Exit Glacier

Alaska is known for its glaciers, and Exit Glacier is one of the most visited in the world. Flowing from the Harding Icefield just a few miles north of Seward, Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year for its easy accessibility and stunning views.

About the Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is one of the smaller of the 38 glaciers that flow from Harding Icefield, but it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations with its drive-up access and well-maintained trail system. In fact, Exit Glacier is the only part of the Kenai Fjords National Park that you can access by road!

It’s just a short hike from the nearby nature center to get up-close-and-personal with one of the Alaska’s most impressive glaciers, and visitors here can also get a first-hand glimpse of the effect that climate change and glacial recession has had on Alaska’s landscape.

Visiting Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is open year-round to visitors—although the road to the glacier closes from November through May every year. Snowmobile and dog sled tours up to the glacier are still available, and it’s a popular destination year-round for those that want to get up-close to Alaska’s stunning glaciers.

Three of our popular tours include:
1. Seward Winter Dog Sledding
2. Exit Glacier Hike & Gold Panning
3. Seward to Anchorage Transfer with Scenic Bus Tour

History & Geography

In 1968, the first documented mountaineering party crossed Harding Icefield. As the natural exit from the icefield, the party crossed the glacier to return to Seward, and local newspapers reporting the event named the ice flow “Exit Glacier”.

Climate change has had a dramatic effect on Exit Glacier, especially in the last few decades. Visitors to the trails surrounding the glacier can see signposts showing where the ice used to extend to, and the now-revealed rocky landscape is slowly rebuilding with native trees, vegetation, and wildlife.

Interesting Facts

Whether you want to spend a leisurely afternoon at the Exit Glacier Nature Center or you plan on taking a ranger-led hike right up to the Harding Icefield, Exit Glacier is a unique, easy-to-access relic of the last Ice Age that makes for an unforgettable experience.

• President Barack Obama visited Exit Glacier in 2015 during his historic trip to Alaska.
• There is no cell phone service at Exit Glacier—so you’ll need to plan ahead when visiting!
• Peak tourist months are June through August when temperatures reach the 70s during the day and only go down to the 40s at night.
• Exit Glacier has been receding over 160 feet every year over the last two decades. From 2015-2016, it receded over 260 feet!
• Researchers believe that based on its current location, Exit Glacier once reached all the way to Seward—about eight miles away.

Points of Interest

Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the jewels of Alaska, and Exit Glacier is its crowning feature. Whether you’re visiting at the height of summer tourist season or taking an off-the-beaten-path trip for winter skiing or dog sledding, taking a short drive up to the glacier is a must. With its easy access, handicapped-accessible trails, nature center, and incredible opportunities for adventure, Exit Glacier is the perfect place to experience the beauty of wild Alaska.

View all of our Seward tours and things to do in Seward. Find all of our Kenai Fjords tours here.