Few places get as wild as Kenai Fjords. This national park on the south-central coast of Alaska is a medley of mountains, glaciers, and ocean, creating a natural spectacle you won’t find anywhere else. From its towering peaks to its dramatic fjords, including Resurrection Bay, Kenai Fjords refuses to be tamed.
Incredible Adventures is thrilled to journey here as part of our Alaska Highlights Tour from Denali to Kenai Fjords, taking our guests right into the heart of the wilderness. We’ve created this guide to Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay for all you need to know about visiting these Alaskan wonders. Keep reading to learn more, or feel free to get in touch with any questions about our tours.
What are the Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay?
Spanning over 600,000 acres, Kenai Fjords National Park was founded in 1980 to protect the Harding Icefield. Over 30 glaciers flow from the icefield, carving out fjords like Resurrection Bay in the process. Kenai Fjords is home to one of only six fjord estuary ecosystems in the world and is one of the richest natural locations on earth.
While it may seem that a landscape forged by ice would be inhospitable to life, Kenai Fjords abound with species that have adapted to this environment. It’s home to both land and marine mammals from bears and mountain goats to whales and dolphins. In the skies, about 191 species of birds have been spotted, including the iconic puffins.
How Do You Get to Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay?
Kenai Fjords National Park is located just to the west of Seward and can be reached by car along the Seward Highway. However, only one section of the park is accessible by car in the summer, which is Exit Glacier. From here, you can access a number of walking trails in the park. If you are traveling from Anchorage to Seward, the drive is about 2.5 hours along the Seward Highway. In the summer months, you can also travel by train between Anchorage and Seward.
The most common way of visiting Kenai Fjords is by boat, with a number of cruises operating from Seward through the fjords, Resurrection Bay being one of the most popular. It’s also possible to experience the park by flight seeing and view the Harding Icefield and mountains from above!
What are the Best Things to Do in Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay?
While the rocky and icy terrain may seem to make Kenai Fjords unsuitable for outdoor activities, there are plenty of adventures to be had here on both land and sea! Here are our top picks:
Cruise along Resurrection Bay
The most popular thing to do in Kenai Fjords is to take a cruise on Resurrection Bay, which is why we do it on our Alaskan tour! Resurrection Bay spans 29 kilometers and is typically ice-free, making it ideal for boat tours. From half-day cruises to full-day excursions, these tours provide one of the best experiences of Kenai Fjords. You’ll be able to admire the glaciers and mountains while also spotting whales, sea lions, and puffins.
For a close-up experience of the glaciers, you can also embark on a tour of the Northwestern Fjord, one of the most remote sections of Kenai Fjords. Here, you can see the glacier calving and the ice crashing into the ocean!
Hike Exit Glacier or Harding Icefield
If you want an immersive experience of the frosty landscape, hiking Exit Glacier provides a journey like no other. There are numerous short trails that the whole family can enjoy and that offer stunning views of the glacier as well as the valley it formed. We hike to the edge of the glacier as part of our Denali to Kenai Fjords Tour and learn about its formation and how climate change is impacting it today.
Should you be looking for a more challenging trek, there is also the option to hike the Harding Icefield along an 8-mile trail. Walk through alpine forests and gain steep elevation for a spectacular view of the 700-square-mile icefield!
Go Kayaking in Kenai Fjords
Swap a boat tour for a kayak if you want to make your own way through the Kenai Fjords. You can depart directly from Seward into Resurrection Bay, but it’s recommended to go with a guide as the waters are challenging. However, the effort is well worth it if you want to feel yourself as one with the fjords and connect with the history of kayaking in the region!
Enjoy Winter Sports
During winter, Kenai Fjords become a hotbed for activities like skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice climbing. This is also the perfect time for experienced mountaineers to come out and play. However, for the more amateur winter sports enthusiasts, there is a winter shuttle service which provides tours of the park and snowshoeing walks.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay?
While Kenai Fjords is open year-round, the best time to visit is in the summer months between June and August, or in the shoulder months of May and September. The park is fully operational between June and August, but in May the road to Exit Glacier may still be covered in snow. However, boat tours on Resurrection Bay operate from May to September, which also corresponds with the best time for whale watching!
Have an Incredible Adventure in Kenai Fjords and Beyond!
As part of our 6-Day Alaskan Highlights Tour, we also visit Denali National Park for a fully comprehensive journey through Alaska’s unparalleled wilderness! Traveling from Anchorage to Denali and onto the Kenai Fjords, we ensure you see the very best of the region. If you have any questions about this tour, don’t hesitate to contact us with your queries. We can’t wait to show you this icy corner of paradise!
