Exit Glacier is one of the easiest glaciers on the Kenai Peninsula to get close to, and has become a very popular destination. The glacier area is accessed by turning onto Exit Glacier Rd., which intersects the Seward Highway around mile 3, and following the road about nine miles until it ends at the park's fee booth and parking lot. There is a $5 per car entrance fee. A large parking lot will accommodate cars, RVs, and tour buses. Leading away from the parking lot is a trail to the glacier, which is about 1/2 mile away from the parking lot. The first half of the trail is paved and wheelchair accessible. Eventually the trail splits into lower and upper overlook trails. The upper trail steeply climbs to a bedrock overlook above the side of the glacier. This offers some spectacular views of the entire glacier, valley below, and glacial outflow area. The lower trail winds down to the outflow area, and before this year, took you up to the end of the glacier. However, the glacier's runoff has flooded the trail and washed out a couple of footbridges. The end of the glacier is still accessible but you will need tall rubber boots unless you want to get your feet wet in frigid glacial runoff water that is up to eight inches deep.

To return to the parking lot, you have two choices. The trail you came down will take you back, or you can choose the slightly longer nature trail. It winds through young forests that have grown up in the outflow area where the glacier used to be, and has some nice views of Exit Creek.

In addition to these trails, the moderately strenuous Harding Icefield Trail climbs steeply up the mountain adjacent to Exit Glacier to an overlook of the Harding Icefield. This icefield dates to the last ice age and is the source of over twenty glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. This trail has an elevation gain of over 3,000 feet and is recommended only for reasonably fit hikers. Before starting this trail, be sure to check at the ranger's station, as weather conditions on the upper sections of the trail change rapidly and the trail is closed frequently because of this.

Additional Information:

• Park is open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Park website: www.nps.gov/kefj
• Also see my entry, "Close Encounters of the Bear Kind," in this journal for more information on Exit Glacier.

The park's headquarters is in Seward where we can get maps and information. Park rangers lead tourists on walking tours as they talk about glaciers and flora; we even got to walk on a glacier. Most of the park is only seen aboard boat trips, but there are many operators in Seward.