Exit Glacier is the most accessible park area. A gravel road at mile 3.7 of the Seward Highway leads nine miles to the Exit Glacier Ranger Station. The area offers exhibits on the glacier and the Harding Icefield, interpretive programs, and hikes. Rangers provide information daily in the summer. An easy half-mile walk will take you to the glacier's terminus—the first quarter-mile is fully accessible, then a steeper trail continues across moraines and bedrock. You may return to the ranger station by a nature trail. Exit Glacier descends 2500 feet over its nearly three-mile length.
The three-mile Harding Icefield trail, which follows the glacier's flank to an overlook of the icefield, offers a difficult ascent on a steep trail. It's for day use only—overnight backpacking is prohibited. The glacier is active and calving, and falling ice is dangerous. The area beyond the warning signs is strictly off limits. Before attempting this hike, check Park Service bulletin boards for current trail conditions.
Backcountry Travel
This rugged wilderness requires good physical condition, proper equipment, and reasonable precautions. If you're planning a backcountry trip without a guide, get current specific information from the park staff before setting out. If you're challenging the Harding Icefield, be prepared to face sudden storms, high winds, blinding sunlight, and extreme temperature changes. Winter travelers to Exit Glacier may face deep snow and cold temperatures. Know the symptoms of hypothermia and their treatment.
Bears are dangerous. Keep a wide distance from black bears and brown/grizzly bears. Make noise when hiking, so you don't startle them. Keep food supplies separate from your campsite and equipment. Food and scented items, such as toothpaste, must be hung or stored in bear-proof containers. Feeding wildlife is unsafe and sets up behavior patterns that may endanger future travelers.
Winter travel to Exit Glacier and the cabin is by cross-country ski, snowmobile, dogsled, or snowshoe. Scenic flights give views of the vast Harding Icefield, and landings can be arranged for day-skiing or expeditions. Obtain Park Regulations for more information on Exit Glacier.
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
