Kenai Fjords National Park offers some of Alaska’s most exhilarating multi-day backpacking experiences, where glaciers inch relentlessly, forests press with ancient patience, and fjords carve their bold passage to the sea. This guide highlights three standout routes that invite adventurers to engage with a landscape fiercely itself — challenging yet rewarding in equal measure.

1. Exit Glacier to Harding Icefield Trail Loop Distance: Approx. 22 miles Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet Terrain: Well-established trail through dense spruce and hemlock, rocky moraines, and open ridges

Starting at Exit Glacier, the trail pushes through forested paths where daylight filters through moss-covered limbs. Here, the glacier dares you forward with its creaks and distant rumblings. The path ascends steadily, exposing sweeping views of the Harding Icefield — a vast frozen expanse slowly shaping the earth beneath it. The route combines forests, tundra, and rocky points demanding sturdy boots and steady stamina. Campsites along the trail offer quiet spots where the wind carries stories of shifting ice and distant wildlife calls.

2. Resurrection Bay to Bear Glacier Connector Distance: Approx. 26 miles (one way) Elevation Gain: Moderate, around 1,800 feet Terrain: Mixed coastal rainforest, muddy stretches, river crossings, glacier forefields

This less-traveled route thrusts backpackers into a rugged mix of ecosystems. The coastal rainforest, heavy with rain and saturated earth, challenges hikers with slippery roots and shifting mud. Rivers push at your crossings, quick moving and cold, demanding caution. Bear Glacier’s forefield looms ahead, its icy fingers reaching out. The scenery shifts constantly — from mossy woods to braided streams to glacier-scattered rocks, each step a negotiation with terrain insisting on respect.

3. Thompson Pass to Aialik Bay Loop Distance: Approx. 30 miles Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet Terrain: Remote coastal cliffs, alpine tundra, dense alder thickets, rugged beach approaches

Starting at the rarely busy Thompson Pass, this route offers solitude entwined with challenge. The landscape tests endurance with steep climbs and dense undergrowth that seems to push back when making progress. Aialik Bay delivers its own reward — vast water vistas where seals and seabirds traverse the salt air. Expect sharp weather shifts; clouds and wind act as constant partners. Nightfall here is silent save for the murmurs of tide and distant glacier calving, a reminder that this wilderness remains fiercely alive.

Preparation Notes

Hydration systems must keep pace with intense exertion; filtering fresh water on the trail is essential due to variable access points. Footwear with solid ankle support and deep tread will maintain steady grip across wet, rocky, and uneven ground. Timing matters — summer months bring extended daylight but also higher traffic and mosquitoes, while shoulder seasons reward with solitude but harsher weather.

Kenai Fjords demands respect from all who enter, offering adventure as an engagement with a park that moves, shifts, and breathes. Step with preparedness, and you’ll find trails that speak directly to the heart of Alaska’s wild edge.