Overview

Glaciers, icefields and fjords form the majestic tapestry of Kenai Fjords National Park, located on the Kenai Peninsula of southern Alaska. Near the town of Seward, and the closest national park to Anchorage, Kenai Fjords is moderate accessible: you can reach Exit Glacier by road, but the rest of the park (including Bear Glacier, the park's largest, and the Harding Icefield) can only be seen via boat tours. Seward is a major departure point for Alaska cruise ships, so many visitors experience the park by cruising through Resurrection Bay or taking shore excursions. The Exit Glacier area includes a variety of hiking trails offer views of the glacier, and Ranger-led tours also are offered here. Boat or kayak tours of the fjords include the opportunity to see Steller sea lions, puffins, Dall's porpoises, and humpback and orca whales. Black bears and mountain goats are among the park's terrestrial inhabitants. The park's fjords and Resurrection Bay also are excellent fishing grounds for salmon, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. The Harding Icefield, the birthplace of the park's 40 glaciers, can be experienced by air (overflight tours are popular) or on foot via the steep and strenuous 8.2-mile Harding Icefield Trail. Hikers are almost guaranteed to see bears along the way. The trailhead is located near the Exit Glacier Nature Center, one of two park visitor centers; the other is located in the town of Seward. Backcountry camping is permitted; most such trips are accompanies by expert guides. Established: December 2, 1980 Area: 669,982.99 acres Website: [http://www.nps.gov/kefj](http://www.nps.gov/kefj)