How to Visit Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward AK

Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most visited glaciers in South Central Alaska. Just a short drive from downtown Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, Exit Glacier is an easy hike through a beautiful forest with some amazing views. I remember when you used to be able to just drive up to Exit Glacier and get right on it… but that’s not the case anymore.

We’ve got the full scoop on visiting Exit Glacier when you come to Seward and how to plan your time exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. If you have any questions about the hikes we recommend or need additional suggestions for things to do on Resurrection Bay, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Alaska trip.

Highlights of the Exit Glacier Trail

As I mentioned, you used to be able to drive right up to Exit Glacier. It was so easy just to park and touch the ancient ice and snow, watching it crumble at the edge of the parking lot. Today, Exit Glacier has receded so much that you actually have to hike to the toe of the glacier. It’s a fairly easy hike and a good portion of it is actually wheelchair accessible. Until you start to gain your little bit of elevation, the Exit Glacier trail is actually paved, so one of the loop options is fully paved. THIS DOESN’T GET YOU TO THE GLACIER VIEW.

As you start the small climb to the Overlook, you get some sweeping views of the Resurrection River Valley, which is really beautiful. Along the trail, and actually as you approach the parking area, you’ll see signs showing where Exit Glacier used to go to before it receded so much. By the time you get to the overlook to see the ice, you’ll be stunned at just how far the glacier has melted back. It makes me sad, especially since I have such fun memories coming here when I was younger. Enjoy the view though, and if you’re prepared for it, continue onto the Harding Icefield trail, which is much more intense, going nine miles and climbing 3200 feet. It’s cool, but it’s a bigger adventure than the hike to Exit Glacier.

Be sure to visit the Kenai Fjords National Park visitor center here at Exit Glacier because it’s really cool. Unlike the Begich Boggs Visitor Center on Portage Lake, this one really focuses on glaciers and environmental changes. While you should visit both spots because they’re both great small museums about Alaska nature, the Exit Glacier one is free and more fun for small kids.

Tips for a Visiting Exit Glacier

Leaving from the Kenai Fjords National Park visitor center at the end of the Exit Glacier road (Herman Leirer Rd), the hike to the overlook and spurs for the other trails is an easy 2.2 mile loop. If you’re a fast hiker the whole thing can be done in an hour, but if you like to take your time and enjoy the scenery and forest, plan for it to take two hours. There are no bathrooms or water stations once you leave the parking area, so be sure to pack snacks and water. It’s not a hard hike, but if you have kids with you you’ll want to be ready with the snacks.

Unfortunately the Exit Glacier trail does tend to be more buggy than other hikes you might do on the Kenai Peninsula. You don’t need to be covered in mosquito netting, but use bug spray before you hit the trail or keep your arms and legs covered. The Byron Glacier trail, which is a little over an hour from here, tends to be less buggy and you still get to access a glacier, if you need to do a hike like this but are violently averse to mosquitoes.

I mentioned the longer Harding Icefield trail that also leaves from the Exit Glacier area. If you plan on doing that hike, be sure that you’re well supplied for a long day of intense hiking, including that you have the right gear for walking on the Harding Icefield. This can be a dangerous hike if you’re not experienced in glacier trekking, so only attempt it if you have the skills, gear and time. Book a guided Harding Icefield hike here!

Being Prepared for Exit Glacier Hiking

You don’t have to get wild with your hiking gear to enjoy the Exit Glacier trail. It’s very hike-able with just tennis shoes or basic hiking boots. It’s not a steep or precarious trail, so I also don’t recommend hiking poles unless you need them for basic stability. The path is very well maintained as it’s one of the only hiking trails in Kenai Fjords National Park. The main things to be prepared with are water, snacks, and bug spray.

If you are a photographer, bring your big camera! Besides getting to see Exit Glacier, this is a great area to watch for wildlife. I’ve encountered porcupines here, as well as moose and bears. As you go up the trail and have views down into the valley and on the hillsides across the way, look for wildlife there too. We’ve seen bear families crossing the snow and rocks, moose along the river below and always lots of eagles. When you make it to the glacier overlook, despite how it’s receded, there is still glacier ice to see and if you have a good telephoto lens you can capture the blue in the cracks and crevasses.

Getting to Exit Glacier

The Exit Glacier trail and visitor center is located at the end of the road, about 12 minutes from the Seward Windsong Lodge, 15 minutes from Kenai Fjords Tours, and about 20 minutes from downtown Seward and the Alaska SeaLife Center. You can’t get lost because it’s just one long road to the end of the valley. When you arrive, there is plenty of parking, and because it’s not a long trail, the visitor turnover is fairly swift making it an easy place to visit nearly any time of day.

Kenai Fjords National Park Entrance Sign

Yes!!! Despite nearly all of Kenai Fjords National Park being inaccessible on land, the Exit Glacier area does have a National Park entrance sign for getting that classic park photo (our family has them at every park we visit). There is room to pull off the road to take your photo and a safe entry back onto the road as you make your way to exit glacier.