The Ultimate Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park

Post Summary: What to do in Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park blew us away! This unique national park was a delightful first stop on our Alaska adventure and probably my favorite park to visit in Alaska (so far).

At Kenia Fjords you can expect to see a variety of wildlife, incredible mountain views, and experience rugged glacier landscapes completely untouched by human development.

Maybe you’re currently planning a trip to Kenai Fjords or have never heard of the park. Either way, I hope you can also experience this incredible place one day!

Is your trip to Kenai Fjords National Park a part of a larger trip to Alaska? You may also like these articles:

• The Perfect Alaska National Parks Road Trip
• 8 Epic & Free Things to do in Valdez, Alaska

How to Get to Kenai Fjords

Kenai Fjords National Park is located on the Kenai Peninsula. To get there, you’ll have to fly into Anchorage International Airport. After arriving in Anchorage, you’ll drive about 2 and a half hours south along the Seward Highway (Alaska 1) towards Seward.

The views along the Seward Highway are absolutely breathtaking so plan to take lots of stops along the way for pictures or to just simply take it all in. Plus, your legs will thank you after the long flight & drive.

Where to Stay

If you can, stay in the city of Seward. Seward is located right outside of the national park and is equipped with all essential services. You can find a variety of accommodations as well as campgrounds and RV parks located in Seward.

To save money, we stayed about 45 minutes away from Seward in an Airbnb in the small town of Cooper Landing. While we enjoyed our accommodations and saving a few dollars, we did have to drive quite a bit each day to get to our activity for the day. However, the views from the roads on the Kenai Peninsula are amazing which makes the drive so much more enjoyable!

How Long to Stay

Kenai Fjords National Park can be easily seen in two full days or can be enjoyed for as long as a week, depending on your style of travel.

We stayed two nights and enjoyed two days that were jam packed with amazing mountain views, glaciers, and so much wildlife!

What to Pack

Alaska’s summer weather is unpredictable and for this Texas-girl, it was cold! Plan to pack plenty of layers for warm and cold days.

Here’s what I found most useful on my trip to Alaska:

• Osprey Pack – I don’t travel anywhere without this pack and I definitely don’t hike without it.
• Merrell Waterproof Hiking Boots – Trails in Alaska can be very wet and muddy. Make sure you bring waterproof hiking boots. I’ve been wearing Merrell hiking boots for years now and love them!
• Columbia Rain Jacket – Been wearing this jacket for years and it’s great! Expect lots of rain in Alaska and come prepared with a reliable rain jacket.
• Plant-Based Bug Spray – Do NOT overlook bringing bug spray. The mosquitoes are INSANE. I prefer this plant-based bug spray that smells more like lemons and less like deet.
• Refillable Water Bottle – A must for day-hiking!
• Nikon d3500 – The views in Alaska are incredible. Don’t forget your camera! I use the Nikon d3500 and love how it’s compact and easy to pack and takes great pictures.

What to Know Before You Go

Bear Safety

Bears are highly active in this area of Alaska. Both Black Bears and Brown Bears (like grizzly bears but bigger from all of the salmon feasting) can be found here. Be prepared in case you may encounter a bear during your visit, it could save your life.

We saw several bears from our car during our visit to Alaska but on our hike in Kenai Fjords National Park, we encountered one on the trail! Fortunately, we were prepared and knew exactly what to do when we saw one.

Here are a few bear safety tips before you visit Alaska.

• Carry bear spray! This is a must. Bear spray isn’t permitted on planes. Plan to purchase it once you arrive in Alaska. I was able to purchase a can of bear spray at the Safeway in Seward for $44 when we first arrived.
• Make lots of human noises on the trails. Talk loud, sing, shout, or the occasional “Hey Bear!” will do. Bears are able to hear you long before you’re aware of them. Be noisy so you don’t accidentally sneak up on one. This is your first line of defense against a bear encounter.
• Bears have the right-of-way. If you spot a bear on the trail, stay back and let it pass. Make lots of human noises.
• “If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lie down.” Bear encounters rarely result in injury, but it’s important to know what to do if one charges you. Black bears can be fought off. So fight back vigorously. If it’s a brown bear or grizzly, your best chance is to lie down on your stomach, cover your neck with your arms, and spread your legs so the bear can’t turn you over.
• Whatever you do, DON’T RUN. Everything bears eat try to run away. If you run, you will also look like prey. Although it may be your first instinct, don’t do it. Bears can run up to 35 mph and you don’t stand a chance against that.

Food is Expensive in Alaska

Although a few things are cheaper in Alaska, like camping and entrance fees to national parks are free. Food is very expensive. In order to save money, consider making a trip to the grocery store and keep eating out to a minimum. We ate many meals of PB sandwiches and tuna to save money on our trip.

What to Do in Kenai Fjords

There are two main ways that visitors experience Kenai Fjords National Park – on foot or by boat. I recommend doing both during your visit to Kenai Fjords.

Take a Kenai Fjords Tour

The best activity you can do during your visit to Kenai Fjords is to take a boat sightseeing tour!

There are a couple different companies offering tours, we choose to go with Major Marine Tours and were not disappointed. Major Marine Tours offers a variety of different tour types and lengths.

We took the 8.5-hour tour to Northwestern Fjord which I highly recommend. This tour options is different than the others in that it takes a small vessel adventure cruise to explore the remote, untouched area of Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. By taking a smaller vessel, the group was much more intimate and provided us the opportunity to ask many questions of the very knowledgeable crew. If you’re not up for 8.5 hours on the boat, I highly suggest one of these two tours, also by Major Marine Tours:

On the way to the glacier, we saw humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles, and many species of seabirds. One of the most spectacular arrays of wildlife that I have ever experienced.

After about 4 hours on the boat, we finally made it to Northwestern Glacier. We stood completely amazed by the grandeur and ruggedness of the glacier as we watched it calve and large chunks of ice crumble and fall into the sea.

I cannot recommend these tours enough. Our time on the boat was my favorite activity during our week in Alaska and the #1 thing I’d do when we go back!

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Hike to a Glacier

Make sure you get out and explore the national park by foot! The only maintained trails in the park are found in the Exit Glacier Area.

The Harding Icefield Trail is the longest and most popular hike in the park. This spectacular day hike is 8.2 miles round trip and is fairly steep (a real calf-burner). Starting on the valley floor, the hike climbs 1,000 feet every mile as it passes through forests, dense meadows, and then climbs above the tree line for amazing views of the glacier and icefield below.

If you’re not up for the full hike, you don’t have to complete the whole trail for it to be worth it. Both Marmot Meadows and Top of the Cliffs are areas on the trail that offer spectacular views and are great turn-around spots if you don’t plan to go the whole way. We did turn around at Top of the Cliffs and saw some of the most impressive views on our hike.

If looking for an even shorter hike, hike the 2-mile Exit Glacier loop trail for an up-close view of Exit Glacier.

No matter how far you hike, make sure you get out and explore the trails. Just keep in mind the bear safety tips provided above. We did have a black bear encounter on the Harding Icefield Trail.

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Black Sand Beach

Although not technically in the national park, I loved this quick stop to this black sand beach. I loved the mountain views from across the bay.

To get here, head towards Lowell Point (south on Lowell Point Road from Seward). You will find a parking lot located off of Pinnacle View Road. A $5 day fee is required for parking.

Where to Eat in Seward

• Lighthouse Cafe & Bakery – Located in Seward across the street from the Kenai Fjords Seward Visitor Center. A great stop for an easy grab-and-go breakfast before heading out on a boat tour or day hike.
• Seward Brewing Company – A popular favorite for local brews and pizza or seafood in Seward.

What to Do in Kenai Fjords if You Only Have One Day

Although, Kenai Fjords is best seen in 2+ days, sometimes you just don’t have that kind of time. So, here’s what I’d recommend:

If you have 1 full day, start your day off early (this should be easy seeing as there is not shortage of sunshine in the summer months) with a hike on the Exit Glacier Loop Trail (only 2 miles). After your short hike, hop on one of the Major Marine Tours. Most of the tours don’t start until 11am giving you plenty of time in the morning for a hike.

This one-day itinerary will allow you too see both wonderful parts of the park: the glaciers and the sea.

I hope you enjoy Kenai Fjords as much as I did!

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