Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier
4.5
Nature & Wildlife AreasHiking TrailsGeologic Formations
About
Hike up the well-maintained path to the top of the glacier.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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1 within 6 miles

See what travelers are saying

  • Patricia T
    Toledo, Ohio44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the short walk
    It’s about a mile walk from the parking lot to a good viewpoint. Worth the trip. Colder than the surrounding area, even in May plenty of snow left! Park area very beautiful, stop along the road for pictures in the turn offs.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 25, 2024
  • Nicola B
    Sheffield, United Kingdom115 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A unique experience
    We had a fanatic, self guided walk up to Glacier Outlook. The rangers were on hand at the entry point to help with the route and the views so close to a glacier were great! We had fantastic weather and a one of kind experience.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 26, 2024
  • Gma4198
    Fishers, Indiana115 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Eye-opening view of a glacier
    A fairly easy walk, partially paved, from visitor building to Exit Glacier. We had an 84 year old woman in our group, who did surprisingly well on the rocky climb. I appreciated the markers showing various years of where to glacier used to extend, to put it into perspective on how much the glacier has receded over the years. Did not see any moose there, but we saw evidence that they hang there!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 10, 2024
  • Hendlschorsch
    Essen, Germany7,978 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Here's the decline....
    ....the glacier in the region is well documented, i.e. on the way to the glacier you get very well documented where the glacier was still around 1900 and today only barren stone desert prevails. Even today’s lookout point is now very far from the actual glacier - reaching the lookout point already requires a min. 1-hour ascent from the valley. The informative Visitor Center is easily accessible via Herman-Leirer-Rd. (about 9 miles from Seward Hwy.) and from here the hiking trails towards the glacier begin.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 22, 2024
  • Kristin G
    Camarillo, California9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    10 stars. A perfect day
    Worth every cent. 10 stars. Best day of my life. Jayleen’s was amazing. Went with my husband and two kids (3 yrs & 7 yrs) and we all had a blast, even though my kids insisted they didn’t want to go. We have been on a couple other bigger whale watching group tours and this was by far the best for so many reasons. SMALL group size, respect for the whales space, giving us a variety of opportunities to see wildlife, the captain (Luke) was knowledgeable about whales, boats, Alaska, the wildlife and environment/surrounding geography. He kept us well informed in all aspects as to where things were, amenities available, what the plan was, if it was going to get choppy etc. They provided life jackets for the kids to wear, blankets if they got cold, snacks, drinks, a bathroom if needed. Highlight of our year.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 11, 2024
  • Ravenito
    Charlotte, North Carolina545 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a stop, really sobering to see how far it has receded
    Really enjoyed my visit here. There's a little visitor's center with some info about the glacier and national park and of course a bunch of souvenirs available. There are a few different trails you can take and I think the walk out to the 2005/2010 viewpoints is worth it. You can go slow and it's honestly not that bad (as far as uphill goes) until pretty close to the end. The first half there's plenty of benches to sit at and take a break on but once you get off the paved trail there are only benches once you pretty much get to the end. There's also a visitor's center in downtown Seward that is nice but has mostly the same stuff as this one.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 25, 2024
  • HHess19
    Bolton Landing, New York22 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice hiking trails, but not the best glacier experience
    If you have the time in the Seward area, it's a nice hike and not too hard. We saw a few young kids on the trail. But if you're pressed for time or hoping for a very cool glacier encounter, don't feel bad skipping this. The glacier has receded so much that you can't get close to it at all. All of your views are going to be from quite some distance.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles934 reviews
Excellent
664
Very good
225
Average
38
Poor
3
Terrible
4

KeriD
Melbourne, FL58 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
We visited the Exit Glacier both on our own and on a guided tour - I recommend BOTH! The adults in our group first visited Exit and hiked up to Marmot Meadows, then went off trail a bit to get a better view of the glacier. Be aware of your surrounding and safety to know when you are getting into dangerous territory (too close to the glacier and the sliding rocks), but it's worth the trek. The hike up is definitely physically trying and I'd recommend taking hiking poles - we didn't have them and would have liked to, especially if we'd gone up further. We happened to visit on a day that was dry, and it was gorgeous, but still a bit slippery.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kleime
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, United States482 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
Drove in the dark to arrive and hike the trail to Exit Glacier at dawn and we were the only people there. The trail is easy except for one part that you have to climb up on some black rocks. From there you could go through a field to another hill top. The Glacier has receded through the years and I don't think that trail took you right up to it. We had some good views of the Glacier along our trail. We were pressed on time so we ended our hike probably around 4 miles and turned back. We didn't see any wild life, but the board on the ranger building said that someone saw a moose hiking yesterday and someone else saw a bear yesterday. It was pouring down rain for part of our hike and the streams were flowing fast and high. We had to cross one stream on a board and when we were coming back through the water was higher. The best view of the Glacier was from a look out pull over coming into the park.
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sjhokie
New Smyrna Beach, FL403 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
This is a must see attraction in Seward.

It’s one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska and an absolute bargain.

We took an inexpensive shuttle from town and basically hiked on our own. We started off with a free ranger-led hike but ended up exploring by ourselves.

The glacier is beautiful and there are magnificent views that get you within a few hundred yards of the toe.

I’d recommend hiking the entire length of the overlook trail and walking out on the washout plain.

The visitor center is small but contains lots of interesting educational material. The recession due to climate change is tremendous and quite alarming. It’s a good thing to see firsthand.

Highly recommend a visit and it fits in with any budget. We stayed for three hours but you could do our version in two.

Longer hikes are available but seemed a little beyond our ability level.
Written November 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HeavyHiker
Farmingdale, NY402 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
Go early as parking fills and trail is extremely popular. Restrooms available at trailhead. Trailhead is well marked and trail is paved for about a quarter of the trail to a lower viewing area. Trail includes one stream crossing on a plank, however depending on time of year may be underwater. Stone steps for the steep sections should be used with caution; children need supervision. Glacier has receded dramatically, but the hike was worth the effort.
Written July 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jessica O
53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Family
Beautiful to see- the main trail to the glacier is fairly easy. The Harding Ice Trail is definitely a lot more difficult but the view is very pretty! Overall, great stop. Would definitely recommend taking a half-day to full-day (depending on the trail) to see it
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

joby01
midwest2,052 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
We were in Seward to go on the Major Marine 8.5 hour tour near Seward. We had some extra time and penned in the free ranger led tour of Exit Glacier in our itinerary.

We took the 2:30 tour with a female ranger who was phenomenal. For the life of me I can't remember her name but, she was born in the area and moved around frequently because both of her parents were with the National Park system too I think.

Anyway, the tour was much better than we thought it would be. It ended up being about 2 1/2 hours in length and wonderfully informative! Our ranger knew lots about the plants in the area as well as the geology and glacier info. She made the tour!! The glacier has receded tremendously in the last 100 years so, the views were a way off.

Fantastic tour, especially for free.
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kyshappells
Henderson, KY96 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
We took our 8 and 10 year Olds, as well as our 60 and 70 year old parents. This hike is not overly strenuous, but there is some uphill and uneven terrain. If you're even in half way decent shape, you'll be good. You don't have to, but I recommend waterproof shoes so you can go into the basin area, and see the stream and :ice boulders", it was a cool experience. Worth the drive to Seward from Anchorage for the day.
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wrblsd
Marble Falls, TX24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
We visited Exit Glacier on a very cloudy day with occasional rain showers but still enjoyed the experience. We hiked the Glacier Overlook Loop Trail with a total distance of approximately 2 miles. The first half of the trail going up is easy but the second half of the ascent is more challenging, particularly when the rocky ground is wet. We were very happy to have mosquito spray with us. The mosquitoes are large and aggressive. The blue color of the glacier is cool and I recommend the trip.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amyw2012
Birmingham, AL2,224 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
This was an easy drive from Seward and well marked. There is a easy trail from the parking lot to a good view of the glacier. There are a few stops on the way to get a better look at the gray water streaming from the glacier. The view is really pretty, and we spent about 30 minutes just watching. We had no desire to go on the much more intense hike, but I’ve heard the ice field hike is worth it. The gift shop was also nice.
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Teardrop Trailer Traveler
United States782 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We hiked to Exit Glacier with a group while staying in Seward. The hike itself was fairly easy and the trail is well marked. The trail begins as a flat easy stroll through the trees, then climbs up a slope which gives a spectacular view of the valley below and the surround mountains. The trail affords several excellent views of the glacier itself. The glacier ends in a narrow ravine, and melting water from the glacier forms a beautiful braided river that flows from the ravine across the valley floor.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Exit Glacier - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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