Exit Glacier
Exit Glacier
Welcome to Alaska…The last Frontier!!
Hiking in this vast wilderness state isn’t an easy feat by all means and requires a lot of courage. It’s a trailless country! And you’ve to be extremely prepared for all the possibilities that nature can throw at you. However, Exit Glacier serves as a great introduction to what awaits you in this wild state. It is the easiest hike you’ll get in Alaska; albeit, it is not easy at all:), in terms of accessibility, terrain, and trail finding…So lets start our adventure!
Exit Glacier is officially located in Kenai Fjords NP, yet it’s the only part of this NP that is accessible by car from Anchorage, which makes it easy to explore. Driving from Anchorage will take around 3 hours to reach the parking lot of Exit Glacier passing through the town of Seward. The parking lot is located just a 0.5-mile hike away from the bottom of the glacier, so hike the Glacier View trail to get a glimpse of this massive glacier and a taste of Alaska’s landscape.
Of course, we didn’t drive all this way for a o.5-mile hike that only reveals the tip of the glacier…there is more for the adventurous soul:)
In order to appreciate the true size of this glacier and get a closer encounter with this wild landscape, you’ve to venture into the backcountry and hike the 4-mile “Harding Icefield Trail”. This is an in-and-out trail (total roundtrip is 8.2 miles) that will take you to the top of the glacier with an elevation gain of +2950ft and a total of 6 hours of hiking to the top and back. Also, remember that you are venturing into the high country so it’ll be substantially colder at the top than in the parking lot, so dress accordingly and be prepared to hike in the snow…even in the summer!!
The trailhead is located at an elevation of 525ft and you’ll first start hiking in the forest away from the glacier which is the easiest part of the trail, yet it still provides amazing views of the surrounding landscape.
After 1.4 miles you’ll reach the first viewpoint of the glacier, “Marmot Meadows”, at an elevation of 1558ft. However, this is still not what you came for as you are still at the lower section of the glacier, so don’t spend much time here as the true wilderness still awaits you up the trail. After 1.8 miles, you’ll reach the true start of the trail and the true Alaskan wilderness… “the bottom of the cliffs”. From here the trail will get steeper and the weather will get colder, so pace yourself and be ready to wear additional layers.
Now after 2.4 miles, and at an elevation of +2475ft, you’ll reach the “top of the cliffs” and get pretty close to the glacier and the views are simply breathtaking, so take your time and marvel at the sheer size of this glacier.
Take a good rest and have some lunch to recharge, as the next section is the toughest part of the trail, yet the most rewarding! This is a 1.7 mile stretch with an elevation gain of +1007ft in the bitter cold and large parts of the trail will be completely covered in snow…so it is not for the faint-hearted!! It’ll be tough and the snow will get thicker, but don’t be discouraged, in the end, you came to Alaska by your choice:) and honestly, that is what it is worth for. Pace yourself and take small and careful steps because you don’t know how deep the snow is.
After navigating this snowy part you’ll reach the top of the glacier and the end of the trail.
It’ll be bitterly cold and windy, but put on your layers and enjoy the views while contemplating how small you are compared to this massive glacier and its vast wilderness.
It’ll be hard to take the decision to head back, but the cold weather will make it easier for you:) and when you start heading back, please remember that it’ll be trickier to go down in the snowy part, so be careful & ENJOY:)
