Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park reachable by road. It flows off the Harding Icefield to a valley you can drive to and walk toward. Easy, partly paved lower trails — including a roughly 1-mile Glacier View Loop — lead to glacier viewpoints from the nature center, so casual visitors can see the ice without a hard hike. For experienced hikers, the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail climbs beside Exit Glacier to a viewpoint over the icefield. There is no entrance fee.
Reaching Exit Glacier from Seward is straightforward in summer, and it gives you a close look at a valley glacier off the same icefield that feeds the tidewater glaciers on the boat tours. Roadside markers along the trail show where the ice stood in past years, which makes the glacier's retreat plain to see; the park is planning for a future when Exit Glacier may no longer be visible from the current trail.
The road, the shuttle and the winter closure
Exit Glacier sits at the end of Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road), which leaves the Seward Highway at mile 3 and runs about 8.4 to 8.6 miles to the Exit Glacier Nature Center. If you are driving, that is the whole trip.
Good to know: the road is closed to cars from about late October to mid-May, when it isn't plowed. In winter it's open only to skiers, snowmachines and fat bikes. In summer, a seasonal Exit Glacier shuttle runs from Seward for visitors without a car. The Nature Center is generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
From an easy paved loop to a strenuous climb
Three main options run from the Exit Glacier Nature Center, from a short accessible loop to the all-day icefield hike.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier View Loop Paved, wheelchair-accessible, glacier viewpoints | ~1 mile | Under 1 hour | Easy |
| Edge-of-glacier spur Gets you nearer the ice | Short spur | ~1 hour | Moderate |
| Harding Icefield Trail Climbs beside Exit Glacier to the icefield viewpoint | ~8.2 miles round trip | 6–8 hours | Strenuous |
The big day hike above the ice
The Harding Icefield Trail is the demanding option: about 8.2 miles round trip, roughly 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile, and 6 to 8 hours of strenuous hiking. It climbs beside Exit Glacier to a viewpoint over the Harding Icefield itself.
Conditions change fast up high. Snow can linger on the upper trail into late June or July, and the trail runs through active black-bear country — black bears are spotted almost daily along it in summer. Expect storms, high wind, intense sun and sudden temperature changes, and treat or filter any stream water, since untreated water may carry Giardia.
Bear country: make noise as you hike and carry bear spray. Because the trail is so exposed, plan for a full range of weather in a single day.
Packing for the Harding Icefield Trail
The National Park Service recommends coming prepared for cold, wet, sun and bears on the same hike.
Clothing
Cold and wet, then sun
- Warm clothes and a warm mid-layer
- Rain gear for storms and wind
- Sturdy footwear for a rough, snowy upper trail
Sun & water
Exposed and glaring
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for intense sun
- At least 2 liters of water per person, or a filter
- Untreated stream water may carry Giardia
Bear awareness
Active black-bear country
- Make noise as you hike
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it
- Bears are spotted almost daily in summer
What's reachable for everyone
The Exit Glacier Nature Center and its restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The paved lower Glacier View Loop has an accessible viewing scope, so visitors who can't take on the rougher trails can still reach a glacier viewpoint. The Nature Center is generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Exit Glacier questions
It's strenuous: about 8.2 miles round trip with roughly 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile, and most hikers need 6 to 8 hours. It climbs beside Exit Glacier to a viewpoint over the icefield, and snow can linger on the upper trail into late June or July.
Yes. Easy, partly paved lower trails lead from the nature center to glacier viewpoints, including a roughly 1-mile Glacier View Loop, and a moderate spur gets you nearer the ice.
A car is simplest, using Herman Leirer Road off mile 3 of the Seward Highway, about 8.4 to 8.6 miles to the nature center. In summer a seasonal shuttle runs from Seward. The road is closed to cars from about late October to mid-May.
Yes. The Harding Icefield Trail runs through active black-bear country, and black bears are spotted almost daily along it in summer. Make noise as you hike and carry bear spray.
It's the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park reachable by road, with no entrance fee. Easy paved loops suit casual visitors, and the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail suits experienced hikers, so it works for a wide range of visitors.
Related guides
Kenai Fjords tours & experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy — glacier and wildlife cruises, sea kayaking and flightseeing from Seward and Aialik Bay.
Ready to plan your Exit Glacier day?
Check the road and shuttle timing for your dates, pack for cold, wet, sun and bears, and leave a flexible day for weather.