Kenai Fjords National Park

As one of Alaska’s smallest national parks, Kenai Fjords National Park offers some of the most breathtaking views of glaciers, mountains, and hundreds of bays, coves, and long fjords to explore by foot, plane, or kayak. Kenai Fjords National Park features the Harding Icefield and nearly 670,000 acres of untamed wilderness just west of Seward, AK.

About the Kenai Fjords National Park

The Sugpiag people were the first to settle at what is now Kenai Fjords National Park, and they lived on the rugged glacial coastline. In 1980, it became a national park with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and it was established to protect one of the largest icefields in the country, Harding Icefield.

Visiting Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park offers some of the best in Alaskan wildlife and adventure—with opportunities for boat tours, kayak expeditions, and treks through the backcountry to visit the 714-square mile Harding Icefield. While the best time to visit is May-September, tourists still come to the park and nearby Seward year-round for skiing, snowmobiling, and flight-seeing tours.

Our Scenic Flight to Bear Glacier is a popular flightseeing tour, while our the 4 hour wildlife cruise is a popular way to explore by sea.

Geography

The crowning feature of the Kenai Fjords National Park is the Harding Icefield, from which at least 38 glaciers flow. In fact, the icefield receives upwards of 60 feet of snow every year, and ice covers 51% of the park! The largest glacier flowing from the icefield is Bear Glacier, but Exit Glacier remains the most popular to visit, as it’s the only glacier in the park accessible by road.

With the glaciers flowing down from the icefield and into the Gulf of Alaska, the rugged landscape is framed by towering mountain peaks—the highest of which is an unnamed peak with an elevation of more than 6,400 feet. The boundaries of the park encompass the icefield, the forests between the mountain range and the sea, and the coastline with its deep glacier fjords.

Interesting Facts

The unique landscape of the Kenai Fjords National Park gives visitors an experience like no other—and there’s plenty to see and do in the area. With nearby Seward as a popular destination stop for cruise ships, the park is only a short side trip to see some of the area’s most-pristine wilderness.

• Small compared to other parks in the state, Kenai Fjords is the 5th most-visited park in Alaska.
• Kenai Fjords National Park did not grant Native Americans subsistence use right away—making it the only Alaskan national park to withhold these rights.
• Several village sites in the region have been dated to between 1200 AD and 1920, with one dating as far back as 950 AD.
• Survey evidence has shown that an earthquake that occurred around 1170 AD lowered the shoreline of the Kenai Fjords area by almost 6 feet.
• In March of 1989, the Exxon Valdez grounded in Prince William Sound and about 20 miles (or 4%) of the Park’s coastline was contaminated with oil, which took years to clean up.

Points of Interest

Whether you choose an all-day icefield hike or make a short drive out to Exit Glacier, the Kenai Fjords National Park offers a unique perspective in Alaskan wilderness. The mountains, glaciers, waterways, and sea come together to create a beautiful, diverse ecosystem where visitors can see abundant wildlife and some of the best views that Alaska has to offer.

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