Sep 21 2024
The plants of Kenai Fjords National Park grow in one of Alaska’s most dramatic environments. Glaciers descend from the Harding Icefield, steep mountains rise almost directly from the sea, and heavy Pacific precipitation nourishes lush coastal forests only a short distance from barren ice and rock. This remarkable variation in elevation, moisture, exposure, and glacial …
Sep 21 2024
Glaciers define Kenai Fjords National Park more than almost any other natural feature. Rivers of ice spill from the enormous Harding Icefield, filling mountain valleys, ending in turquoise lakes, and reaching directly into the ocean along Alaska’s rugged Gulf of Alaska coast. Nearly 51 percent of Kenai Fjords National Park remains covered by ice, and …
Sep 21 2024
The wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park is as dramatic and varied as the landscape itself. Humpback whales feed in cold coastal waters, orcas patrol the fjords, sea otters float among kelp beds, harbor seals rest on glacial ice, mountain goats cling to precipitous cliffs, and black bears wander through the forests surrounding Exit Glacier. …
Sep 21 2024
Hiking in Kenai Fjords National Park is different from hiking in many national parks. Most of this rugged Alaska landscape is made up of glaciers, steep mountains, dense coastal vegetation, and remote fjords that are reached more easily by boat than on foot. In fact, the park’s only maintained hiking trails are concentrated around Exit …
Sep 21 2024
Exit Glacier is one of the most accessible and revealing places in Kenai Fjords National Park. While most of the park’s rugged coastline, fjords, and glaciers can be reached only by boat, aircraft, or demanding backcountry travel, Exit Glacier lies at the end of the park’s only road. Visitors can drive from Seward, walk through …
Sep 21 2024
Whale watching is one of the most memorable ways to experience Kenai Fjords National Park. From the harbor town of Seward, boats travel into Resurrection Bay and along Alaska’s rugged Gulf of Alaska coastline, passing forested mountains, rocky islands, seabird colonies, tidewater glaciers, and waters used by an impressive variety of marine mammals. Humpback whales …
Jun 28 2024
Kenai Fjords National Park protects a spectacular meeting place of mountains, glaciers, and the North Pacific Ocean on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Here, the enormous Harding Icefield spills between rugged peaks, glaciers descend toward deep fjords, whales and sea otters feed in cold coastal waters, and narrow valleys reveal what happens when thousands of years of …
