Exit Glacier Hike in Kenai Fjords – Seward, Alaska

Exit Glacier is the most popular hike in Kenai Fjords National Park – likely because it’s the most accessible and easiest, with a big payoff at the end – you get to see a glacier!

Not only do you get to see a glacier, but you’ll see a first-hand example on how our climate is changing and what kind of effect our warming planet has on how fast these glaciers are melting.

About Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is part of the larger Harding Icefield which “feeds” Exit Glacier. Exit Glacier got its name in 1968, when the first known crossing of the Harding Icefield occurred. Exit Glacier was the group’s ending point, hence the name.

Every year, Exit Glacier recedes about 162 feet. As you walk the Exit Glacier trail, keep an eye out for the signs that show you where the toe of the glacier was at the time – you will be shocked at how much this glacier has shrunk throughout the years.

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Exit Glacier Trailhead Location:

The Exit Glacier area is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by road, and thus is the only place where you can take a photo of the park entrance sign — I know I’m not the only one out there who has to photograph National Park Service unit signs wherever I go!

From Seward, Alaska, the trailhead location is nearby and easy to find. It’s about a 20 minute drive from downtown Seward. Simply take Herman Leirer Road (aka Exit Glacier Road) all the way to the end, directly to the trailhead. The road dead ends here.

If you happen to be in Seward on a cruise stop, you can easily find shuttles that run back and forth to Exit Glacier. For example, this service offers shuttles for $15 round trip and it’s free to enter the park…yet Princess Cruises wants $90/per person for this hike! Just one (of many) examples why, if you’re on a cruise, to book excursions on your own!

Once here, you’ll find a nature center, gift shop and restrooms. This trailhead is also the same trailhead for the popular Harding Icefield trail and can be found right behind the nature center.

Hiking from the Exit Glacier Nature Center Trailhead:

From the trailhead, you’ll have a few different options here to see Exit Glacier.

• Glacier View – Lower Trail: This 1 mile trail is the easiest, quickest and accessible way to see Exit Glacier. The entire trail is paved and you can get a view of Exit Glacier from a distance.
• Glacier Overlook Loop Trail: This is what we did – you can get a better, closer view of Exit Glacier. The trail is paved to start, but becomes an actual hiking trail about halfway through the hike. You will need to hike across rocks and the hike is 2.2 miles round trip.
• Harding Icefield: This 8 mile round trip hike is a much more difficult trail and you’ll need to commit most of your day for this hike. You don’t need any special equipment for the hike, just time and decent physical fitness.

You will not be hiking on the actual glacier on any of these trails! If you want to hike on Exit Glacier, you will need to hire a guide to take you there. Glacier hiking without an experienced outfitter is extremely dangerous!

Exit Glacier Overlook Hike Details

• Distance: 2.2 miles
• Hike type: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: 308 feet

This is a relatively easy hike that’s about half on a paved trail, and half on an actual trail, and partly across rocks. The path is clearly marked and there are always lots of people hiking on the trails. We passed a ranger-led hike on our way to the glacier, so if you want a really in-depth experience, you could join one of the free guided hikes from the visitors center.

The scenery along the trail is very beautiful, even on an overcast, slightly misty day like we had. As you go along the trail, you’ll continue to see dates of where the glacier’s toe once was, making the hike kind of depressing.

Once you get to the end of the trail, there will be a roped off area, indicating the end of the trail. You’ll see lots of warning signs not to proceed any further, as the terrain is dangerous. You won’t be able to touch the glacier; you’re still quite a distance away. If you want to get closer, you’re going to have to hike the Harding Icefield trail.

Hiking Exit Glacier – Final Thoughts

Pros:

• Easy, quick hike to see a glacier
• A shorter, accessible trail is available that offers a nice view of the glacier
• Trail is well-marked

Cons:

• It’s sad seeing how much the glacier has retreated over the years
• If you’re wanting to touch or stand on a glacier, you will not be able to get that close

Have you hiked to Exit Glacier before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!