National Park · NPS · AK
Kenai Fjords National Park
Photo: NPS Photo, S. Rainone, Northwestern Fiord
Alerts and conditions
Danger Hazardous Conditions at Terminus Of Aialik Glacier
Entering an ice fall hazard zone is prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park. The terminus of Aialik Glacier is a high-risk area, where unstable ice can fall in blocks or columns. This can generate localized tsunami waves that wash over newly deglaciated and nearby beaches. Rapidly collapsing ice and breakage can cause severe injury or death.
Danger Canyon from Toe of Exit Glacier to the Outwash Plain
The canyon from the toe of Exit Glacier to where Exit Creek opens into the Outwash Plain is susceptible to sudden outburst flood events. These events produce sudden surges of water, ice and rock. For your safety please stick to designated park trails.
Caution Use Caution in and around Pedersen Lagoon
On August 7, 2024, a landslide triggered tsunami washed over portions of Pedersen Lagoon near Aialik Bay (59.8842N, -149.7309W). We recommend caution for those visiting the area in and around Pedersen Lagoon. Click more for additional information.
Weather Winter Storm Watch issued November 8 at 12:26PM AKST until November 10 at 4:00PM AKST by NWS Anchorage AK
* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations
between 3 and 7 inches for Whittier, Eastern Turnagain Arm,
Girdwood, and from Moose Pass to north of Seward. Total snow
accumulations between 5 and 10 inches of snow from Turnagain Pass
to Tern Lake, including the Hope Cutoff. Ice accumulations around a
light glaze possible from Turnagain Pass to Tern Lake and up to one
tenth of an inch from the Hope Cutoff to Hope. Easterly winds 55 to
70 mph possible for Eastern Turnagain Arm Tuesday morning.
* WHERE...East Turnagain Arm, and Western Prince William Sound.
* WHEN...From Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Visibility could be
significantly reduced within heavy snow.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A strong and complex weather system is
expected to move over the Kenai Peninsula beginning Monday morning.
Light snow to become steady by late Monday afternoon with snow,
heavy at times, Monday night through early Tuesday morning. East
winds from Prince William Sound will move through Whittier and
across Eastern Turnagain Arm Monday morning quickly changing the
snow at lower elevations to rain. At higher elevations, the snow
What to do: Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 11, 2026, 1:00 AM
Overview
At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Ice Climbing
- Dog Sledding
- Fishing
- Food
- Flying
- Helicopter Flying
- Fixed Wing Flying
- Guided Tours
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Open Year-Round: The park is open year-round. The primary months to visit are June, July, and August. There are reduced services in the area during the months of May and September. The road to the Exit Glacier area is not plowed during the winter months, and is closed to vehicle traffic once it is covered in snow and ice. The park's coastal backcountry in also largely inaccessible late fall through the early spring due to rough seas.
Getting there
Kenai Fjords National Park is located just outside the town of Seward in south-central Alaska, 126 miles south of Anchorage. Even though the park is often inaccessible during the winter months, Seward is accessible year-round via the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway. Follow the Seward Highway (AK-1) south from Anchorage. It will become AK-9 around mile 35 (87 miles from Anchorage) with AK-1 heading to Homer and Kenai. Continue on AK-9 to Seward.
Visitor centers
Campgrounds
- Exit Glacier Campground (12 sites)
Weather
The weather in Kenai Fjords is difficult to predict and can change rapidly. The area generally enjoys a relatively temperate maritime climate, primarily due to the influence of warmer ocean currents that flows through the Gulf of Alaska. Summer daytime temperatures range from the mid 40s°F to the low 70s°F. Overcast and cool rainy days are frequent. Winter temperatures can range from the low 30s°F to -20°F.
Phone: 9073182040
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Kenai National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 41 miles
- Chugach National Forest USFS · 84 miles
- Alaska Public Lands NPS · 97 miles
- Lake Clark National Park & Preserve NPS · 129 miles