Exit Glacier
Seward, AK
A glacier you can walk toward, with signs showing how far the ice has retreated.
Exit Glacier lies in Kenai Fjords National Park, just a 10- to 15-minute drive from Seward. Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road) turns off at Mile 3 of the Seward Highway and runs 13.5 km (8.4 miles) to the parking lot. The glacier flows down from the Harding Icefield, which covers about 1,800 km² (700 square miles) and feeds 38 named glaciers. Signs along the way mark where the glacier's toe lay over the past 120 years or so.
The accessible Glacier View Loop, 1.6 km (1 mile) long, starts at the Nature Center, which has exhibits and rangers; the moderately strenuous Glacier Overlook Trail continues about 1 km (0.6 mile) closer to the ice. Fit hikers can tackle the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail, about 13 km (8 miles) round trip with roughly 900 m (3,000 feet) of climbing. Parking is limited between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. From late October to mid-May the road is usually closed to cars because of snow.
- Nearest town
- Seward, AK
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 60.1880, -149.6310
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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FAQs
Where is Exit Glacier?
Exit Glacier is in Seward, AK, at GPS 60.1880, -149.6310. It is about 22 mi from Cooper Landing.
Which road trips pass Exit Glacier?
Exit Glacier is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Alaska’s Seward Highway and Tidal bore, glaciers and gravel dust: by camper along the Seward Highway, Parks Highway and Denali Highway.
What is there to see near Exit Glacier?
Places worth a stop nearby: Alaska SeaLife Center (9 mi), Russian River Falls (22 mi), Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (49 mi) and Begich, Boggs Visitor Center (49 mi).
When is the best time to visit Exit Glacier?
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)