Kenai Fjords National Park was created in 1980. The act that created Kenai Fjords National Park mandated that the park "be managed for the following purposes, among others: To maintain unimpaired the scenic and environmental integrity of the Harding ice field, its out flowing glaciers, and coastal fjords and islands in their natural state; and to protect seals, sea lions, other marine mammals, and marine and other birds, and to maintain their hauling and breeding areas in their natural state, free of human activity which is disruptive to their natural processes..."
The park encompasses the 300 square mile Harding Ice Field which caps the Kenai Mountains on the southern Kenai Peninsula and sends scores of glaciers into the nutrient rich Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. There are over 30 glaciers associated with the ice field and collectively this ice covers over 700 sq. miles. Mountain goats, moose, brown and black bears, wolverines, marmots and other mammals and birdlife make the edges of this ice their home.
Kenai Fjords National Park also protects one of the richest marine environments on the planet: abundant marine wildlife lives here including humpback and orca whales, sea otters, sea lions, Dall porpoises, bears, sheep, Mt goats, and colonies of nesting sea birds, including the adorable Puffin.
The most common way to visit the park is on one of the popular wildlife/glacier cruises. From these specialized vessels magnificent glaciers can be seen and heard calving ice into the sea and the parks marine wildlife is plentifully seen.
For those wishing to stay on land the nearby Exit Glacier offers the chance to get close and personal with an ice field and the Alaska Sea Life Center has an impressive collection of information and marine mammals.
We'll spend a full day in Seward taking advantage of the variety of activities available. Most Alaska Outdoors trips that visit Seward include a night at a local motel.
These activities can generally be arranged throughout your trip with some of the finest local adventure tour companies in the state. Your guide will make all of the arrangements. Optional activities are merely suggestions and do not include all of the possibilities. All activities may not be available at the time of your tour. Prices listed here are subject to change and do not include local taxes or fees.
If you have any questions about these activities please contact us.
We recommend one of two day hikes in the Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park area. Choose between the Harding Ice Field Trail at Exit Glacier or Caines Head trail along the shore of beautiful Resurrection Bay. The Harding Ice Field Trail is a strenuous hike into Kenai Fjords National Park up the side of Exit Glacier; the higher you go the more sweeping the views. The Caines Head Trail follows the shore of Resurrection Bay through dense temporal rainforest with towering trees and magnificent views of the ocean. Depending on the time of year spawning salmon can be seen. Both hikes are wonderful.
By far the most popular activity in the area is the glacier/wildlife cruise into the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park. Look for the abundant wildlife that can be observed including whales- orcas and humpbacks, sea otters, endangered Stellar sea lions, Dall porpoises, and colonies of nesting sea birds- including Puffins, cormorants, Oyster Catchers, and Bald Eagles to name a few. On the way you’ll visit an active tidewater glacier and watch and listen for falling ice. This is one of Alaska’s premier wildlife and glacier viewing trips and we highly recommend it!
Explore Resurrection Bay by sea kayak with a shoreline paddle along Cain’s Head State Recreation Area. Look for sea otters, spawning salmon, eagles, seabirds and many others while enjoying the tranquility of the water from your kayak.
Fly out to a glacier for a ride with a team of sled dogs. Breathtaking scenery of Resurrection Bay treats you during the entire helicopter ride to the Godwin Glacier; upon landing you will find over 80 dogs waiting to take you for a ride. Your guide will explain the history of the legendary Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the fundamentals of dog sledding and then off you go with a dog team across the glacier.
Visit a world class marine research facility. The many exhibits at the Alaska Sea Life Center immerse visitors in marine ecosystems and provide opportunities to watch animals in naturalistic habitats as well as research settings. This is a great ½ day activity.
For more information about any of the adventures listed above and for current day trip prices, call us toll free (800) 320-2494 or contact us.
For more information about Kenai Fjords National Park check out the following sites:
National Park Service Site with good description of Kenai Fjords National Park
http://www.nps.gov/kefj/
Lots of links to good information about Kenai Fjords National Park
http://www.kenai.fjords.national-park.com/
Great photos of Kenai Fjords National Park
http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.kenai-fjords.html
http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Kenai_Fjords_National_Park.htm
We’d be happy to answer all your questions.
Our tour group sizes are small and our hearts are big.
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