is an excellent opportunity to gain more knowledge about Kenai Fjords National Park. Additionally, visitors can utilize resources such as Junior Ranger books, the Explorer App, and Discovery and Art for Parks backpacks to enrich their experience. These programs are typically available from Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May) to Labor Day (first Monday in September), unless stated otherwise.

There are popular Ranger-led programs including:

- Exit Glacier Ranger-Led Walks

- Exit Glacier Pavilion Talks

- Fjord Junior Ranger Walk

Explore The Fjords On a Boat Tour

Visiting Kenai Fjords can be quite challenging, as much of the area is only accessible by water. The waters surrounding Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay offer a unique experience, where you can witness the impressive power of tidewater glaciers and the vastness of the Gulf of Alaska, as well as observe the many birds and marine mammals that thrive in these nutrient-rich waters during the summer. A boat tour allows you to enjoy all of this and more in the safety and comfort of a motorized vessel.

During the summer months, boat tours depart daily from Seward's small boat harbor. It is recommended to book your reservations in advance, as several companies offer a variety of tour options, schedules, and amenities. You can choose from full-day tours that take you to the park's tidewater glaciers or half-day tours that explore the protected waters of Resurrection Bay while still showcasing the wildlife and scenery of the park.

Read more : https://nationalparkshops.com