Imagine a place where towering glaciers meet the sea, where whales dance in icy waters, and where every hike unveils a new wonder of nature. Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park, an Alaskan paradise that promises not just a vacation, but an unforgettable family adventure.
Key Facts about Kenai Fjords
- Location: Alaska, southcentral region
- Traditional land stewards: Alutiiq (Sugpiaq)
- Established: 1980 as a National Park
- Size: 669,984 acres
- Annual visitation: 387,525 (2023)
What to See and Do in Kenai Fjords National Park
Encompassing over 600,000 acres of rugged terrain, towering glaciers, and abundant marine life, Kenai Fjords National Park offers a truly immersive experience for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
Take a Boat Tour of the Fjords
Much of Kenai Fjords is covered by ice and snow, making a boat tour one of the best ways to enjoy it. A guided boat tour lets you explore the fjords and get up close to tidewater (ending in the sea) glaciers. You will be mesmerized by the sheer size and beauty of the glaciers! If your timing is lucky, you may even witness calving events, where ice chunks break off from the glaciers and crash into the sea with a thunderous roar.
Heading to and from the glaciers, your boat crew will keep a keen eye out for wildlife. Kenai Fjords is a haven for marine wildlife. The cold, nutrient-rich waters support a diverse ecosystem that includes sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and numerous species of whales, including humpback and orca whales. You may also spot puffins, bald eagles, and other seabirds.
The two main tour companies are Major Marine Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours. Both offer multiple tour lengths. If time allows, we recommend the tours that visit at least one tidewater glacier.
Kayak Among Icebergs
We were looking for more adventure and a smaller group so we combined a boat tour with kayaking. Our full day tour included a boat ride to Aialik Glacier with lots of stops for wildlife. We saw Stellar’s sea lions, sea otters, humpback whales, bald eagles, puffins, Dall’s porpoises, and harbor seals. When we were a few miles from the glacier, we put ashore and kayaked the rest of the way. The kayaks let us get up close with otters and harbor seals as well as check out some little “sneaks” around an island. As you get closer to the glacier, you start dodging small icebergs. We floated and watched the glacier calve while we munched our lunch. Suggested tour: Aialak Glacier Kayak Tour.
Hike to Exit Glacier
Exit Glacier is a valley glacier that flows from the Harding Icefield. The glacier was originally called Resurrection Glacier, but was renamed in 1968 when it served as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield and a newspaper called it “Exit Glacier”. The power of the press!
Access to Exit Glacier starts at the Exit Glacier Nature Center, a 20 minute drive from Seward. On the road in, start looking for the year signs that mark the location of the toe of the glacier at that time. The signs continue along the hiking trail. Honestly, I found the visit sobering. The signs are a painful reminder of the impact climate change is having on glaciers.
From the Exit Glacier Center, you can take a 1 mile (1.6 km) wheelchair accessible Glacier View Loop Trail to Glacier View. Unfortunately, the glacier has receded so much that you don’t have much view from Glacier View. An additional 0.6 miles (1 km) on the Glacier Overlook Trail takes you to Glacier Overlook. This part of the trail is not wheelchair accessible. You have a good view of the glacier’s face here, but it’s not as outstanding as it would have been in 2010 when the toe of the glacier was right in front of you.
Free guided hikes! Rangers offer guided 1.5 hour walks to Glacier Overlook several times each day. The groups we passed seemed to be having a great time.
See the Harding Icefield
The Harding icefield is the largest icefield entirely in the Unites States and more than 40 glaciers flow from the icefield. If you’re looking for a more invigorating trek than Exit Glacier, The Harding Icefield Trail (HIT) may be for you. This strenuous hike is 8.2 miles roundtrip with ~3500 feet of elevation gain. Plan 5-8 hours, depending on your hiking speed. The end of the trail offers sweeping views over the Harding Icefield. Sadly, the trail was still snowed over when we visited in mid-June so we missed out on this hike. Maybe your timing will be better than ours!
Go Fishing
Fishing is not our thing, but if it’s yours, then you have a variety of options to pursue your passion in both freshwater and saltwater. Local lakes and rivers abound with trout. Just make sure you have a valid Alaska fishing license. If you’re looking for halibut, salmon, rockfish, or lingcod, then you may want to consider a guided fishing charter for the best luck.
Become a Junior Ranger at Kenai Fjords
At Kenai Fjords National Park, anyone can participate in the Junior Ranger program, which offers you the opportunity to learn about the park’s ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation efforts while earning Junior Ranger badges. Kenai Fjords has four Junior Ranger programs:
- Kenai Fjords National Park Junior Ranger. This is the standard junior ranger “shield badge” with a park-specific design. You can earn this by completing the “Junior Ranger Adventure Guide”, which is a straightforward Junior Ranger book. The Adventure Guide can be turned in at either the Exit Glacier Nature Center or Kenai Fjords NP Visitor Center in Seward.
- Kenai Fjords National Park Explorer. The Explorer Journal is designed for 13+ (including Not So Junior Rangers), but younger kids can also complete the journal. The work required is a substantial step up from the Adventure Guide. The Explorer Journal can be turned in at either the Exit Glacier Nature Center or Kenai Fjords NP Visitor Center in Seward.
- Kenai Fjords National Park Junior Glacier Ranger. This patch is only available at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. You check out a discovery backpack with either a science or art theme. You then design your own program using the materials.
- Kenai Fjords National Park Junior Fjord Ranger. The coolest way to earn this patch is on a Fjord Junior Ranger Walk. If you’re like us and visit when the walk isn’t being offered, you can check out a discovery backpack with a choice of certain activities to complete. This patch is only available at the Kenai Fjords NP Visitor Center in Seward.
If you need more information on earning Junior Rangers at US National Park sites, check out our Ultimate Guide to the National Parks Junior Ranger Program.
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
The summer months (May to September) offer the best weather for exploring Kenai Fjords. Wildlife activity is also at its peak during this time, making it ideal for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is open in winter, but tours and hiking are limited or unavailable.
Accommodation
While there are no lodges within the park itself, nearby towns like Seward offer a range of accommodations including hotels, lodges, and campgrounds. Seward is a great base for exploring the park and its surroundings.
We stayed in the Seward Municipal Campground right on the water. The campground has an amazing playground, average bathroom facilities, and a great view of the water.
Reservations
Popular activities like boat tours and guided hikes can fill up quickly, especially during peak season. It’s advisable to make reservations in advance to secure your spot. Seward is a cruise ship port so on days when cruise ships are in dock, tours are particularly busy.
Pack Essentials
Don’t forget to pack essentials like sturdy shoes for hiking and layers and rain gear, as weather in Alaska can be unpredictable. It’s always good to be prepared for changing conditions. Bring binoculars to observe wildlife sightings from a safe distance. If you’re an avid wildlife photographer, then a camera with a telephoto lens is a must.
2 Day Itinerary for Kenai Fjords National Park
Day 1: Arrival and Valley Glacier Exploration
- Drive to Seward (Anchorage is a 2.5 hour drive)
- Enroute, visit the Exit Glacier area of Kenai Fjords NP. Choose from the short, family-friendly trails around the glacier terminus, or opt for a more challenging hike up the Harding Icefield Trail.
- Arrive in Seward, check into your accommodation, and enjoy a fresh seafood dinner. We loved Gold Rush Bistro!
Day 2: Wildlife and Marine Adventure
- Early breakfast. We recommend Rowdy Radish.
- Depart for a full day wildlife and glacier tour in the fjords
- Return to Seward and enjoy dinner.
- With long summer days, you could head on to your next destination tonight or first thing tomorrow morning
If you elected for a half day tour or have more time, we suggest adding on the Alaska SeaLife Center, which has interactive exhibits and Alaska marine life. If you prefer to hike, Mount Marathon Race Point Trail or the Tonsina Creek Trail are popular choices.
What We Did
We spent two nights in Seward as part of an Anchorage, Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park trip.
Our first day in Kenai Fjords National Park, we drove from Palmer (north of Anchorage) and stopped at Exit Glacier enroute. We had planned to hike the Harding Icefield Trail, but snow and ice fall conditions prevented that. Instead we hiked to the Exit Glacier Overlook and walked back along the Outwash Plain. That night we had dinner at the yummy Gold Rush Bistro in downtown Seward. We camped in the municipal campground right along the water. The kids burned off their energy on the playground with a crowd of other campground kids.
On day two, we woke up early and ate breakfast at Rowdy Radish. Fresh and hearty food that fueled us up for kayaking. We spent a full day on a wildlife boat tour and kayaking to Aialak Glacier with Kayak Adventures Worldwide. Suggested tour: Aialak Glacier Kayak Tour.
We returned to Seward for dinner and another night in the campground. On day three, we headed back to Anchorage to catch our flight.
Kenai Fjords National Park beckons families with its awe-inspiring landscapes, thrilling wildlife encounters, and endless opportunities for adventure and learning. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of glaciers, the thrill of wildlife encounters, or the tranquility of its pristine landscapes, this national park has something to offer everyone. So pack your sense of wonder and embark on a journey to one of Alaska’s most magnificent destinations.