SamIn beautiful Seward, Alaska, the Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most underrated national parks in the U.S. And if you are planning a trip to Alaska, you definitely need to add this national park to your itinerary!
Here is everything you need to know in order to plan the perfect trip!
When To Visit
Summer in the Kenai Fjords National Park
An important part of your experience is going to be when you decide to visit the national park. I highly suggest you visit during the summer season, as this is when the park is actively open. While it is public land that is open all year, guided tours and the National Park Service are only active during these months. If you stray from the summer season for your visit, you may be disappointed in what you’re able to see and do.
A majority of the Kenai Fjords are accessible by only air or sea. This means that to see the entire park, you would have to get on a boat or a plane. There are many boat tours operating throughout the summer that take people in and around the National Park. And there are a few companies that will take you on flight-seeing tours throughout the fjords. These excursions do not operate outside of the summer season, so to make the most of the experience definitely visit in the summer months!
How long to stay
While you may not have a ton of activities planned for the Kenai Fjords area, I definitely recommend spending at least two days in the area. Seward is located in a temperate rainforest, meaning there is not always the best weather in town. And given that the park is primarily accessible by planes and boats, this can bring about issues with cancellations and delays. Spend the extra time in Seward to give yourself the flexibility you my need! You’ll be thankful for it.
How to Get To The Kenai Fjords National Park
For the sake of this article, all transportation options to Seward are from Anchorage, as that is the primary origin point for travelers.
Train
The Alaska Railroad operates every day, bringing people from Anchorage to Seward every morning. If you plan on using public transport to get to Seward, this is an excellent option. The Alaska Railroad takes a scenic route that makes the journey itself an experience. Additionally, the railroad operates to other parts of the state, which makes it a great transportation option for the duration of your trip.
However, there are some downsides to using the AKRR as transportation. It takes significantly longer than it would to drive (4 hours vs. 2.5 hours). While it can be worth it for the experience and scenic views, not everyone is willing to lose the valuable time. Additionally, the train is not always the most reliable form of transportation, as there are often delays. If you have any excursions planned after your train arrives, keep in mind that you will want a timeframe buffer to ensure you won’t miss out on any of your adventures!
Bus
The Park Connection Bus that operates in the summer months is a great option for getting from destination to destination, including Seward. The bus route connects Denali all the way down to Seward, with stops in Talkeetna and Anchorage (including the airport). While slightly less scenic than the Alaska Railroad, it is still a great transportation option. It takes an average of 3 hours to complete the trip from Anchorage to Seward, which is good timing for public transportation. And is typically more reliable than the Railroad.
Rental Car
Rental Car is by far the easiest way to get to Seward. You can travel on your own time, and will the trip from Anchorage being along the scenic highway, you will be grateful that you have the freedom to stop and admire the views along the way!
Pro Tip: In the summer months there is always construction happening, so give yourself a large buffer of travel time if you need to arrive in Seward at a specific time.
Cruise Ship
A little less conventional, but still effective, cruise ships are a great way to arrive into Seward. The town is typically a departure terminal for a majority of cruises that begin in the southeast region of Alaska. If an Alaska cruise interests you, consider a route that starts or ends in Seward to give you time to explore the Kenai Fjords!
The Best Activities in the Kenai Fjords National Park
Whale Watching & Glacier Viewing
Possibly the best part of the Kenai Fjords National Park is the amazing wildlife viewing, whale watching, and glacier viewing. There is so much wildlife that calls the fjords their home for the summer, and the bounty of wildlife creates a magical experience. Home to puffins, otters, seals, eagles, and lots of cetaceans, you are nearly guaranteed to have an amazing time spotting wildlife among this unique landscape. And furthermore, there are stunning active glaciers for viewing that you may be able to spot calve right in front of your eyes (just don’t take your eyes off the glaciers!).
Hiking
Very little of the national park is actually accessible by land. Therefore, there isn’t an abundance of hikes within the park that you would find at other national parks. However, the hikes that are there have the most extraordinary views.
The most notable hikes are the Exit Glacier Overlook Trail and the Harding Icefield Trail. Drastically differing in difficulty, but both worth while.
The Exit Glacier Overlook Trail is a short 1.5 miles loop trail that brings you up close to Exit Glacier. In terms of difficulty, it is one of the easiest hikes in Alaska. With a nature center at the start of the trail, and an overlook onto Exit Glacier as the destination, this is a family friendly hike for people of all hiking abilities.
If you are an advanced hiker and looking for a day long adventure, definitely consider hiking the Harding Icefield Trail. This trail brings you up the mountains, through meadows, and alongside glaciers until you get to the final destination that is the Harding Icefield Overlook. This icefield is the largest icefield in the United States, and even seeing it with your own eyes, it is still difficult to comprehend the sheer mass of it. This trail is incredibly strenuous, and can take up to 10 hours. But even if you are only able to reach the meadows and have an overlook of the glaciers, the views are 100% worth it!
Sea Kayaking
This may be my favorite way to explore the Kenai Fjords National Park. While there are many different kayaking excursions available for your choosing, my favorite is definitely kayaking near the glaciers. Exploring the glacial inlets as you kayak through glacial ice is an incredibly unique experience, and one I will never forget. You are able to connect with nature on a more intimate level, and the wildlife viewings are even more fun when you are so close to the water.
Other Activities in Kenai Fjords National Park
- Zip Lining
- Fishing
- Airplane Tour
- Helicopter Tour
Accommodation & Transportation
There are lots of accommodations available in the area, all of which are great choices. The most important factor I would consider when choosing a place to stay is location.
Whether you want to be centrally located in downtown Seward, or more secluded out near the Exit Glacier Area of the Kenai Fjords National Park, this is the best place to start. And in choosing your desired location, consider your transportation options as well. If you have a rental car, then no worries! You have unlimited access to go wherever your heart desires. However, if you plan on relying on public transportation, maybe opt for a lodging option that has a free bus included, or is centrally located so you can easily walk to all destinations.
While Seward is a small town with limited public transport options, there are a handful of choices available during the tourist season that make getting anywhere a possibility. There is a free town shuttle that operates on a loop throughout the day, as well as plenty of taxis available for hire. Additionally, many excursion companies offer accommodation pickup before a scheduled tour. So if you need to get somewhere, do not stress as you likely wont have a problem getting there!
If you have had the pleasure of visiting Kenai Fjords National Park, comment bellow what your favorite part was, or your other favorite areas of Alaska!
