Exit Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers connected to Kenai Fjords National Park, located just outside of Seward.

You can drive directly to the parking area, and from there, a network of trails takes you closer to the glacier. There are marked points along the trail showing where the glacier used to be, which gives you a clear picture of how much it has retreated.

The main trail is relatively easy and takes you to a close viewpoint, but there are also longer hikes that take you higher up for a better perspective.

You can’t safely walk right onto the glacier without proper gear and guidance, but you can get close enough to see the ice, hear it shifting, and feel the cold air coming off it.

Exit Glacier is one of the best places to actually understand how glaciers change over time.