Exit Glacier Area

Come see Exit Glacier as it flows down from the Harding Icefield.

NPS photo / S. Wright (2017)

The Exit Glacier area is the only part of the park accessible by road.

Here you can explore the trails, walk very close to an active glacier, or take a ranger-led walk.

It is a place where you can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and learn how plant life reclaims the barren rocky land exposed by a glacier's retreat.

There is no cell phone service or wifi at Exit Glacier.

 

Seasons

The Exit Glacier Area is open year-round. In late-October to mid-November, the road to Exit Glacier is inaccessible to cars, usually due to snow. The Herman Leirer Road (road to Exit Glacier) is curently closed by the AK DOT at mile 1.3 The Exit Glacier area is still open to winter recreation, including snowmobiles, dogsleds, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat bikes. The road often remains closed through early May, so be sure to check current conditions if you are visiting during the off season (fall through spring).

 

Directions to Exit Glacier

Turn on to Herman Leirer Road, commonly called "Exit Glacier Road," at mile 3 of the Seward Highway (AK-9). Proceed 8.4 miles. The road will end at the parking lot for the nature center.

Note: There is limited parking at Exit Glacier, especially during the hours of 10:30 am - 3:30pm. Please consider the hours you come, carpooling, bicycling, or taking a shuttle or taxi, when you plan your trip.

(Google Map Coordinates: 60.1782633,-149.6494389)

• Shuttle Bus/Taxi Service: For transportation between Seward and the Exit Glacier area.

• Winter shuttle service: For transportation in the winter months.

 

Map of the Exit Glacier Area

Trails

A network of short trails leads to different views of Exit Glacier, beginning at the Exit Glacier Nature Center and the parking lot. To hike all the trails, start by turning left at the nature center and following the accessible, Glacier View Loop Trail through the cottonwood forest to the Glacier View, a panoramic vista of Exit Glacier spilling down from the Harding Icefield. This one-mile accessible trail loops back to the parking area, or you can turn left at the trail-side kiosk and continue .6 miles on to the Exit Glacier Overlook via the Glacier Overlook Trail.

The Glacier Overlook Trail is a well maintained trail which provides views of Exit Glacier. Follow this moderately strenuous trail to the Exit Glacier Overlook and view the glacier in its own glacially carved valley.

If you are looking for a longer day hike, don't miss the 8 mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail.

 

Exit Glacier Nature Center

The nature center includes exhibits about the Exit Glacier area, an Alaska Geographic bookstore, and rangers to help answer questions about the area.

• Operating hours of the nature center.

• Learn a little more about the park by participating in a ranger-led program, which occur daily during the summer.

• Flush toilets, near the nature center, are operable from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The rest of the year pit toilets are available.

• During the summer, potable water is available at the restroom building, through both water-fountains and a water-bottle filling station. Reusable water bottles are available in the bookstore.

• Picnic tables are located next to the parking lot. Bear-proof garbage and recycling bins are also available.

• There is a 12-site, tent-only campground available about 1/4 of a mile before the nature center.

• Leashed pets and bicycles are allowed on the road to Exit Glacier and in the parking lot. Bikes and pets are not allowed on the trails at anytime.