Der Kenai Fjords National Park wurde im Jahr 1980 mit der Absicht gegründet, eines der faszinierendsten, undurchdringlichsten Wildnisgebiete Alaskas zu schützen. Der Park nahe Seward ist ein großes Gletscherparadies: Schnee und Eis bedecken 60 Prozent des Nationalparks, darunter das 2500 Quadratkilometer große Harding Icefield.
Bei einem Schiffsausflug kommt man den ins Meer mündenden Gletschern und der wilden Tierwelt ganz nahe. Die Fahrt geht zu abgeschiedenen Buchten wie Aialik Bay, Northwestern Lagoon, McCarthy Fjord oder North Arm, flankiert von bis zu 2000 Meter hohen Bergen. Mit etwas Glück bekommen die Passagiere die ganze Bandbreite an Wildtieren zu sehen, von Seeotter, Seelöwen und Robben über die weißen Dallschafe bis hin zu Orcawalen, Minkwalen, Buckelwalen und Finnwalen. Abenteuerlustige fahren mit dem Kajak die Fjordküste entlang. Sie können sich von einem Boot aussetzen lassen und diese traumhafte Gegend für sich ganz alleine erkunden.
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Facilities
Facilities
Although Seward serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjord, the park is penetrated by only a few trails and Exit Glacier Road, which spurs off the Seward Hwy at Mile 3.7. At the end of the 8.4-mile-long dirt road is the park's marquee attraction, 3-mile-long Exit Glacier, along with the Exit Glacier Nature Center and trails that wind to the ice and above it. That includes the Harding Ice Field Trail, a popular 4-mile hike that follows Exit Glacier up to a viewing point where hikers can gaze at one of the last remnants of the ice age. Also along the road is Exit Glacier Campground, the only formal campground in the park, and the southern trailhead for the Resurrection River Trail that heads 16 miles north into Chugach National Forest.
The only other development in the park are three public-use cabins along the fjords and a lodge. Aialik Cabin is on a beach perfect for whale watching while Holgate Arm Cabin has a spectacular view of Holgate Glacier. In 2009, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge opened on Native-owned land in Aialik Bay within the park and is accessible by boat during the summer months.
Fees
Fees
There are no fees for entrance to Kenai Fjords National Park or camping. There is a nightly fee for the park's three public-use cabins which should be reserved in advance from the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (907-644-3661; 866-869-6887).
Accessibility
Accessibility
Seward is 130 miles south of Anchorage and can be reached via the Seward Highway or the Alaska Railroad during the summer months. Many cruise ships also use Seward as a port-of-call. In Seward both tour boats and charter air services provide transport deeper in the Kenai Fjords National Park.
For a list of commercial boat tours, outfitters and air taxi operators contact the Kenai Fjords National Park Headquarters (907-422-0500) in Seward or the Seward Chamber of Commerce (907-224-8051).