Exit Glacier from Your Seward Alaska Cruise

Exit Glacier, located in Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, Alaska, is one of the most accessible glaciers in the state. Visitors can explore various hiking trails offering close-up glacier views, witness dramatic ice formations, and observe the glacier’s recession markers showing climate change impacts. The area features stunning natural beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Quick Facts

Want to know more about Alaska cruise ports and what to expect?

Getting to Exit Glacier from Your Cruise Ship

When your ship docks at Seward cruise port, you’ve got several transportation options to reach Exit Glacier. The park shuttle runs during summer months and costs around $10-15 roundtrip per person. It departs from the Seward cruise terminal and the downtown visitor center. Alternatively, taxi services charge approximately $60-80 each way for up to four passengers, which can actually be cost-effective if you’re traveling as a group.

Renting a car gives you flexibility but isn’t really necessary unless you’re planning to explore multiple areas. The road to Exit Glacier is well-maintained and clearly marked from the Seward Highway. Here’s the insider tip most cruise passengers miss: book the first shuttle of the day. You’ll beat the tour bus crowds by at least an hour and have the trails practically to yourself.

Trail Options and What to Expect

The beauty of Exit Glacier is that it accommodates everyone from mobility-limited visitors to hardcore hikers. Here’s what you need to know about each trail option:

Edge of the Glacier Trail (0.1 miles)

• Fully paved and wheelchair accessible
• Takes about 10 minutes
• Gets you within viewing distance but not super close
• Perfect for those with limited time or mobility concerns

Glacier View Loop (0.6 miles)

• Mostly paved with some gravel sections
• 20-30 minutes to complete
• This is the sweet spot for most cruise passengers
• Gets you impressively close to the glacier terminus
• Features historical markers showing where the glacier reached in previous decades

Harding Icefield Trail (8.2 miles roundtrip)

• Serious elevation gain of 3,000 feet
• Takes 6-8 hours for the full trail
• Most cruise visitors hike just the first 1-2 miles for elevated glacier views
• Trail can be muddy and requires proper hiking boots
• Weather changes rapidly so bring layers

A word to the wise: don’t let the cruise excursion desk convince you that you need their $150 tour package. The independent shuttle costs a fraction of that and gives you the same experience with more freedom to explore at your own pace.

What Makes Exit Glacier Different

Unlike the Mendenhall Glacier experience in Juneau, Exit Glacier offers genuine accessibility without barriers or long viewing distances. You’re walking right up to a living glacier, hearing it crack and groan, feeling the cold air radiating off thousands of years of compressed ice.

The recession markers along the trails are sobering and educational. Stakes mark where the glacier’s edge reached in different decades, and you’ll walk past markers from the 1800s that are now nearly a mile from the current ice face. It’s a powerful visual lesson in climate change that photographs simply cannot capture.

For those interested in glacier viewing opportunities throughout Alaska, Exit Glacier provides one of the most intimate experiences available without aerial tours or boat access.

Planning Your Visit from the Ship

Most cruise ships dock in Seward for 6-10 hours, which gives you adequate time for Exit Glacier if you plan smartly. Here’s a realistic timeline:

• Disembarkation and shuttle boarding: 30-45 minutes
• Drive to Exit Glacier: 30 minutes
• Hiking and exploring: 2-3 hours
• Return drive: 30 minutes
• Buffer time for delays: 30 minutes

That totals about 4.5-5 hours, leaving you time to explore other attractions and activities in Seward or grab a meal before reboarding.

Pro tip: the Nature Center at Exit Glacier opens at 9 AM and features free ranger programs throughout the day. Time your arrival for one of these 20-minute talks to learn fascinating details about glacier formation and the local ecosystem.

Weather and What to Wear

Even on warm summer days, the microclimate near the glacier runs 15-20 degrees cooler than downtown Seward. Pack these essentials:

• Sturdy walking shoes with good tread (trails can be wet)
• Layered clothing including a warm fleece or jacket
• Rain jacket (weather changes quickly)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (glacier reflection intensifies UV rays)
• Water and snacks (no services at the glacier)
• Bug spray for early season visits

The gift shop at the cruise terminal will happily sell you overpriced rain gear, but you’re better off bringing layers from home or picking up basics at the Safeway in downtown Seward if needed.

Wildlife Watching Opportunities

While Exit Glacier isn’t primarily a wildlife destination, the surrounding area hosts black bears, moose, marmots, and mountain goats. Early morning visitors have the best chances for animal sightings. Rangers ask that you maintain at least 300 feet from bears and 25 feet from other wildlife.

Bird enthusiasts should watch for gray jays, American dippers along Exit Creek, and occasionally bald eagles. The willows and alders along the lower trails often hide warblers and thrushes during summer months.

For comprehensive Alaska glacier experiences that combine wildlife viewing, consider how Exit Glacier fits into your broader cruise itinerary.

Comparing Exit Glacier to Other Seward Options

Your cruise stop in Seward offers multiple glacier experiences, and choosing the right one depends on your priorities and budget. Kenai Fjords National Park boat tours showcase tidewater glaciers calving into the ocean, which is spectacularly different from the land-based Exit Glacier experience.

Boat tours cost $150-250 per person and last 6-8 hours. They’re incredible for wildlife (whales, sea otters, puffins) and seeing glaciers calve into the ocean. Exit Glacier costs under $20 including shuttle, takes half the time, and offers that up-close terrestrial glacier experience.

Why not both? If your ship docks early enough, you can actually do a morning Exit Glacier visit and an afternoon harbor cruise, though that makes for an exhausting day.

Bonus Tips

• The restrooms at Exit Glacier are vault toilets (fancy outhouses). Use the facilities at the Nature Center before hitting the trails.
• Cell service is spotty to nonexistent at the glacier. Download offline maps before you go.
• The gift shop at the Nature Center supports park programs and sells reasonably priced souvenirs without the cruise markup.
• Marmots along the Harding Icefield Trail are habituated to humans and adorable, but don’t feed them. They whistle loudly when alarmed.
• The blue ice is most vibrant on overcast days. Bright sunshine actually washes out the color in photographs.
• If you’re mobility-limited but want a great view, the Exit Creek overlook platform near the parking area is wheelchair accessible and often overlooked by visitors rushing to the trails.
• Pack out everything you pack in. There are no trash cans along the trails to protect wildlife from food conditioning.
• The glacier actively calves small chunks regularly. Never walk beyond barriers or on the ice itself. People die doing this.
• Rangers lead free guided walks daily during summer. Check the board at the Nature Center for times.
• Late May and early June can still have significant snow on higher trails. August and September offer the most reliable trail conditions.

Common Questions and FAQ

Can I touch the glacier?

No, and you shouldn’t try. Park regulations prohibit walking on Exit Glacier due to hidden crevasses, unstable ice, and falling rock. The barriers are there for your safety. Glaciers kill tourists who ignore warnings.

Is Exit Glacier worth it if I’m seeing other glaciers on my cruise?

Absolutely. Each glacier offers different experiences. Exit Glacier’s land-based accessibility and the historical recession markers provide context you won’t get from ship-based glacier viewing. The intimacy of standing next to thousands of tons of ancient ice is genuinely different from seeing glaciers from a distance.

What if my ship’s time in port is limited?

The Glacier View Loop can realistically be done in 2 hours total including transportation. Book the earliest shuttle, do the quick loop, and you’ll be back with time to spare. Just don’t attempt the Harding Icefield Trail if you’re time-constrained.

Are there food services at Exit Glacier?

No. The Nature Center has water bottle filling stations but no food for purchase. Pack snacks and water, especially if you’re planning any substantial hiking. The closest restaurants are back in Seward proper.

Can I bring my dog?

Pets are allowed on the trails but must be leashed at all times. They’re not permitted in the Nature Center building. Be aware that the gravel trails can be tough on paw pads and there’s no shade on sunny days.

What’s the best time of day to visit?

Early morning offers smaller crowds, better wildlife viewing, and often clearer weather before afternoon clouds roll in. The first shuttle is your best bet for a quality experience.

Personal Experience

We pulled into Seward on a gorgeous August morning, and visiting Exit Glacier was absolutely the right call for our cruise day. The shuttle from the port made everything easy – about a 30-minute ride that dropped us right at the nature center. What struck me first was how accessible everything is. There’s a paved trail that gets you remarkably close to the glacier face, perfect for anyone in our group who wasn’t up for a serious hike. The Glacier View Loop took maybe twenty minutes, and standing there watching chunks of ancient blue ice tower above us was pretty surreal.

My husband and I decided to push on to the Harding Icefield Trail since we had a few hours before heading back to the ship. Fair warning: it’s steep and you’ll work for it, but even going just a mile or two up gave us incredible views of the glacier from above. The blue ice is most vivid on partly cloudy days, which worked out perfectly for us. We brought layers because the temperature drops significantly near the ice, and that was smart thinking. If you’re trying to decide between different Seward excursions, Exit Glacier gives you that up-close glacier experience without needing a pricey boat tour or helicopter ride. Just wear sturdy shoes and give yourself at least three hours to really enjoy it.