Exit Glacier | Seward

Exit Glacier, located within Kenai Fjords National Park in south-central Alaska, is one of the most accessible glaciers in the entire state and a striking reminder of the ongoing power of ice and time. Just a short drive from the small coastal town of Seward, it forms the only part of the vast Harding Icefield that visitors can reach by car.

The Approach and Setting

The journey begins along the Exit Glacier Road, a scenic 13-mile route branching off the Seward Highway. The road winds through dense spruce and alder forests, with the air cooling noticeably as you near the glacier. At the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center, exhibits trace the glacier’s retreat over the decades-its earlier positions are even marked by roadside signs, a subtle but haunting timeline of climate change.

Trails and Visitor Experience

Several trails radiate from the visitor area, offering both easy walks and challenging climbs. The Glacier View Loop Trail provides a gentle one-mile round trip with clear views of the glacier’s lower tongue and meltwater streams. For those willing to climb, the Edge of the Glacier Trail extends closer, letting you stand near the terminus where you can hear the faint groans of the ice and feel the cold breeze rushing from the glacial surface.

The more strenuous Harding Icefield Trail, a demanding 8.2-mile round trip with about 3,500 feet of elevation gain, rewards hikers with a sweeping panorama of the endless white expanse of the icefield itself. On clear days, you can watch clouds drift across the peaks while the glacier below gleams in blue and silver hues.

Sights and Sounds

Exit Glacier feels alive. Meltwater cascades through creeks, and the ice emits occasional cracking sounds as it shifts. In early summer, the slopes burst into color with fireweed and lupine, contrasting sharply with the pale glacial backdrop. Small patches of moss cling stubbornly to nearby rocks-tiny ecosystems surviving on the glacier’s edge.

Climate and Retreat

The glacier’s name-“Exit”-comes from the route it provided for early explorers who descended from the Harding Icefield. Yet today, it seems symbolic of its own slow exit from the landscape. Since the 1800s, Exit Glacier has receded by more than a mile, a change visibly recorded in interpretive signs along the trails. The retreat has become a living classroom for climate scientists and visitors alike.

Practical Information

The site is open year-round, though the access road typically closes in winter due to snow. In summer, rangers lead interpretive walks and talks explaining glacial dynamics and local ecology. Visitors often combine a stop here with wildlife-viewing or a cruise through Resurrection Bay, where tidewater glaciers meet the sea.

Closing Impression

Standing before Exit Glacier, one senses both awe and fragility-a meeting point between ancient ice and present warmth. The chill in the air, the distant roar of meltwater, and the stark reminder of impermanence make this one of Alaska’s most quietly powerful experiences.