Exit Glacier Road | Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords. It has three different departures, some including Fox Island, but they all feature the alpine and tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park, and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, filled with seabird rookeries. The oil did not reach the fjords, repelled by heavy spring water flows from the land. Mount Marathon Race. The Exit Glacier from the Glacier Overlook Trail | Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords. Climate Normals Quick Access (19912020)", "U.S. Kenai Fjords National Park | Lodging For more information, visit theKenai Fjords National Park website. You will rappel into deep, blue crevasses, feel a sense of achievement as you climb back up onto the glacier, and all the while, enjoy magnificent views of the Exit Glacier and Kenai Fjords National Park. Airlink Shuttle & Tours is your answer! The Harding Icefield receives 60 feet (18m) of snowfall per year. This experience is definitely one we will be telling our grandkids about one day [6] It is the only Alaska national park that did not originally allow subsistence use by Native Americans, but native village corporations continue to have interests in inholdings within the park,[7] and have since established subsistence rights on those properties. The site proved to be particularly challenging to clean up without disturbing the area.[10]. All against the backdrop of incredible landscapes such as jagged cliffs, tumbling glaciers and lush forest. Plan Your Visit - Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Kenai Fjords National Park | Alaska Cruises | Alaska Vacations This gives you enough time to take a fjord cruise and hike the trails near Exit Glacier or go ice climbing or glacier hiking. [68][69], Harsh conditions at higher altitudes limit tree growth above the tree line, creating an alpine ecosystem. This is an exciting time of birth, nursing, and mating. Interesting Facts about Kenai Fjords National Park, Overview and Map of Kenai Fjords National Park, Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords National Park, Learn more about what to expect, how much it costs, and see more photos in our article, Our Experience on the Northwestern Fjord Cruise. The fjords are glacial valleys that have been submerged below sea level by a combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence. Its incredible how camouflaged they can be. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. On March 15, 1972, four areas of the Kenai Peninsula were set aside under the ANCSA for federal protected areas. As always carry bear spray and hike in a group if possible. Establishment as a national park followed the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980. The park is bordered on the west by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and on the south by Kachemak Bay State Park. Location Room with a Cruise Weddings Kenai Fjords Tours Back to Kenai Fjords Tours The View from Kenai Fjords Tours' Webcam in Seward Boat Harbor Curious to see what's going on in Alaska ? Dwarf plants in this region include bog blueberry, partridgefoot, black crowberry and Aleutian mountainheath, all of which are vulnerable to damage from foot traffic. while standing outside in the dark, camping on a place called Bear Creek and with the temperature on the low 20s For recommendations on getting around the park, visit the Kenai Fjords National Park Information Center near the small boat harbor. How Much Time Do You Need in Kenai Fjords National Park? To see the Harding Icefield, you can either hike to it (over 8 miles round trip) or see it on a flightseeing tour. Required fields are marked *. A beach site near MacArthur Pass was discovered during cleanup operations. He was the last king of America. The park protects the icefield, a narrow fringe of forested land between the mountains and the sea, and the deeply indented coastline. Kenai Fjords National Park sits at the edge of the North Pacific Ocean, where storm patterns develop and feed a land of ice. Kenai Fjords National Park Valdez Portage Glacier & Whittier Homer Kenai Fjords is an Aquatic Wilderness There's a lot to discover in some of the most incredible, protected wilderness in Alaska at Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses three main areas: Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield, and the coastline. With kayaking, ice climbing, and glacier hiking, many wonderful adventures await. Read More 50 F See 3-Day Forecast Overview Lodges Gallery Activities FAQ View Map Our Terms Lodging for Kenai Fjords National Park Not only are the landscapes breathtaking but the diversity of wildlife was even better. ------------------------------- Kenai Fjords has something for everyone. Kenai Fjords became a National Park in 1980 in order to protect the Harding Icefield and its outflowing glaciers and coastal fjords. About 20 species of seabirds nest along the rocky coastline; the most charismatic of the birds are clown-faced puffins. The nearest large town is Seward, immediately to the east of the park on Resurrection Bay. Usually summer. [14], The earliest proposals for a national park at the Kenai Fjords was raised in the 1970s. Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise from Seward - Tripadvisor The captain was excellent, both with his commentary and pointing out wildlife throughout the day. Travel Alaska is a registered trademark of Alaska Travel Industry Association. Negotiations between the Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the Chugach Alaska Corporation resulted in a decision by the Department of the Interior to make the Park Service the lead agency for the Kenai Fjords area. Become a Junior Ranger Become a Junior Ranger No matter your age, we've got a program for you, including our new Explorer App. as well as puffins, humpbacks, dolphins, seals, sea lions, otters, mountain goats and bald eagles! You can hike several trails to viewpoints of this glacier, as well as hike on it or go ice climbing, with an experienced guide. We were so excited to see a pod of 12+ orcas (a dream come true!!) We chose Exit Glacier Guides for their impeccable reviews and emphasis on safety. [20], On December 2, 1980, the ANILCA bill was signed into law by Jimmy Carter, converting Kenai Fjords to a national park. Kenai Fjords National Park - Search - Travel - Bing From this trail, you get the best view of the Exit Glacier, unless you plan to go glacier hiking or ice climbing. Kenai Fjords National Park Are you interested in? Park Home Plan Your Visit Plan Your Visit Uncover the mysteries of an ever-changing landscape; rocks revealing the signature of past glacial advance, valleys growing as ice retreats, and boulders recording the origin of glacial ice. Be prepared. [70] Cleanup was difficult, as the oil became a tarry emulsion that could not be skimmed, and had to be dredged. Kenai Fjords National Park is located on the Kenai Peninsula. Join a park ranger for a short walk, interpretive talk, or a day hike and learn more about your park. The race is open to less than 800 people and so popular that there is a lottery selection process. and got to see the most beautiful wildlife Higher alpine regions support a dwarf shrub community less than 1 foot (30cm) high, at a very slow rate of growth. Completing the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail represents quite an accomplishment. These gigantic rivers of ice have shaped the terrain and are now receding to reveal their work. Colossal gravitational waves found for the first time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. This short, easy trail is about one mile long and starts at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. Seward & Kenai Fjords Sea Kayaking Tours - ALASKA.ORG The parks rugged coastline includes beautiful tidewater glaciers and abundant marine wildlife. This is Alaska - remote, rugged, and unpredictable. kayak in the Fjords The first season's work stopped in September. Once you cross the Kenai Fjords National Park boundary, you will see road signs with four-digit numbers on them. This is very dangerous and there are ropes and signs discouraging this. Kenai Fjords National Park The higher you go, the better the view. Kenai Fjords National Park is located in. Experienced mountaineers equipped with skis, ice axes, and crampons can continue on to explore the icefield. The mature forest features Sitka spruce and mountain hemlocks, with an understory of devil's club, Alaska blueberry, elderberry, baneberry, watermelon berry and lady fern in the coniferous forest understory. This is largely believed to be a result of climate change. After arriving in Anchorage, you'll drive about 2 and a half hours south along the Seward Highway (Alaska 1) towards Seward. Best Camping in and Near Kenai Fjords National Park These reptiles have gone viral. Sweeping from rocky coastline to glacier-crowned peaks, Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses 607,805 acres of unspoiled wilderness on the southeast coast of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Once at the Exit Glacier, you will put on a harness and helmet, strap on some crampons, and head off onto the glacier. Earth's shifting magnetic poles don't cause climate change, This ancient society tried to stop El Niowith child sacrifice. In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Julie Last updated: March 21, 2023 United States Leave a Comment. The Aialik Glacier Wildlife Cruise and Kayaking tour that we took costs $425 per person in 2021. Another site was used from 1785 to 1820. attend a Ranger-led program We did see bear warnings the day we did this hike, and a hiker warned us of a bear not far off trail (we didnt end up seeing the bear). Also, we got a discount through the Alaska Collection by bundling together this fjord cruise with our stay at the Seward Windsong Lodge. We took the Northwestern Fjord Cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours and loved every minute of it. Many cruise ships also useSewardas a port-of-call. This is where several hiking trails start, which are listed next. [39] The park's largest glacier is Bear Glacier. On land, you can see moose, black bears, brown bears and wolves. On this cruise, travel farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than on any other fjord tour. Alongside the above opportunities, you may want to consider looking into experiencing Kenai Fjords (the park and surrounding area) through such experiences as, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Our website uses cookies. The road to Exit Glacier generally opens in May and closes with the first snowfall, usually in October. From mid-May to late September, daily tour boats from Seward offer round-trip half-day and full-day excursions to the fjords and outlying islands. Ask the park for a list. Distill the essence of coastal Alaska into one placewild, dynamic, and scenic, rich with the signatures of glaciers, light with the marks of people, unforgiving in stormy seas, unforgettable in warm sunshineand you have Kenai Fjords, the smallest national park in Alaska. Enjoy spectacular whale watching and marine wildlife viewing from the vessels, with possible sightings of orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, Dalls porpoises, sea otters, Steller sea lions, and seabirds. Plus, you can bundle a stay here and a cruise on Kenai Fjords Tours for a discount. Herbaceous plants can grow in areas with better soils, supporting grasses, Nootka lupine, fireweed and other perennial plants. [36] Predominant rock types include shale and graywacke, with greenstone, tuff and chert. Basic Information - Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park Service) But the ship is large, roomy, and has a small restaurant and bar (I sipped on coffee with Baileys for the first few hours). . Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Hikers can ascend 1,000 feet over 4 miles along theHarding Icefield Trailfor breathtaking views alongside and above the icefield. This property offers a variety of cabins that can accommodate between three and seven people. Come discover what makes Kenai Fjords a special place by visiting at least one if not all three main regions of the park. Kenai Fjords Tours | Glacier Cruises Out Of Seward | ALASKA.ORG #SpringInAlaska, A sea arch at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge - Alaska Wildland Adventures 542. Eleven mine sites have been documented and two of the mine sites have been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Would you visit this park? Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests around this vast expanse of ice. Things To Do - Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Before we did this, I was a little bit worried7 hours seems like a long time on a boat. Distance: 8.2 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Strenuous | Total Ascent: 3,500 feet | Time: 6 to 8 hours, Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield | Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords, Top of the Harding Icefield Trail | Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords. Dont quit, dont give up and be patient with yourself in the process. The first plants to appear in recently glaciated areas are lichens and mosses, with a few hardy plants such as dwarf fireweed and yellow dryas. Many winter visitors ski the road into Exit Glacier, or snowmobile in. #otter #sewardalaska #sewardoceanexcursions visitseward #kenaifjordsnationalpark #ocean #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #alaska #whale #whalewatching #kenaifjords, Kenai Fjords National Park IMPORTANT: Do not leave the Glacier Overlook Trail to hike on the Exit Glacier moraine. Kenai Fjords National Park. From this road, you also get a great view of the Exit Glacier. In Seward, visitors can access the park on tour boats, water taxis, air taxis, and on foot from the Exit Glacier area. . For the next few hours, you will hike on the glacier, get a lesson on ice climbing (if you are a newbie, like we were), and then test out your new skills on the ice. 30,295 acres (47.3sqmi; 122.6km2) were repurchased by the Park Service in the 1990s, retaining subsistence rights on about 9,000 acres (14.1sqmi; 36.4km2). The site showed that contrary to earlier beliefs, portions of the park had been used over a long term by native peoples. . Another proposal placed the Aialik Peninsula under US Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Its a good option for those who get seasick since you stay in the calmer waters of Resurrection Bay. Your gut health can affect the rest of your body. And, did we mention kids go free and adults save 10% on our gray whale watch tour? In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. [49][50] Smaller mammals include coyote, beaver and river otter. And if you prefer to sit back, relax, and view this park from a boat, you can do that too. ------------------------------ Park Archives: Kenai Fjords National Park - NPS History Kenai Fjords National Parks Conservation Association #kenaifjordsnationalpark#kenaifjords#nationalparkgeek#goatworthy#mountaingirls#andshesdopetoo#liveyouradventure#outdoorwomen#womenwhohike#radgirlslife#wildernessvibes#choosemountains#exitglacier#sewardalaska#akliving#optoutside#alaskaliving#visitseward#alaska#alaskalove#glacier#travelalaska#thealaskalife#explorealaska#kenaipeninsula#sharingalaska#alaskanadventures#mountains, The Fourth is right around the corner, join us millerslanding for our very special Fourth of July Paddle and enjoy fireworks on the water. Very few places on earth match the beauty of this particular Alaska national park. Kenai Fjords National Park Address Alaska, USA Phone +1 907-422-0500 Web Visit website Alaska is home to eight national parks in total, and each is incredibly beautiful and wild in its own right. Read all of our articles about Alaska in our Alaska Travel Guide. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. Twenty thousand years ago, during the last ice age, enormous glaciers carved U-shaped valleys that eventually filled with seawater. The primary months to visit are June - August, with reduced services in the area during the shoulder seasons. I did this routine every day, Until the day I finally saw the Aurora Burealis Each has a fully equipped kitchen and there is an onsite laundry facility. Kenai Fjords National Park Fast Facts - National Parked But if you have the time in your schedule and want the best cruise experience in Kenai Fjords, put the Northwestern Fjord Cruise on your list. On a separate day, we also cruised Aialik Bay to go glacier kayaking (the next thing on our list), which is nice, too. Kenai Fjords National Park was established as a national monument in 1978. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK:Check out our Kenai Fjords National Park Travel Guideforimportant travel planning tips, sample itineraries, advice on when to go, where to stay, and more. On the Water: Kenai Fjords. Length: 8.2 miles [64] Marine birds include tufted and horned puffin,[65] common and thick-billed murre,[66] and marbled murrelets. From Seward, the Exit Glacier Road (aka Herman Leirer Road) dead-ends at the Exit Glacier Nature Center and the hiking trails for the Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield Trail. Interested in an electric car? No matter your age, we've got a program for you, including our new Explorer App. The Ultimate Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park Camping Also, the tour took off from Seward so you can camp the night before in the spot we posted about yesterday! For extended adventures, skiplanes drop off and pick up skiers on the icefield, and floatplanes do the same for kayakers in the fjords, weather permitting. All rights reserved, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Glacier kayaking tours range in price from $325 to $550 per person, depending on the tour. [38] More than thirty glaciers originate in the icefield, which first formed about 23,000 years ago. Earth just set a heat record. For the safety of all, pets are only allowed in select areas. The trails are well-maintained and you can hike on your own, or opt to join a ranger for a guided walk. Most of the development is in theExit Glacier Area, home to theExit Glacier Nature Center, hiking trails, and theExit Glacier Campground.