Kenai Fjords National Park

aerial image of Bear Glacier
Bear Glacier is the largest of nearly 40 glaciers that flow from the Harding Icefield.
kayakers in front of a tidewater glacier
Kayakers enjoy the spectacular scenery in the fjords in Aialik Bay.
a humpback whale breaches
A humpback whale breaches in Kenai Fjords National Park
aerial view of Bear Glacier from Harding Icefield
Flightseeing over the Harding Icefield provides amazing opportunities to view glaciers, like Bear Glacier, from a different perspective.
visitors at accessible overlook of Exit Glacier and Exit Creek.
A stroll to Glacier View provides a nice overlook of Exit Glacier as part of a 1 mile accessible walk.
Photos: National Park Service

About Kenai Fjords National Park

At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate.

Quick Facts

State Alaska
Designation National Park
State Code AK
Weather The weather in Kenai Fjords is difficult to predict and can change rapidly. The area generally enjoys a relatively temperate maritime climate, primarily due to the influence of warmer ocean…

Location & Map

Kenai Fjords National Park is located in Alaska.

Operating Hours

The park is open year-round. The primary months to visit are June, July, and August. There are reduced services in the area during the months of May and September. The road to the Exit Glacier area is not plowed during the winter months, and is closed to vehicle traffic once it is covered in snow and ice. The park's coastal backcountry in also largely inaccessible late fall through the early spring due to rough seas.

Wednesday All Day
Monday All Day
Thursday All Day
Sunday All Day
Tuesday All Day
Friday All Day
Saturday All Day

Activities

Astronomy Stargazing Boating Boat Tour Camping Backcountry Camping Canoe or Kayak Camping Car or Front Country Camping Climbing Mountain Climbing Ice Climbing Dog Sledding Fishing Freshwater Fishing Fly Fishing Saltwater Fishing Food Flying Helicopter Flying Fixed Wing Flying Guided Tours Boat Tour Hiking Backcountry Hiking Front-Country Hiking Paddling Canoe or Kayak Camping Kayaking Junior Ranger Program Skiing Cross-Country Skiing Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Kenai Fjords National Park is located just outside the town of Seward in south-central Alaska, 126 miles south of Anchorage. Even though the park is often inaccessible during the winter months, Seward is accessible year-round via the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway. Follow the Seward Highway (AK-1) south from Anchorage. It will become AK-9 around mile 35 (87 miles from Anchorage) with AK-1 heading to Homer and Kenai. Continue on AK-9 to Seward.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 411 Washington Street, Seward, AK, 99664
Phone 9073182040

Topics & Themes

Archeology Maritime Coastal Defenses Maritime - Military Military US Army Native American Heritage Wars and Conflicts World War II Animals Birds Fish Climate Change Coasts, Islands and Atolls Estuaries and Mangroves Forests and Woodlands Coniferous Forests Rainforest Geology Glaciers Mountains Night Sky Aurora Borealis Oceans Whales Rock Landscapes and Features Scenic Views Trails Unique Species Endangered Watersheds Waterfalls Wilderness

Things To Do

Snowmobile in Kenai Fjords National Park

Snowmobile in Kenai Fjords National Park

Explore Kenai Fjords National Park by snowmobile. Once the road to Exit Glacier is snow-covered and closed to cars, it…

Get a Passport Stamp at Kenai Fjords National Park

Get a Passport Stamp at Kenai Fjords National Park

Get your Kenai Fjords National Park cancellation stamps and more.

Explore Kenai Fjords by Boat

Explore Kenai Fjords by Boat

Boat tours depart Seward's small boat harbor daily during the summer months, making it easy to travel deeper into the…

Kayak in Kenai Fjords

Kayak in Kenai Fjords

Explore Kenai Fjords by kayak. Paddling in Kenai Fjords can be a once in a lifetime experience. By dipping your…

Experience Kenai Fjords National Park in winter

Experience Kenai Fjords National Park in winter

Once the road to Exit Glacier is snow-covered and closed to cars, it is accessible by fat bikes and cross-country…

Explore the Exit Glacier area in a couple of hours

Explore the Exit Glacier area in a couple of hours

Would you like to visit the Exit Glacier area, but only have a couple of hours? These are some suggestions…

Visitor Centers

Exit Glacier Nature Center

The Exit Glacier Nature Center is the trailhead for all that the Exit Glacier area has to offer, including the Harding Icefield trail. The building…

Hours: The Exit Glacier Nature Center is open from Memorial Day weekend (the weekend before the last Monday of May) through Labor Day (first Monday of September) unless otherwise noted.

Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center

The main park visitor center is located in the Seward small boat harbor. The visitor center provides opportunities to view the park film, an Alaska…

Hours: The Visitor Center is open from Memorial Day weekend (the weekend before the last Monday of May) through Labor Day (first Monday of September) unless otherwise noted. It offers a park film, exhibits, and an Alaska Geographic bookstore.

Campgrounds

Exit Glacier Campground

Exit Glacier has a 12-site, walk-in, tent-campground. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations or camping fees. There is a…

12 Sites

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