Seward, Alaska, is a charming coastal town that serves as a gateway to some of the state’s most spectacular natural wonders. Among them, Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, stands out as an incredibly accessible and awe-inspiring example of a glacier in flux. Having seen (and walked on) my first glacier just a few days prior, it was now Justin’s turn to see his first glacier.
Exit Glacier is unique because it’s one of the few glaciers in Alaska that you can easily access on foot. The drive from downtown Seward to the Exit Glacier Nature Center is scenic and relatively short drive, at about 25 minutes, leading you to a well-maintained 2 trails. The Harding Icefield Trail is a 8.2 round trip strenuous hike and were were not prepared for that. The Exit Glacier Trail, the one we took, has two 2 loops which was nice so we were able to take the slightly longer way there by stopping at the Glacier View where you get a wonderful view of the Outwash Plain, continued the trail tot eh Glacier Overlook, and then take a different way back. The first loop is paved and a relatively easy walk for all fitness levels, and the second part is nonpaved trail with some uneven ground and a little elevation gain.
As we began our stroll, the landscape gradually transformed. What started as lush Alaskan forest slowly gave way to a more rugged, almost barren environment. Signs placed along the trail marked the glacier’s retreat over the decades, a stark and sobering visual timeline of climate change. It was a powerful reminder of how quickly these immense ice formations can recede.
The air grew noticeably cooler, and the wind picked up a little as we approached the glacier viewing area. There weren’t many people on the trail with us, but there were a bunch in the two viewing areas. Like everyone else we took a few photos, and then put them away to appreciate where we were and considered what it may have looked like back when the glacier was bigger at the signs we saw.
The park offers guided tours once a day in the summer, and I would have really enjoyed that – when possible we try to do a ranger led talk so we get the most out of our experience. If we had another day, I would have loved to kayak in the water in this area and/or take a boat tour of the glaciers here, I heard you get pretty close to them, and I imagine the view from the water would be incredible.