The captains of these boats are very informative about the surrounding area, sealife, and glaciers. Boat access to Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge departs from the Seward Harbor; this transfer to the Glacier Lodge doubles as a marine wildlife and glacier cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. If you can drive to the park from Anchorage, the 127-mile Seward Highway is paradise for photographers. Jul 23, 2012 - Explore Kenai Peninsula Tourism Market's board "Kenai Fjords", followed by 264 people on Pinterest. On land, you may spot moose, mountain goats, river otters, snowshoe hares, lynx, gray wolves, wolverines, and black and brown bears. Originally, it was in 1978 on the 1st of December when the Kenai Fjords National Monument was designated by the American President Jimmy Carter. This is Alaska, after all, so when planning your visit, consider that peak visiting months are June, July and August, while limited services are available in May and September. “There is a program for everyone,” say the rangers. Outdoor destinations + local stories & exclusive outdoor events. The park boasts abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers, and breathtaking scenery. April is the best time for this and the best access points to get on the glacier are on the east side and Tustemena or Chernof glaciers on the west. The park is 669,984 acres and more than half of it is covered in ice. How many glacier viewing cruises is enough? Become a Junior Ranger: Visiting Kenai Fjords National Park is for adventurers, so it’s no surprise that the park’s Junior Ranger program involves an adventure guide. Visitors can drive to Seward, the nearest town, from Anchorage along the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway, or take the train from Anchorage. Rangers say that the “8.2-mile round trip hike is strenuous, gaining nearly 1,000 feet of elevation each mile on the way up,” and add, “The Harding Icefield Trail, though steep and somewhat strenuous, is worth every step. Aimed for kids ages 4 through 12, the guide is filled with activities that help kids learn more about the park’s glaciers and wildlife while having fun. Many people walk up to, and in some cases onto the glacier using the Exit Glacier … The park covers an area of 669,984 acres (1,046.9 sq mi; 2,711.3 km ) on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, near the town of Seward. Take your time exploring Exit Glacier, and then take a cruise or kayak tour around one of the bays. The Aialik Bay is the most popular kayaking spot in Kenai Fjords National Park, so try the Northwestern Fjord instead if you are looking for more solitude. Windows 10; Windows 8.1; Microsoft Office Kenai Fjords National Park, which is situated 130 miles south of Anchorage near Seward, Alaska, is home to a quarter of the state’s glaciers.While the park’s icefields have receded due to climate change, many glaciers are still intact, drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The trail starts at the valley floor and winds through forests and meadows until getting above the tree line. 2. Once at the lodge, there are nature trails to explore and kayaking in the gentle lagoon. There are about 27 species of land mammals and 10 species of marine mammals in the area, including moose, black bears, wolverines, coyotes, mountain goats, harbor seals, Stellar sea lions, porpoises, and sea otters. Take flight: Get a bird’s eye view of the park via a flight tour with a park-approved outfitter. “Consider visiting iceberg-filled Bear Glacier Lagoon, Aialik Bay, or stay in Resurrection Bay.”. The best way to kayak in the park is to either get dropped of in Aialik Bay or the Northwestern Lagoon (there are campsites along the these areas to stay the night) or by paddling from Seward to Resurrection Bay, Caines Head, or Bear Glacier. Though Kenai Fjords National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, it’s not necessarily accessible that often. One of the best things about Kenai Fjords National Park is getting there. All of this land was once buried beneath the ice and still bears its influence, in both the physical forms, and the everyday glacial terminology used at the park. Older kids (ages 13 and up) will have fun delving into the new NPS Kenai Fjords Journal App for iOS and Android mobile devices, and they can earn their Explorer Badge. Even if you don't make it all the way, there are great views of Exit Glacier from the lower trail and Marmot Meadows. Half-day tours stay within the more protected waters of Resurrection Bay, while full-day tours provide views of some of the park’s tidewater glaciers. In the 1980 s, the lagoon was des­ig­nat­ed as the Ped­er­sen Lagoon Wildlife Sanc­tu­ary, a 1, 700-acre sanc­tu­ary meant to pre­serve and pro­tect the area’s wildlife and land. For those who might be nervous about taking on the adventure alone (bears are commonly spotted along the trail), there are ranger-led tours that leave the nature center at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays in July and August. “This is when the steep walls come alive with ephemeral waterfalls, and the subdued light actually makes the glaciers take on a deeper blue tint.”. Inlet and into the glacier-filled Chugach Mountains. 3. Most people visit Kenai Fjords National Park to explore the Exit Glacier. There are camping options that are accessible by kayak, or there is a 12-site, tent only campground just before the nature center. The park is famous for the fjords it contains, which are valleys that were created by glaciers that are now below sea level. A fjord is a long, narrow arm of the sea with steep sides, carved by glacial activity. “There are many opportunities for guided trips around the park,” say the rangers. One of the most popular glaciers is the Exit Glacier which can be reached by road. Ironically, Glacier National Park isn't the easiest place to see an active glacier. Visitors can walk around the bottom of Exit Glacier and learn about climate change in the nature center. Nearly 51 percent of the park is covered in ice, but there's still plenty to see and do within Kenai Fjords, which was designated a national park in 1980, just two years after it was established as a national monument by presidential proclamation. He designated the park via the Antiquities Act. A network of short trails leads to different views of Exit Glacier, including a one-mile accessible loop and the more rugged Edge of the Glacier trail. This is our best tour … The Tracy Arm Fjord with Adventure Bound out of Juneau or Northwestern Fjord Tour out of Seward. “In the evening, much of the glacier is in shadow and you are shooting against the light.”, 5. “You don't want to miss the sounds of the glacier by being forced inside by the cold – you want to be out on the boat’s deck where you can hear it pop, crackle and thunder. Today, nearly 51 percent of the park is covered by ice. The park was designated as a national park in 1980 as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Sharp nunataks (lone peaks) break the white horizon, glaciers spill from the ice field’s edge, and mountains fill the frame in every direction. When you arrive at the park, stop in at the park’s two visitor centers to plan your time to make the most out of your visit. It’s a very strenuous day hike, gaining about 1,000 feet of elevation per mile, so plan on spending about 6-8 hours out there. Park rangers say that boat tours provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and experiencing amazing scenery. Paddle the fjords: While park rangers advise that the park’s waters are not for beginners, you can get out on the water to kayak the fjords. Glaciers, earthquakes, and ocean storms have shaped Alaska's Kenai Fjords for centuries, resulting in constantly changing terrain. There are a couple short (but steep) trails that go up to a viewpoint of the Exit Glacier, or visitors can hike the 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail. Exit Glacier is the ideal ‘exit’ since it is the one access point where you don’t have to rely on meeting a boat or a plane.” The trip can take anywhere from six days to a couple weeks, and mountaineers should be prepared for a storm to come in at anytime and cause white-out conditions. Visit Exit Glacier: Be sure to take the time to visit Exit Glacier, the only part of the park accessible by road. This is a list of glaciers existing in the United States, currently or in recent centuries.These glaciers are located in nine states, all in the Rocky Mountains or farther west. from $166.25* The field is the source of at least 38 glaciers, th… The best time of year to visit Kenai Fjords National Park is the summer, when the days are longer. It's a great place for kids, but also for adults to learn more about the animals in the area. Kenai Fjords National Park, Wrangle-St. Elias National Park, and Glacier Bay National Park, are all known for their glacier viewing. Other animals and wildlife to keep an eye out for while on the water include sea otters, Stellar sea lions, orcas, and fin, gray, humpback, minke and sei whales. There is no land access to Glacier Bay park. At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. During the summer, potable water is available at the restroom building, through both water-fountains and a water-bottle filling station. Bear Glacier, found in Kenai Fjords National Park, is a tidewater glacier and a popular spot for kayakers, but you can easily see it on a cruise from Seward. It became a national park in 1980 to preserve the fjord and rainforest ecosystems, Harding Icefield, abundant wildlife and historical and archeological remains, and to provide visitor access. No products in the cart. 151 Reviews . And a view from the air can make for great wildlife spotting. The southernmost named glacier among them is the Lilliput Glacier in Tulare County, east of the Central Valley of California. A state fishing license is required. 9. Massive glaciers can be viewed with relative ease in Alaska's national parks. It’s possible to drive up to where Exit Glacier is;  that’s the only part of the park accessible by car. Kenai Fjords National Park is an American national park established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Park rangers suggest visiting Exit Glacier early in the day for the best photographs. Log in; Home; Windows. Exit Glacier in particular is one of the park’s major attractions, and is a very visual example of climate change – the glacier receded approximately 187 feet from 2013 to 2014 alone. Check the “Kayaking in Kenai Fjords” map to plan your trip. You can still ski or snowmobile on the road in the winter to get into Exit Glacier. Ice, ice, baby: You’ll find plenty of it at Kenai Fjords National Park on the edge of the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska, near Seward, where 40 glaciers are the main attraction. I know they will all be great but may need to limit them. Beyond the incredible glacier views, the hills you will be hiking are rather amazing to look at too and on a clear day, you’ll also be able to see plenty of other glaciers on neighboring mountains. During many of the tours, park rangers provide narration, as well as present programs at Fox Island. Experienced kayakers often travel in and around Resurrection Bay. The fjords that have been carved by glaciers over thousands of years have created estuary ecosystems that are only found in five other locations in the world. MORE PARK INFO: Kenai Fjords National Park, (907) 224-7500; nps.gov/kefj/ Whale watching cruises are a popular activity on the waters along the coast of the park. There are also some companies that take people on fly-in sport fishing trips along the coast. This country contains some of the longest, deepest, and most beautiful fjords in the world. We are the original Kenai Fjords wildlife and glacier cruise operator, since 1974. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The water is that gorgeous blue-green created by glacial melt, and you can see the harbor seals and a variety of seabirds that spend time on the Northwestern Glacier. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests around this vast expanse of ice. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. There are almost 40 glaciers flowing from the Harding Icefield, one of the largest in the United States. The route climbs gradually for another half a mile to an overlook at the edge of the glacier. It might be just the fifth most-visited park in Alaska, but Kenai Fjords National Park is one of most beautiful spots in the whole state (and that’s saying something in a place like Alaska!). With the town of Seward as a home base, it’s easy to spend a couple days or more exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. See more ideas about kenai fjords, kenai, fjord. 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