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Complete the Exit Glacier Hike and you’ll be doing one of the most popular things in Kenai Fjords National Park. If you are visiting the town of Seward, exit glacier hiking should be on your list.
Not only do you get to walk close to an active glacier but the trails are only 15 minutes from Seward. This makes exit glacier Alaska one of the most accessible and visited glaciers. Plus you get to check out one of Alaska’s stunning national parks.
You are afforded great glacier views from the roadside as you drive towards the visitor center, but the view gets better on a glacier hike.
Among common questions you may have are “How long is exit glacier hike?”, “How easy is hiking exit glacier?” and “What is exit glacier hike elevation?”. In this post we will answer all these questions for you.
EXIT GLACIER AREA FACTS
Along with over 30 other glaciers, exit glacier is fed by the immense and astounding 700 square mile Harding Icefield.
About 23,000 years ago at the height of the Little Ice Age, exit glacier filled the valley and the mountains were covered in ice. As it flowed towards Resurrection Bay, the glacier smoothed and rounded these peaks, and carved out a wide U-shaped valley.
Since the end of the Little Ice Age, exit glacier has been retreating. Markers along the trails show the retreat of the glacier’s toe over the past 120 years.
HOW TO VISIT EXIT GLACIER, AK
- HOW TO GET TO EXIT GLACIER FROM SEWARD – At mile 3 of Seward Highway, take Herman Leirer Road (known as Exit Glacier Road) for 8.4 miles.
- EXIT GLACIER SHUTTLE – An hourly shuttle leaves central Seward and costs $15 roundtrip.
- DIRECTIONS TO EXIT GLACIER FROM ANCHORAGE – Take the scenic Turnagain Arm from Anchorage, continue on Seward Highway. Turn right into Herman Leirer Road just before the town of Seward.
- Google Map Coordinates – Latitude: 60.17826 | Longitude: -149.649
The road ends at the free parking lot and exit glacier visitor center. There are designated parking spaces for cars and RVs but these fill up quickly. Aim to arrive early morning or late afternoon.
EXIT GLACIER NATURE CENTER
Open during summer season, this informative center should be your first port of call. Rangers are on hand to ask any questions about the area including exit glacier hike difficulty and exit glacier campground.
Explore numerous exhibits and learn about exit glacier melting over the past years. Other services at the center include an Alaska Geographic bookstore. There are toilets and a picnic area for visitors.
EXIT GLACIER TRAILS
Leaving from the visitor center are a network of well-maintained, flat trails leading to the toe of the glacier. Both trails pass through flourishing cottonwood forest.
How much you want to see of the glacier will determine which trail you follow. The following two hikes while easy, only offer a small glimpse of the glacier.
The accompanied markers featuring the journey of the glacier’s retreating position over the past years are poignant.
If you are looking for something more strenuous than the exit glacier hike, ask the rangers about Harding Icefield trail. An unmissable 8 mile round trip, you can enjoy sweeping views of the glacier and surrounding mountains along the way.
Read More: HIKING HARDING ICEFIELD TRAIL
Plus you are rewarded with an overlook of the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield. You can even combine one of the exit glacier hikes with Harding Icefield hike if you have a full day to spare!
EXIT GLACIER TRAIL MAP
1. EXIT GLACIER VIEW LOOP
- Length: 1 mile total
- Difficulty: Easy
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible on flat ground
- Elevation Gain: Minimal (5% or less)
- Time Taken:
Ideal for those with limited mobility, the trail is marked as a solid black line on the exit glacier hike map above. This loop can be traveled clockwise or counter-clockwise, with a slight descent of either paved or compressed gravel on the return.
The trail is part paving and part compressed gravel. Pass through towering forest and follow the trail as it saunters down to the creek bed.
Reaching a point overlooking the outwash plain gives you a sweeping panorama of the glacier and its descent pathway. Continue along the loop back to the carpark.
2. EXIT GLACIER OVERLOOK TRAIL
- Length: 1.8 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate with some steep sections
- Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs or those with mobility issues
- Elevation Gain: ~ 269 feet to 400 feet
- Time Taken: 30 minutes plus time for photos and enjoying the view
For the closest viewpoint of exit glacier continue past the sign for loop glacier view. The trail climbs gradually up exposed rock opening up to an overlook of the glacier.
Be wary of roped off areas and stay on the trail. If you stand in the silence you may hear slight groans and creaks as gravity pulls exit glacier down the slope.
As light passes through thick ice, all the colours of the spectrum are absorbed, except for blue. This signature blue glow can be seen in the glacier’s deep crevasses.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT EXIT GLACIER
1. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT EXIT GLACIER ALASKA?
The best time to explore the trails is primarily the months of June, July and August.
2. IS EXIT GLACIER SEWARD OPEN IN THE WINTER?
While Exit Glacier area is open year-round, the road to exit glacier is inaccessible to cars from around late October to mid-November due to snowfall. It can be mid-May before the road reopens.
Winter activities such as snowshoeing, dogsledding and snowmobiling can be enjoyed in the area. You may be lucky to witness the alluring northern lights!
3. ARE THERE ANY EXIT GLACIER TOURS?
- Exit Glacier Ranger-Led Walks begin at the nature center and are offered every day throughout the summer season. Lasting about 90 minutes, the walk will follow the trail to the Glacier Overlook. Reservations are not required.
- Exit Glacier Guides partner with exit glacier shuttle and offer adventures such as exit glacier ice hiking and exit glacier ice climbing. Details can be found on their website.
4. TIPS FOR HIKING EXIT GLACIER SEWARD
- With the retreat of the glacier vegetation has adapted and flourished. However it is still fragile so stay on the designated paths.
- As the glacier flows down Harding Icefield, pieces of ice can break off and fall without warning.
- Make sure you take a water bottle with you.
- This is bear country and if there is reported bear activity, part of the trails can be closed. The park service will put up notifications so be sure to adhere to them.
Read all our articles about this region in our Southcentral Alaska Guide
If you have any questions about how to hike exit glacier Kenai Fjords national park, or you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
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