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 …
Sep 21 2024
Brooks Falls is one of the most famous wildlife-viewing destinations in Katmai National Park and Preserve. Each summer, sockeye salmon surge upstream through the Brooks River while Alaska brown bears gather around the falls to take advantage of one of the richest seasonal food sources in the region. The scene has become iconic. Bears stand …
Sep 19 2024
The brown bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve are among the most famous wild animals in North America. Each summer, bears gather along salmon-rich rivers, roam coastal sedge meadows, dig for clams on tidal flats, and move through an enormous Alaska wilderness where food remains abundant and human development is limited. About 2,200 brown …
Sep 19 2024
Hiking is one of the best ways to experience Joshua Tree National Park. Trails weave between enormous granite boulders, climb desert mountains, cross sandy washes, pass abandoned mines, and descend into secluded oases where native fan palms rise unexpectedly from rocky canyons. The park protects portions of both the Mojave and Colorado deserts, giving hikers …
Sep 19 2024
Barker Dam is one of the most fascinating places to explore in Joshua Tree National Park. Hidden among massive granite boulders and Joshua tree woodland, the historic dam provides a glimpse into the difficult lives of the ranchers and homesteaders who tried to make a living in California’s Mojave Desert. The dam was built around …
