Getting there
- Flights to Kenai (ENA) 95 km from the start
- Flights to Anchorage (ANC) 115 km from the start
Treks / USA (Alaska)
Harding Icefield Trail
USA (Alaska) · Nearest city: Anchorage (also Seward)
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 13 km
Climbing≈ 1,000 m
Highest point1,160 m
A steep climb beside Exit Glacier to a viewpoint over a vast icefield in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonJuly to September
Watch out: Snow lingers high on the trail into summer. Bears are common.
Why people choose it
It climbs beside a glacier to a view over a vast icefield that covers most of the Kenai Mountains.
What makes it different
- View over a huge icefield
- Beside Exit Glacier
- Close to Seward
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Roaming in USA is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
In national parks, overnight stays need a wilderness permit and camping is often limited to designated sites. On most national forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is allowed.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Exit Glacier → Harding Icefield
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- No bookings are needed for most people. Choose a day with a good forecast.
- Best time to go: July to September.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Anchorage.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: July to September
Late June to early July
Early season
Snow on high ground, high rivers from snowmelt and cold nights. Routes and huts may still be opening.
Bring
- Gaiters and waterproof boots
- Warm hat and gloves
- Check route status before you go
Mid-July to mid-August
Peak season
The main window, with the best chance of dry weather, but conditions can still turn wintry.
Bring
- Full waterproofs
- Warm layers even in summer
- River-crossing shoes
Late August to early September
Late season
Fewer people and darker nights, with storms becoming more frequent and huts starting to close.
Bring
- Headlamp
- Extra warm layers
- Flexible plans for weather
Be ready for
Bear country
Store food in a bear canister or locker, cook away from your tent, and carry bear spray where rangers recommend it.
Snow patches
Early in the season, snow can cover the path on high ground. Microspikes or crampons and some experience make these sections safer.
Big climbs
Some days climb 1,000 m or more. Train with stairs and a loaded pack, and use trekking poles.
What you'll see
5 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Harding Icefield Trail
Photo credits: HardingExpanse by Roman Dial, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Exit glacier by Dubhe, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Harding Icefield and Exit glacier Alaska , trip of my son Bas, a nature lover as well - panoramio by Henk Monster, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; By ovedc - Exit Glacier by Ovedc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; By ovedc - Exit Glacier by Ovedc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
