Harding Icefield
Along highway 1 to the icefield, there are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the scenery
To explore this icefield you’ll head toward Seward, about 130 miles south of Anchorage, using the Seward Highway. On your way there you will get to see the Turnagain Arm, and maybe even the Bore Tide if you are lucky. Additionally, you’ll go right past the Girdwood area and be able to take in some excellent views along the way. The park’s visitor center is next to the Harbormaster’s office at the small boat harbor. There you’ll find information on the icefields (and glaciers), a slideshow, exhibits, and a small bookstore.
What is an Icefield?
An icefield is a large area of interconnected glaciers. Harding Icefield is the largest of four remaining icefields in the United States. Every year, it receives over 400 inches of snow. The Harding Icefield caps Kenai Fjords National Park and is a huge 700sq miles.
Valleys, carved by glaciers, litter the coastline of the Kenai Fjord. There are also still active tidal glaciers calving into the ocean. Some of the notable glaciers in this region include the Exit Glacier, Tustumena Glacier, and McCarty Glacier. Exit Glacier, the most accessible glacier within the park, can be reached by a 9-mile car ride and then a short walk.
Hiking the Harding Ice Field
You can also hike ‘The Harding Icefield Trail,’ an intermediate to difficult level, 9.7 mile trail. The trail head is about 1/3 of a mile along the Exit Glacier Paved Path, on the right. You’ll begin on the valley floor and work your way through meadows and forests. Then, the trail rises well above the tree line and gives a spectacular view of the icefield. With ice as far as you can see, it’s like being transported back to the ice age.
A handful of outfitters offer guided tours of the Exit Glacier. Some activities that are available are guided sled dog experiences, glacier landing tours by plane, flight seeing, and hiking. There are a lot of different ways to explore out here.
Nearby, the Kenai Peninsula provides space to explore the coast
Exploring the Kenai Region
Among the land, bear, moose, and many mountain goat roam. At the fjord entrances, you’ll find sea lions basking on the rocky islands. There are also harbor seals resting atop icebergs, sea otters, Orcas, and other types of whales and porpoises. In the sky, thousands of sea birds—puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, and common murres—soar and raise their young amongst the steep cliffs.
This is a perfect chance to hop on a whale watching tour and get in touch with the coastline. Seward is nearby and offers local food and fare to cap your trip with and lands you very close to the Kenai Fjords National Park. The Harding Icefield can be a quick getaway or the perfect link in your itinerary to get to explore than vast beauty of Alaska. Get the glaciers, mountains, ocean, and mudflats all in one trip.
