This popular glacier lies just beyond the end of a flat, well-maintained trail south of the Portage Lake. You will see several private cabins.… Explore the glacier, visit the museum, and go for a boat ride. NPS photo / S. Wright (2017) The Exit Glacier area is the only part of the park accessible by road.. To help inspire your next Alaska adventure, we’re sharing five cool … The 21st Century Ice Age One of the famous trails in the park leads you to the Harding Icefield which receives 60 feet of snowfall every year. View of Glacier from the Grewingk Glacier Trail in Kachemak Bay State Park. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Pederson Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park: See 12 reviews, articles, and 5 photos of Pederson Glacier, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 8 attractions in Kenai Fjords National Park. This national park of Alaska was also founded in 1980. In the 1980s, the lagoon was designated as the Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary, a 1,700-acre sanctuary meant to preserve and protect the area’s wildlife and land. While it is one of the smaller glaciers in Aialik Bay, Holgate Glacier is still a popular destination to see calving glaciers. Commentary from the onboard naturalist makes the most of this 100-mile (160-kilometer) cruise through the stunning landscapes of Kenai Fjords National Park, including stops at Holgate Glacier and the Chiswell Islands, home to large populations of wildlife. Of all the places we stopped to view these giant rivers of ice, the Exit Glacier Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park ranks as one of our favorites.In no other place on our trip were the incredible impacts of climate change on Alaska’s landscape more visually apparent. Tools. ... After visiting Kenai Fjords, continue your adventure on the Kenai Peninsula by visiting some of our neighbors! Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. As of 2020, most of the park’s glaciers continue to shrink, and the repeat photo collection continues to grow. Many people camp on the outer beach near Bear Glacier, and enjoy the glacier views in the background. It feeds nearly three dozen glaciers flowing out of the mountains, six of them to tidewater. By the second half of the 20th century, Northwestern Glacier’s recession revealed a number of islands in the Fjord that had previously been covered in ice. Explore the Fjords. The park is going to cover a massive area of 669,984 acres and it can be found on the Kenai Peninsula. Overwhelmed by choices? But oohing and aahing from a distant viewing platform or from the deck of a cruise ship aren’t the only ways you can encounter these grand natural wonders. This national monument sits in the Tongass National Forest, one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. It’s home to nearly 40 glaciers and sits just outside of Seward, Alaska—a popular port for Alaskan cruise ships and a stop on our Glaciers & Grizzlies tour. It is also home to the largest icefield in United States, Harding Icefield. There are three main types of glacial movement: basal slippage, pressure melting, and plastic deformation. Few places rival Kenai Fjords National Park when it comes to tidewater glaciers. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK TOURS. This very active glacier now hidden inside a lobe of Portage Lake has undergone what may be the most closely watched retreat of any glacier in Alaska. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK TOURS. It also hosts a population of ice worms. Both glaciers feed the valley’s stream-and-pond system, creating habitat for migrating salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. Today, nearly 51 percent of the park is covered by ice. Kenai Fjords National Park: Beautiful glaciers - See 1,686 traveller reviews, 930 candid photos, and great deals for Seward, AK, at Tripadvisor. More than half of Kenai Fjords is obscured by it, and glaciers are one of Alaska’s coolest natural attractions. Compare historic pictures of glaciers with more recent ones, Learn about the different terminology used to describe glaciers. Recover your sense of wonder and your enthusiasm for adventure here in Kenai Fjords National Park. An extensive ice field covers the upper altitudes and glaciers carve canyons down to the water edge. And it is actually advancing! Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? The U.S. Forest Service maintains a campground (reservations required.) The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. Sugpiaq people relied on these resources to nurture a life entwined with the sea. The Harding Icefield covers more than 700 square miles in Kenai Fjords National Park and is the source of over 35 named glaciers. It’s a scenic mashup of sky-high peaks, temperate rainforest, pristine inlets and ice—a whole lot of ice. Spencer Glacier rises 3,500 feet in a stunning, natural ramp from a lake of royal-blue icebergs in the Chugach National Forest just 60 miles south of Anchorage. Basal slippage occurs when the ice slides or slips over the underlying bedrock. Glaciers in the Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska - Acheter cette photo libre de droit et découvrir des images similaires sur Adobe Stock Glaciers, waves and mountains have shaped Kenai Fjords National Park over millennia, forging some of the most awe-inspiring and picturesque vistas in Alaska. There is a short ranger-led walk daily at 11am and 3pm, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kenai Fjords National Park, Wrangle-St. Elias National Park, and Glacier Bay National Park, are all known for their glacier viewing. The dramatic coastal fjords and valleys of the park reveal a long history of glaciation. Das Eis verläuft in Form von mehreren Gletschern bis ins Wasser des Meeres. And don’t forget—A trip to Kenai Fjords coast also includes world-class viewing of marine wildlife! Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. 297,596 Recreational visits in 2010. It’s a family-friendly recreation destination featuring camping, hiking, glacier exploration, nature walks, paddling and sightseeing. ...more, Both of these photographs were taken from the same location in Nuka Passage, about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of…, Both of these photographs were taken from the same location in Nuka Passage, about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of the position of the 1909 terminus of the glacier. Since Kenai Fjords is "only" 1,047 square miles in area, it is the smallest of Alaska's National Park-designated NPS units. Higgins, is an August 6, 1909 view of the then retreating northern part of the terminus. The fjords that have been carved by glaciers over thousands of years have created estuary ecosystems that are only found in five other locations in the world. Kenai Fjords National Park, one of Alaska's few road-accessible national parks, is a wonderland of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. Visiting Alaska’s glaciers is one of the state’s most iconic experiences. The park contains the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States. Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, is a place where the mountains towers us making us look like ants, glaciers thousands of years old, dense forests and the icy waters abundant with various wildlife, all meet. Some rock was once coral reef close to the equator: It was carried along as the Pacific plate rotated counterclockwise, traveling north. At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. One hundred and fifty years ago the valley now occupied by the ship facility and correctional center was filled with the ice of Godwin Glacier. They feed the nearby stream systems that harbor many species of salmon and trout. ...more. Kenai Fjords National Park is 130 miles south of Anchorage. Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. Active glaciers still calve and crash into the sea as visitors watch from tour boats here. From the Edge of Glacier Trail at Exit Glacier, you can hear the meltwater rushing beneath the ice and eventually gushing out across the outwash plain. TouristLink members rank Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield and Tustumena Glacier as the top glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. 7-10 days is the most common. Only a short hike on a flat trail south of Portage Lake near the head of Turnagain Arm, Byron dominates its own gorge-like valley, offering a rugged, remote atmosphere that feels as though you’ve traveled deep into the backcountry. This process is facilitated by meltwater flowing at the base of the glacier which reduces friction between the ice and the bedrock. Here you can explore the trails, walk very close to an active glacier, or take a ranger-led walk.. Last updated: August 12, 2018. This park also has the fjords. The Kenai Fjords National Park is found in Alaska and it’s an American National Park. Exit Glacier, a half-mile wide river of ice, is the easiest section of the park to access. Kenai Fjords National Park includes three main areas – Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield and the coast. Bear Glacier, found in Kenai Fjords National Park, is a tidewater glacier and a popular spot for kayakers, but you can easily see it on a cruise from Seward. This heavily glaciated park is over 51% covered in ice! Now, we’d turn our attention to the 700 square-mile Harding Icefield and its more than 20 glaciers. Find information on glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park as well as 69 glaciers in Alaska, 291 glaciers in United States, 38 Alpine glaciers keep their ice in the alpine region of a mountain and don’t descend to a valley floor or the tidewater’s edge. Established in South central Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park is a perfect destination to experience the ice age. For many visitors to Alaska, a boat tour of the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the highlights of their trip. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate. Which one is right for you? Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. We launch our kayak expedition from Seward into the famed Resurrection Bay, known for its deep coves, abundant wildlife, and stunning views. Im Kenai Fjords Nationalpark gibt es neben der beeindruckenden Landschaft auch Wale, Seehunde, Seelöwen und Puffins zu entdecken. The absence of any icebergs indicates that by 1909, the glacier was no longer tidewater. Thicker glaciers are more likely to move by plastic deformation than thinner glaciers, as this type of movement is in response to weight and pressure from overlying ice. Other glaciers—perhaps more difficult or requiring a boat to approach—spill from the mountains looming at the head of Skilak and Tustumena lakes, fed by the immense Harding Ice Field. You can backpack a new trail system, rent a public use cabin on a mountain ridge, or explore a basin recently emerging from beneath ice. Kenai Fjords National Park is found in south central Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula. This is in the south of Alaska and can be found near the amazing town of Seward. Several glaciers originate from this icefield like the Bear Glacier. If you look just below the 4 mountain peaks to the left side of the valley you can see the ice of Godwin glacier. The land of the Resurrection Peninsula is divided between state park, national forest and private in-holdings. Misty Fjords. Kenai Fjords National Park: Amazing Tour of Glaciers and whales - See 1,687 traveler reviews, 930 candid photos, and great deals for Seward, AK, at Tripadvisor. In 1909, USGS geologists U.S. Grant and D. F. Higgins mapped and photographed all of the tidewater glaciers and many of the land-terminating outlet glaciers in what is now Kenai Fjords National Park, creating a thorough record of glacier terminus positions and heights. The 700-square-mile Harding Ice Field is one of only four remaining ice fields in U.S., and is also the largest ice field entirely within U.S. borders. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Sea stacks, islets, and tagged shoreline… The mountaineering party ‘exited’ the Harding Icefield by … One of the things we wanted to see most during our July 2017 trip to Alaska were glaciers. are many cirque glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park, but most of them are unnamed because theyare so small. Holgate Arm is often filled with ice, but on a good day you can get to a close and safe distance from the glacier. Maybe best of all: You have to take a train to get there! Kenai Fjords National Park: Glaciers from land and sea - See 1,687 traveler reviews, 930 candid photos, and great deals for Seward, AK, at Tripadvisor. With so many natural wonders and easy access via road, rail, and boat, it’s no surprise that the area draws visitors of all stripes. Visiting Kenai Fjords National Park. Now a days Godwin glacier is a valley glacier and behind the low hills you see in the foreground Godwin glacier… Some glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park are receding at a staggering rate which could reduce the habitat available to seals in the near future. With massive icebergs and blue waters, seeing the glacier up close is a thrilling experience. Today, nearly 51 percent of the park is covered by ice. The Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is the only wilderness lodge residing within the Kenai Fjords National Park. Contact Us. The park’s rugged coastline includes beautiful tidewater glaciers and abundant marine wildlife. Depending upon the trip’s itinerary, you might also see Aialik, Holgate, Pedersen, and Northwestern. Contact the Park. The collection currently consists of 77 sets of photos, including 265 photos of 40 individual glaciers or glacier groups. Established in 1980, the park is a wild land of mountain, water and ice. By using ground-penetrating radar, the researchers can map tunnels being carved between the glacier and the bedrock by meltwater. Nearly half the state's 700,000 citizens live in the Southcentral city of Anchorage. For many, the “crown jewel” of this pretty spectacular park is the Harding Icefield. There are upwards of three dozen named glaciers in the national park—all of which originate from the colossal 700 square-mile Harding Icefield. Valley glaciers are what most people picture when theythink ofglaciers. Hike on Spencer Glacier with Ascending Path as your Guide. All of this land was once buried beneath the ice and still bears its influence, in both the physical forms, and the everyday These gleaming valley glaciers perch in the mountains above Portage Valley, easy to view from highway pullouts. The Wild Images Team has spent many days kayaking through the ocean inlets of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). Kenai Fjords National Park is found in south central Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula. This is also a great area to check for whales, sea otters, puffins, and other wildlife. FAQ; Site Index; Español; Search . Hiking option: Portage Glacier can be approached under human power via the Portage Pass Trail from the Whittier side of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The meltwater then flows around the obstacle and refreezes on the downhill side, facilitating the movement of the glacier downhill. Notice the lovely cabin on the edge of Thumb Cove. Tangle Pond and Tangle Creek are favorite fishing spots for locals, and there are lots of places to camp in Portage Valley itself. There are even some parts of the rock, like fossils, that come from other parts of the world! Just about every peak and alpine nook between Portage and Seward, or along the upper Kenai River corridor, contains flowing ribbons of ice or stranded remnants—or, sometimes, persistent snowfields on the verge of becoming their own, new glacier. Signage identifies the glacier’s terminal locations during its retreat over the decades, making the access trail a real-time index into the dynamics of climate warming. Encompassing 669,984 acres, Kenai Fjords National Park was initially protected as a National Monument by President Jimmy Carter in 1978.. Kenai Fjords National Park: Tons of wildlife; beautiful glaciers - See 1,686 traveler reviews, 930 candid photos, and great deals for Seward, AK, at Tripadvisor. Encompassing 669,984 acres, Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park was initially protected as a Nationwide Monument by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. Approximately one quarter (4.6 million acres) of Alaska's glaciers exist within national parks. The easy lower trail leads to overlooks of crevasses. Many people camp on the outer beach near Bear Glacier, and enjoy the glacier views in the background. When the underlying bedrock is particularly rough or a large obstacle such as a ridge or boulder is present, pressure melting begins. Byron descends from the same ice field that feeds both Portage Glacier on the lake and Blackstone Glacier in Prince William Sound. There are around 20 species of seabirds that make their home in the park, including puffins, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. Take a cruise from Seward to see Pedersen Glacier, and the beautiful habitat surrounding it just under 20 miles away. This pair of classic mountain glaciers gleam from the mountains overlooking Portage Valley, anchoring several spectacular vistas from highway pullouts and the valley’s popular multi-use trail. Aialik Glacier is the largest glacier in Aialik Bay, located in Kenai Fjords National Park. Things to See in Kenai Fjords. In Kachemack Bay State Park, a water taxi ride from Homer will deliver you to the Grewingk Glacier Trail, the most popular attraction in the state park. This part of Alaska is also famous for its wildlife. This vast landscape with melting and shrinking glaciers, showcases the effects of climate change. TouristLink members rank Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield and Tustumena Glacier as the top glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. 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