The Harding Icefield Trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in Alaska. Keep an eye out for bear, mountain goats, and marmot. Top Tip: Arrive early morning or late afternoon to avoid not being able to park. This hike is 100% in my top 3! But as you climb up, youll have occasional views, a small waterfall to admire, and a fun rocky section, which makes things more interesting! July to September; expect snow at higher elevations as well as extremely windy and cold conditions (especially in September). https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. Since this hike gains quite a bit of elevation, the temperature gets a lot cooler as you hike up, so youll want to pack layers and a rain jacket! Copyright 2023 Paula Pins The Planet - All Rights Reserved, When is the Best Time to Hike the Harding Icefield, Start your Harding Icefield hike at the Nature Center, Hiking to the Harding Icefield: End of the Trail, What to wear for your Harding Icefield trail, Safety Tips before you go hike Harding Icefield, 30 Amazing Things to do in Seward, Alaska, Alaska Bucket List: 22 Amazing Experiences, Ultimate Visitor Guide for Denali National Park, Best Things to do in Denali National Park + 20 Best Hikes, 10-Day Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary in Alaska, What to pack for Alaska + FREE Printable pack list, Where to Stay in Alaska: 7 Top Towns + Hotel Guide, What is Alaska Known For? Youll want to have lots of water for this adventure! Avalanche warnings, I did see an avalanche. Had to stop at the meadow due to avalanche possibility. Foggy with rain at times but ice field is stunning. Trust me when I tell you that there is nothing in the lower 48 to compare to this. It can be sunny and pleasant at the bottom of the trail and a complete whiteout at the top. " The views keep you going through the relentless climb. Created more than 23,000 years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch, the Harding Icefield was a small piece of the vast ice sheet that covered much of Southcentral Alaska (Figure 1). This income goes towards the sites running costs and enables us to provide our readers with free content. We have the Black Diamond Equipment Distance Z poles and highly recommend them! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With a fantastic breakfast available, and a terrace to relax after a full day of activity such as fishing, hiking, and canoeing. This trail is easy to follow, but having the AllTrails map downloaded will be handy to check your progress along the way! If you are wondering how to hike the Harding Icefield trail in Alaska, then you have come to the right place.
The Harding Icefield - Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park As an Amazon Associate, we earn from Qualifying Purchases. Closer to Marmot Meadow, there is snow and it's slippery. The Exit Glacier tends to be one of the most popular as its an easy glacier hike, but the Harding Icefield is arguably one of the most rewarding. 3/4 of glacier was opened. Harding Glacier, named after a US President is located in the Kenai Peninsula Mountains and Kenai Fjords National Park. And after about a mile and almost 1,000 feet of climbing youll reach the area known as Top of the Cliffs. Spots of soft snow up to cliffs. Harding Icefield Trail Hiking Tour From: $179 per person Book Now Free Cancellation up to 48 hours in advance Trusted Brand with 5-star reviews Lowest Price Guarantee PLEASE NOTE: This tour regularly sells out We highly recommend booking as soon as possible to avoid missing out! We hiked to the cliffs, and it was magical! Unfortunately we only made it to Marmot meadow due to snow cover and losing the trail. The vegetation along this trail is very thick in some spots, including thickets of salmonberries, which is one of the bears favorite snacks. Soon you will emerge above the treeline with the first overlook to Harding Icefield. The view of the glacier is incredible and we even saw a mama bear with her 2 cubs. The construction of the Spruce Creek trail that year, however, made it possible to view the upper portions of the icecap, and President Harding's promise to visit the territory was sufficient to bestow his name on the feature. The best time to hike the Harding Icefield Trail is during the summer months, from July through mid-September. Summer months provide long daylight hours and warmer temperatures. Please respect their hard work by sticking to the trail. " Epic hike! We made it to Marmot and turned around after enjoying the scenery. Absolutely gorgeous and well worth it, even with all the fog! After around 0.5 miles youll reach several switchbacks that youll have to traverse although youll get some fantastic views along the way. Amazing, amazing view. Its important to check the parks website or contact rangers for up-to-date information before planning a hike. And to get there, youll first need to get to the charming seaside town of Seward, Alaska. As you continue hiking along the Harding Icefield Trail youll still be ascending but the trail isnt as steep after the Top of the Cliffs viewpoint. There are three main points along the trail: Although the Harding icefield trail elevation makes for a strenuous climb, the trail is easy to follow. We started at 6am and no one else was on the trail the entire time until we were on our way back & even then, we were only 2 miles from finishing. HGL007. Driving . Dogs are not allowed on the trail. Guided ice hiking trip into Exit Glacier with Mia from Exit Glacier Guides. If you're a shutterbug, the angle of the sun coming across the Icefield can really ruin the shot. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. It is spotlessly clean, nice, modern, and in a great location. Stay on the trail. I have been to more than 40 countries while following my fitness journey. Check ontrail conditionsbefore starting out. Spots of soft snow up to cliffs. Be careful out there. Here is how long you can expect to drive from other popular towns on the Kenai Peninsula:Cooper Landing, AK: 1 hour (48 miles)Soldotna, AK: 2 hours (93 miles)Homer, AK: 3 hours 30 minutes (168 miles)Once in Seward, the park is only around a 20 minute drive. If youre planning to visit from Anchorage then youll need to set off early as its a 2.5-hour journey, and youll be covering a distance of around 130 miles (209 km). This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Some muddy spots, but easily passable.
Harding Icefield: One of the big goal hikes in Southcentral Alaska Spend a night at Exit Glacier Campground to beat the crowds. The trail ends overlooking the massive 700 square mile Harding Icefield, which is a leftover of the last major Ice Age. But for this specific area, we have a few items we really want to stress bringing with you. Get inspired with adventure films, event replays, series, and more. Not only will you get incredible views of the Harding Icefield and Exit Glacier, but youve also got a chance of spotting wildlife along the way. The trail is busy enough so theres no worry about encountering a bear. Check out our ULTIMATE guide to visiting Kenai Fjords National Park! Unlike most national parks, which have a fee to enter, Kenai Fjords is totally FREE to visit, minus any paid tours. This guide is packed with very helpful information. The Harding Icefield is undeniably one of the most beautiful places in Alaska and is a must for any bucket list! Absolutely gorgeous and well worth it, even with all the fog! For more information, please see, Mount Marathon via Skyline and Mount Marathon Loop. Coming down was easy with just a couple slips. Wet, muddy and snow in some parts-worth it! As of mid-June trail was still covered in snow above the meadows. June-August are the best times to visit the park and hike the Harding Icefield trail, although the trail may have a little bit of snow on it, even through part of July. When you get there you have an amazing view of the glacier. This is a great spot to rest for a bit and despite us hiking a lot of challenging hikes, we found ourselves having to catch our breath quite a bit on the Harding Icefield trail.
Few snow sections doable in boots w/o spikes. Muddy, good to marmot meadows. This portion of the hike passes through heather filled meadows, ultimately climbing well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Icefield. Your payoff for all that climbing is spectacular views of the end of Harding Icefield and the beginning of Exit Glacier! Is got up to the 1st Spanish point after a bunch of snow. You will start ascending through bushy terrain. Went as far as Top of Cliffs. There was still snow on some of the top sections and we made it to the cliffs, even though we didnt have microspikes or crampons. How Many Glaciers Spill From The Icefield? As an out and back trail, hike as far as you would like. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. Here you will find all you need to know about the hikes, the best time to visit, what to pack, and all the helpful tips to make your visit easy and safe. Just take your time and if youre lucky you might even get to spot a marmot of two for your efforts. If you get in an emergency youll need a satellite communicator. Well make planning your next adventure much easier! Epic hike and the view from the ice field overlook was incredible. Well worth the snow trek. In fact, it actually flattens out for a while which will be a welcome relief trust me! Harding Icefield feeds nearly 40 glaciers, including Exit Glacier. Download the app. Rangers are on hand if you need advice re trail elevation gain. Trail closed above the Cliffs for avalanche danger. Just take your time and hike as far as you can before turning around. I couldn't finish the whole trail, because the trail was covered by ice on the last section. It is very important to check the trail conditions before starting this hike. Looked like maybe one person had snowshoed further. Or, see it from above on the Harding Icefield Tour with Natron Air, which departs from the Kenai / Soldotna area. Very muddy but worth it , saw a mother and 2 cubs in on the mountain behind the second view point. Hiked up in a steady light rain, so the trail was pretty wet. I imagine the views being amazing, if there was better weather. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The Harding Icefield and its outflowing glaciers cover 700 square miles of Alaska's Kenai Mountains in glacier ice. At about Mile 3 turn right onto Herman Leirer Road, also called Exit Glacier Road. Be sure to pull into the layby en route, for your first incredible roadside view of Exit Glacier. This is the most comprehensive guide you will find on the internet about how to visit and hike the Harding Icefield Trail. Youll reach this sign after around 0.3 miles! Im Paula, a fitness athlete, and adventure seeker always on the lookout for authentic experiences especially if it involves active and adventure travel! You can see how far you have already climbed from the car park, and dont have far to go. Bring waterproof hiking boots, and if youre not too sure footed, poles will be helpful for the way down with the snowy slush. Trail. Plus Exit Glacier road is closed to cars during the winter. This road is also known as Herman Leirer Road and its the only road in Kenai Fjords National Park. Just take your time and enjoy the epic scenery. From Exit Glacier Nature Center, turn left past the trailhead map and follow the accessible Glacier View Loop Trail. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Harding Icefield is the largest icefield entirely in the United States at 700 square miles and almost 4,000 feet deep. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Harding Icefield Trail is one of the best hikes in Alaska without a doubt.
Harding Icefield Hike | Exit Glacier Guides You can check in with the ranger at Exit Glacier Nature Center before you start to give you an idea! Every bead of sweat lost is worth it for the breathtaking sweeping views over a corner of the mammoth Harding Icefield,700 square miles in its entirety. Although its a challenging hike for sure, the views that youll be rewarded with are unparalleled.
Kenai Fiords National Park: Harding Icefield Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.
Harding Icefield Harding Icefield Trail: 2402 Reviews, Map - Alaska | AllTrails We got misted on and rained on during this hike, so make sure to bring a rain jacket! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership? Depending on when you hike the Harding Icefield Trail there may be snow or ice on the trail and this is where microspikes will be very helpful. 3/4 of glacier was opened. During this time, the area is inaccessible by car and the trail is covered with snow and ice, making it extremely difficult and dangerous to hike. Make sure you find the tiny little sign that says Top of the Harding Icefield Tail. The surface can be muddy, slippery, rocky and include snow and ice depending on the time of year. Good shorter options with scenic views are Marmot Meadows (1.4 mi one way) or Top of the Cliffs (2.4 mi one way). You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (were a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. Hike was great otherwise, yes there is deep snow but was fine to walk on/fall in, SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Exit Glacier Road closes to automobile traffic in the winter. Either way. The trail rises through the forest and ultimately ends up well above tree line to an awe-inspiring vantage point of the icefield. The reward: some of the most spectacular views in Alaska, with incredible vistas over endless plains of glacial ice punctuated by dozens of nunataks-isolated, conical rocky peaks that protrude through the ice and rise several hundred feet. Lastly, you will traverse along the hillside and descend to get right next to the Harding Icefield itself.
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