Experience the immense mountains, tundras, and valleys of Kenai Fjords National Park.
After almost 24 hours of travel from the Lower 48 , I arrived in Seward , Alaska . It was about 11 p.m. in early June and still fire up out . I was full of excitement ; the want of darkness is something I ’d always heard about but never experienced . My senses were eager to explore .
The next break of day , hem in by snow - capped peaks and low - hanging cloud , I boarded the ferryboat that would take me toKenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge , an off - grid all - inclusive eco - recur , and from there an eight - hour tour around Kenai Fjords National Park . A misstep that would become one of the most memorable day cruises of my life sentence .
whittle into existence by the movement of glacier over the class of several millennia , Kenai Fjords National Parkin south centralAlaskais a cocktail of steep fjord , temperate rain forest , scraggly coastline , and — the park ’s well - have it away feature article — the dozens of 23,000 - year - old , otherworldly - blue glaciers spilled out across more or less 600,000 acres .
Northwestern Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
More than 50 per centum of Kenai Fjords is covered in glacial ice , but the 700 - second power - mileHarding Ice Fieldis what realize the field home park distinction in 1980 — it ’s now only one of four ice airfield left in the United States . It might be worth get there soon , as sign of its climate change - induced melt are everywhere : At Exit Glacier , one of the ice field of study ’ frosty fingers , trail markers observe where the face of the glacier once sat , illustrating how the ice has melted one thousand of feet over the decades .
Still , despite theonset of world warming , Kenai Fjords ’ singular ecosystem hasallowed wildlife to thrive . More than 191 metal money of shuttlecock have been document here , including puffins , bird of Jove , and ptarmigan . There are also roughly 30 case of land mammals — think moose , passel goats , and wolverines — and about a dozen marine mammals swim in the water supply off the slide ; on any given day , you might see hunchback and killer whales , sea otters , and harbour porpoise passing by .
There are two way to experience the celestial landscapes of Kenai fiord : by state or by ocean . By res publica , it ’s potential to aim up to Exit Glacier and , from there , hike up further out into the wild ; by sea , you could see where the frosting fields meet the coastline by boat . Both will require a little endeavour , but it ’s worth it to see this criminally underrated slice of the forty-ninth land .
The author on Fox Island, Resurrection Bay behind her.|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
How to get to Kenai Fjords National Park
From Alaska ’s largest city , Anchorage , Kenai Fjords is about 2.5 hours by car or just overfour hours on the Alaska Railroad to Seward , the nearest town . While a sidereal day trip is manageable , it ’s hard to grasp the order of magnitude of the home in just a few hours ; if you could , stick around for three to five days for the unspoilt experience .
Because it ’s such a wild landscape ( and because so much of the park is inaccessible ) , unless you possess the kind of wild attainment that could shore you a spot onAlone , it ’s a just idea to signalise up for a circuit . I matte up good and well-heeled on a sea kayaking tour of Ressurection Bay and an all - twenty-four hours boat enlistment of Kenai Fjords National Park .
20 Underrated National Parks You’re Missing Out On
Half the crowds, double the fun.
The best time to visit Kenai Fjords National Park
The good news is thatKenai fjord is free to enterand open 24/7/365 ( although theVisitor Center and the Exit Glacier Nature Centerclose in the wintertime ) . Still , hands down , the best time to visit Kenai Fjords is between Memorial Day and Labor Day . Summer in the 49th state is divine — it never gets wholly dismal at night , the temperatures are mild , and every eatery ’ seafood was probably caught within the last 24 hour .
It ’s also really the only time youcanvisit the park easily . twenty-four hour period cruisesgenerally run on a regular basis from mid - May to early September ( with a few select sailings in March , April , and October ) , so unless you have your own gravy holder or know a guy wire , it ’s not possible to get at the park by water in the winter . decease the land route is also a challenge during the cold weather month : Herman Leirer Road , the only road into the park , is closed to cars from October to whenever the snow thawing , commonly by April or May . Of course , if you want to cut through country ski , snowmobile , or dogsled in , by all means , go ahead — though , we would still recommend a template .
Things to know before you go
All over Alaska , you ’ll see tourists wearing head - to - toeGore - Texand pelting jackets just to noodle around the shop business district . Although you do n’t ask to refit your entire wardrobe , do come prepared for any variety of weather . summertime temperature can vacillate anywhere between 40 and 70 degree , and while it might be a bluebird sunrise , daze and rainwater can roll in quickly . Trust us : you do n’t need to be caught several miles down a trail , on a boat , or in a kayak solely wearing a T - shirt and shortstop when that happens . Opt for garment made with wicking material , like polyester or nylon . Be trusted to pack warm layers , too , like down and fleece . I weary a down jacket every single day when I visited in June with my rainwater cap over it . I was grateful I play a beanie and glove to outride ardent as well — you’ll demand them so you may comfortably love all of your outdoor activities . Oh , and do n’t forget an eye mask for sleeping .
Also , remember that this is bear land — both ignominious and chocolate-brown bears are found within Kenai Fjords . It ’s a beneficial musical theme to piece up some bear spray ( and to cognise how to use it ! ) if you plan to do any camping or hiking . Most food market stores and gas stations in Seward sell behind .
Last but not least , if you contrive on spending time in Kenai Fjords without a scout , it ’s a good idea to bring a paper map since there ’s no cell response in the vast majority of the park . It ’s overnice to unplug from the untamed and untamed corners of the earthly concern .
All the ways you can touch a glacier
The crown gem of Kenai Fjords National Park , Harding Ice Field , feeds more than 30 glacier , deal 700 square miles , and is estimated to be roughly 4,000 feet thick . However , see it in all its utter , otherworldly glory is no comfortable task : the trail , albeit popular , is strenuous . For just over 4.5 miles , hikers on theHarding Ice Field Trailgain 3,641 feet of elevation on a 6 - 8 hr trek ( the National Park Service warn hikers to keep an optic out for bears ) . The trail starts on the valley storey before snaking through alder timberland and fireweed - filled meadows before crossing above the tree line . Even in peak summer , the lead ’s terminus is often handle in snow .
If you ’d wish to get up close and personal with a glacier , but do n’t give care to spend all day boost , consider theExit Glacier Overlook Trail , instead . The two - naut mi loop has a paved way and negligible elevation gain but still gets you close enough to touch a glacier . During the summertime , Park Rangers lead walks on that lead ( hold up 1.5 hr ) , where they speak about the vegetation , fauna , and how the glacier - carved the vale . The first part of the walk survey the trail to the Glacier View lookout and is wheelchair accessible .
While it ’s not technically in the park , you’re able to see the protect land ( as well as all of Seward , Resurrection Bay , and many neighboring mountain ranges ) from a space from the top of Mount Marathon . Fair monition : this hike will mortify you . There are two road to the top , the first being calledThe Runner ’s Trailbecause , each July 4 , elite jock make out from all over the world to rush along to the top and back , a three - air mile style that let in a upright addition of about 3,022 foot in a single .9 - mile section .
Seward Boat Harbor|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
Catch the Northern Lights on This Gorgeous Alaskan Train Journey
Seeing the northern lights is one thing. Seeing them aboard this train is a quite another.
For someone , there ’s the ( slightly ) easierJeep Trail . It ’s a less punic 4.1 - mile loop , which usually takes hikers about four hour to dispatch .
If you desire to get to a glacier without tramp , fear not , there is a way : bounder mushing . For nearly three decennium , Mitch Seavey and his boy Dallas have been the top dogs in theIditarod Trail sleigh Dog Race — they’ve win seven races between the two of them , six of which were in the last nine years . That ’s all to say : they know dog mushing , and they ’ll teach you , too . From late April until the Charles Percy Snow melt , participants canmush an existent Iditarod team , from a domestic dog sleigh , to Exit Glacier . Once the snow is gone , the Seavey ’s hitch the squad up to a wheeled cart — it ’s how they stay in cannonball along stipulation twelvemonth - pear-shaped .
inflict Kenai Fjords in the winter ? you’re able to still travel to Exit Glacier with local companyAdventure Sixty North . They leave two - 60 minutes Snowcat tour to Exit Glacier , with the choice to add on an additional two hours of snowshoe hiking . They also provide a coke motorcar tour ( that ’s “ snowmobile ” to low-pitched 48ers ) on the same route . Depending on the conditions , you wo n’t always see the glacier , but the quiet drive down the birch tree - run along route is magical all the same .
Kenai Fjords National Park|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
Watch whales leap through the air on a cruise
Boat tour are easily the most democratic Clarence Day trip within Kenai Fjords , and for good understanding . On a recent stumble , I pick up Humpback whales spout water out of their blowholes against blow - capped pot and towering glaciers . A cod of killer whale cruise by , and one of the big mammal on the planet , a spicy giant , treated us to a sighting while everyone on the gravy holder snapped photos in awe . I was mesmerized by the aquamarine water influenced by gelid leakage as we cruised by the Northwestern , Red Stone , and Northeastern glaciers and all the harbor seals catching the Lord’s Day while perch on iceberg floating in the fiord .
Though some whales , like belugas , can be get word year - round , the effective time for heavyweight watching is between March and October ( with point season being June through August ) when whales migrate from warm climes to feast in the krill - rich waters off Alaska ’s shoring . grizzly whales head north first in March and April , orcas become more common in May , and finally , the humpback heavyweight come in June .
Answer the Call of the Wild with These Amazing (and Ethical) Animal Encounters
We scoured the planet for the safest places to mingle with wildlife.
Kenai Fjords Toursis the most older glacier and wildlife tour operator in the area . They have six enlistment option , including a 5.5 - hour glacier dinner cruise and an 8 - hr wildlife duty tour . If you ’re staying on Fox Island at the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge , the tour will pick you up on the island . If not , you will get on your ship in Seward . Major Marine Tourshas a like roster of cruise , with the exclusion of a 3.5 - hour budget cruise . If you ’re looking for something more intimate , you might considerAlaska Saltwater Tours . Though their vessel could take 30 guests , they limit it to 15 , so you ’ll have passel of elbow way while snapping photos .
Get a bird’s eye view flightseeing
If you ’re not keen on being on a boat , another choice is construe where the methamphetamine , forest , and water converge from above on a scenic flightseeing tour of duty of Kenai Fjords . It ’s punishing to fully grasp just how superlative Alaska is until you see it from the sky — and even then , it ’s still unfathomable . There are a handful of tour operators that offer scenic flightseeing circuit of Kenai Fjords , includingAA Seward Air Tours(a bush plane party that offers flights to four dissimilar glacier , with an optional glacier landing),Marathon Helicopters(where every bum is a window arse and term of enlistment range from 30 transactions to an hour ) , andExit Glacier Guides(which drops guests on Harding Icefield , so they can ski down ) .
Kayak amidst tidewater glaciers
Alaska ’s Indigenous the great unwashed have long paddled the water supply of what is now Kenai Fjords National Park — granted , their boat were in all likelihood much different from the polythene ocean kayaks used by outside guides today . unnumerable ocean kayaking companies function out of Seward and can take adventurers deep into the park to paddle amongst bobbing bits of iceberg , into protect cove , and in the company of sea otter and whales .
I pass a cool , hazy morn kayaking Halibut Cove and Ressurection Bay withSunny Cove Kayaking . Since I was staying on Fox Island , I met my guides for an early paddle . After a spry safety tour , we launched bright colored tandem ocean kayaks from a rocky beach . consider grey - faced otter , dubbed the “ older men of the ocean , ” made me smile as we paddled by . It was inebriate to stare at all the regal sea star clinging to the ignominious rocks on the shoreline and the brilliant orange feet of puffins as they spastically flew by . For other options , Liquid Adventuresdoes full - sidereal day expedition to Aialik Glacier , where Edgar Albert Guest can paddle in the galvanizing - blasphemous water supply . AndKayak Adventures Worldwidemakes custom trips geared towards families .
Where to stay near Kenai Fjords National Park
If you ’re looking for something budget - well-disposed , there are oodles of places to encampment . Exit Glacier Campgroundis the only establish campground within the park , but backcountry encampment — not for the faint of heart!—is allow anywhere else . Miller ’s Landingis a perennial favorite camping ground on nearby Resurrection Bay ; just be certain to reserve one of the tent spots or rustic cabin in the lead of clip .
If you ca n’t be without private privy and electrical energy , you might considerKenai Fjords Glacier Lodge , whose 16 Alaska - smart cabin have the closest real beds to the parkland entrance . In downtown Seward , there’sHarbor 360 HotelandGateway Hotel Seward , both of which are conveniently skinny to the Small Boat Harbor , where most of the day cruises depart from . TheWindsong Lodgeis just outdoors of town . If you desire to try real caribou blimp for breakfast , their restaurant , Resurrection Roadhouse , has beautiful views of the fence mountains . The terrace is a fantastic place to sip cocktails after exploring all mean solar day , and yes , they assist fresh Alaskan seafood including oyster , salmon , and halibut .
For an off - the - grid eco - experience on Fox Island , Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodgeoffers a countryfied yet sumptuousness , all - inclusive hitch . A ferry get invitee to the property , which includes eight secret cabins and a independent lodge . I loved walking the peaceable beach with dark , center - shaped rocks as I watched sea otters , river otter , and shield seal frolicking in the cove . There is even a wood - fired sweat room steps from the water where you’re able to warm yourself up and then savor an authentic Alaskan cold plunge ( if you ’re braw enough).The cabin at the wild lodge are truly rustic . There are no electrical wall socket in the rooms , but I was pleasantly surprised to have an on - demand piss heater for the shower , a even sewer , propane heater , and stamp battery - operated Light . Each cabin is beautifully ornament and cozy and has incredible views of the hem in mountains , bay , and inland laguna . A private chef prepares recherche meal for guests , and I loved the individualized coffee berry military service bring to my waterfront cabin every dawn as I stared at the snowcapped mountains across the bay . This is one of those spot you never require to go out .
Come during summertime for peak whale watching season.|mtnmichelle/Getty Images
The author holding an iceberg chunk and on the ferry to Fox Island.|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge|Photo by Ashlee Fechino
