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With
just a 10- to 15-minute drive out
of Seward, you can hike right up to Exit
Glacier and feel the dense
blue ice while listening to it crackle.
Walk the lower trail (a gentle half
mile) to get a good photo in front
of the glacier face. The trail also
provides access for people with disabilities.
The upper trail provides an overlook,
as if you're standing right on the
glacier. Please be careful, as it
is an active, calving glacier. You
can see the changes in vegetation
with the gradual melting of the glacier,
and note the signs pointing out the
glacier's reach in years past.
A challenging day hike
(seven miles roundtrip)
to a 3,500-foot summit
treats you with stunning
views of the 700-square-mile
Harding Icefield. This
massive ice sheet, located
within Kenai Fjords National
Park, is the source of
over 35 named glaciers,
including Exit. The Harding
Icefield Trail winds
up the north edge of
Exit Glacier, offering
spectacular views of
the glacier and surrounding
mountains along the way.
This steep trail is best
suited for in-shape hikers
(might be hard on the
knees, too), gaining
1,000 feet of elevation
with each mile. No special
equipment is necessary
for this trail from about
June through early October,
although a hiking stick
and good hiking boots
would provide extra support;
bring extra layers, as
it may be significantly
colder at the icefield.
The trail traverses fragile
alpine areas, so please
take care not to damage
the vegetation via shortcuts.
Experience these icy
adventures on your own
or with the Seward
Windsong Lodge. Their two-hour naturalist-led walk
explains what’s really happening inside the blue
crevasses and how global warming is affecting our glaciers.
You’ll also learn about the area’s botany
and wildlife while walking on the trails.
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