Kenai Fjords Kayaking Map +
2-Day Seward & Exit Glacier Itinerary
2-day Kenai Fjords National Park itinerary from Seward, Alaska. Hike the ice at Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield Trail on day one, then paddle a full-day guided sea kayak tour among tidewater glaciers, sea otters, and calving ice in Aialik Bay on day two.
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Drag stops between days, swap the Harding Icefield hike for a mellow Glacier View Loop, and add your own trailheads and harbors with the place search. The live map and legs recalculate as you go, so you can tune the Seward-based plan to your pace before you head out on the water.
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Glacier ice & sea kayaking, all from Seward.
This 2-day Kenai Fjords National Park itinerary is built around Seward, Alaska, the gateway town 127 miles south of Anchorage. Day one is the accessible ice of Exit Glacier, the only part of the park you can reach by road; day two is a full-day guided sea kayak tour among tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife.
On the water you paddle among icebergs near active tidewater glaciers in Aialik Bay or Resurrection Bay, watching for sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, puffins, and, on the boat transfer, humpback whales and orcas. Most tours include a boat transfer, gear, a guide, and lunch.
There is no entrance fee or timed-entry reservation for Kenai Fjords, and no permit is required to day hike the Exit Glacier trails. A guided tour is strongly recommended for kayaking because of the cold water and challenging marine environment, and popular tours fill up months ahead in July and August.
Book your guided kayak tour and Seward lodging at least 3 to 6 months ahead for peak season (July–August); popular tours and rooms sell out. The road to Exit Glacier is typically open late May to early September, weather permitting, so check the NPS website for current road status. Backcountry camping in the park needs a free NPS permit from the Seward ranger station or online, though it is not needed for this 2-day plan.
Drive to Seward & Exit Glacier · up to 3 miles hiking
Drive the scenic Seward Highway (AK-1/AK-9) south from Anchorage, roughly 127 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours through Turnagain Arm and the mountains. It is a National Scenic Byway with constant photo stops, so leave extra time. After checking in at Seward, head straight to the Exit Glacier area, the only part of Kenai Fjords you can reach by road.
Start at the Exit Glacier Nature Center, then choose your hike. The paved Glacier View Loop (about 1 mile) leads to a viewpoint near the ice; the short Lower Outwash Plain Trail is a flat gravel loop; and the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail (8.8 miles round trip, ~3,200 ft gain) climbs above the treeline for a panorama of the largest icefield entirely within the United States.
- 127 mi · 2.5–3 hrs · Seward Highway National Scenic Byway
- ~1 mi paved loop · accessible · viewpoint near the ice
- 8.8 mi RT · ~3,200 ft gain · Hard · panoramic icefield views
- Overnight in SewardHotels, cabins & campgrounds near the small boat harbor
- The Exit Glacier road is typically open only late May to early September; check the NPS website for current status before you drive out.
- Harding Icefield Trail crosses avalanche terrain and snow can linger into early July, so ask at the Nature Center about conditions before committing to the full climb.
- Book Seward lodging months ahead for July and August. Rooms near the small boat harbor fill fastest because that is the departure point for the next morning's tour.
Harding Icefield TrailOvernight in SewardFull-Day Guided Sea Kayaking · 6–8 hours
Wildlife viewingBack in SewardToday is a full-day guided sea kayak tour into Kenai Fjords, usually departing from Seward's small boat harbor. Most trips start with a boat transfer into Resurrection Bay or out toward a remote fjord like Aialik Bay, followed by several hours of paddling among icebergs and near active tidewater glaciers. Lunch, gear, and a guide are typically included.
Watch for abundant marine wildlife throughout: sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, puffins, and murres, plus humpback whales and orcas on the transfer. Return to Seward in the late afternoon and cap the trip with fresh Alaskan seafood in town before you drive back or extend your stay.
- 6–8 hrs · boat transfer + paddle · gear, guide & lunch included
- Paddle among icebergs below a calving glacier
- Marine wildlife viewingSea otters, seals, sea lions, puffins · whales on the transfer
- Seafood dinner in SewardFresh Alaskan seafood in town · depart or extend your stay
- Choose a tour that matches your fitness. Most guided trips suit beginners, but paddling cold, sometimes windy water for several hours is genuinely tiring.
- Bring waterproof and windproof layers, sun protection, and a dry bag for electronics. Alaska weather flips fast even in midsummer, and UV is strong on the water.
- Maintain a safe, legal distance from all wildlife and never feed animals. Guides handle the route and identification, so follow their lead near seals, otters, and calving ice.
Now build your Kenai Fjords trip.
You've seen both days. Open the free drag-and-drop planner and tune it for your dates, your pace, and whether you add a glacier cruise or a second night in Seward.
Essential park rules & planning.
No fee, no entry permit
Kenai Fjords National Park has no entrance fee and no timed-entry reservation for general access. You can visit Exit Glacier and Seward and day hike the established trails without a permit. Guided tours operate under their own NPS permits.
Exit Glacier road is seasonal
The road to Exit Glacier is typically open only late May to early September, weather permitting, and closed in winter under heavy snow. Always check the official NPS website for current road conditions before planning your day one hike.
Book kayak tours well ahead
For kayaking into the fjords, a guided tour is strongly recommended because of the cold water and challenging marine environment. Book with a reputable, NPS-permitted outfitter and reserve 3 to 6 months in advance for peak season in July and August.
Go June through August
The best window for kayaking and wildlife is June through August, when temperatures are mildest (roughly 50–70°F), daylight is long, and wildlife activity peaks. May and September bring fewer crowds and lower prices but colder, less predictable weather and reduced services.
Respect wildlife & Leave No Trace
Maintain a safe, legal distance from all marine wildlife and never feed animals. Pack out everything you pack in and dispose of waste properly, on the water and on the Exit Glacier trails.
Backcountry needs a free permit
This 2-day plan uses lodging in Seward, but if you extend into backcountry camping in the park you need a free NPS permit, obtained at the Seward ranger station or online. Reserve early for the Aialik Bay public-use cabins.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
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Kenai Fjords kayaking route.
The Seward Highway drive, Exit Glacier trails and road-season dates, which guided kayak tours reach Aialik Bay versus Resurrection Bay, wildlife to watch for, and the book-ahead timing you need for a peak-season summer trip.
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