⠀ You'll gain approximately 1,000 feet of elevation with every mile so be sure to allow at least 6-8 hours for this trip. Be on the look out for mountain goats, black bear, and marmots--- they are common sightings up here. The top of the summit is covered in dirt and rock and seems to carry on forever. Although the view from the top is well worth the effort, you need not hike all the way to the top to experience the wonders of this trail. 3000 feet or 914 metres. The trail ends overlooking the massive 700 square mile Harding Icefield, which is a leftover of the last major Ice Age. Definitely one to add to your Alaska bucket list! Family of four, expat living in Japan, traveling the world (on a budget!). The Harding Icefield trail can really be broken up into two sections: hiking out of the forest to the cliffs for an amazing view of Exit Glacier and then climbing on up to the Harding Icefield above it. The Trail. Be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles. The trail starts climbing throughout the woods, and if you start early enough you can see the sun shining through the forest and fog rising over the treetops. The other big thing we wanted to do in Kenai Fjords National Park, besides glacier kayaking, was hiking the famous Harding Icefield Trail.. There are Ranger led Harding Icefield hikes from 9am on Saturdays in July to August. — Effective Against All Types of Bears, THE ULTIMATE LIST OF THINGS TO DO IN OKINAWA. I hiked this in September, so you may need to wear more or less layers depending on the season you’re hiking in. The day we started there were bear sightings along the trail, so make sure to buy bear spray ahead of time. 1 Reviews of Harding Ice Field Trail "About 9 miles RT from the parking lot, and about 3000' elevation gain. — Effective Against All Types of Bears” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener” aria-label=”so be prepared (opens in a new tab)”>so be prepared. We were excited about what our day would bring. This summer is looking a lot different from last s, A few days late but wanted to acknowledge National, It has been a tiring few months and I know I am no, Spring Break starts in a few short days and like s, Download Lonely Planet Guides for cheap. Although the view from the top is well worth the effort, you need not hike all the way to the top to experience the wonders of this trail. Some of the more notable glaciers include the Tustumena Glacier, Exit Glacier, and McCarty Glacier. I took my ” target=”_blank”>WANDRD backpack which Matt & I took turns carrying. The 700 square mile ice field is incredible. Be prepared with 3,800 feet elevation gain this is one strenuous hike. Great hike. Basically you are walking/climbing up very steep rocks for a long time. Elevation: 3,800 feet gain ; Distance: 8.2 miles (roundtrip) Glacier overlook, where the kids hiked too, before heading back with their Grandparents Harding Icefield Trail Details: We started out with the kids and hiked the short trail up to the Glacier lookout. NPS Photo / F. North. Hiking Boots (I’m obsessed with these, but if you want more of a sneaker than a boat, I’ve also used these ones that work well). Edge of the Glacier, a partially-unpaved trail that, as the name suggests, takes you to fairly close to the edge of the glacier, near the lower end; Harding Icefield Trail, an 8.2 mile round-trip with a significant elevation gain, that provides views of Exit Glacier and eventually the Harding Icefield; I … Le sentier longe une cascade et sa difficulté est évaluée comme difficile. Hikers gain approximately 304.8 meters of elevation with every mile. You will begin the hike to Harding Icefield in the Exit Glacier area. Elevation Gain: 3,812 feet. Once you get above the tree line, the enormous icefield comes into view. Single trail to glacier viewpoint, nature walk loops: Difficulty: Easy (Steep sections on Glacier Overlook Trail) Length: 1 mile – Glacier View Loop 1.8 miles – Glacier Overlook Trail 8.2 miles Harding Icefield Trail: Elevation Gain: 429 Feet – Glacier Overlook Trail: Region: Kenai Peninsula (Seward) Location Length of the Harding Icefield Trail. It’s also the perfect place to pull out that sandwich that you’ve been thinking about the entire hike . Although I did see a few kids attempting the trail; I didn’t see any at the top though. Parking: free, at the Exit Glacier parking lot. If you want to stay here overnight camping is allowed as long as you set up camp at least 1/8 mile from the trail on bare rock or snow. It makes an incredible background for the rest of the hike, and yes it’s really that color blue. If you are looking to complete some family friendly hikes I would suggest Byron Glacier Trail or even Carter Lake Trail. John and Katie’s Alaska RV Trip 2017: On Top of the World via the Harding Icefield Trail. Elevation: 3800 feet of gain (be prepared, this is a steep one!) https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/harding-ice-field-trail ⠀ Sharp nunataks (lone peaks) break the white horizon, glaciers spill from the ice field’s … We could have stayed much longer admiring the icefield, but the day was getting towards the end of the day and we had to start on the return. Matt & I had a few close calls but luckily didn’t go down this trip. Fleece (didn’t end up wearing mine but packed it just in case). The trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes through a meadow before you pass the tree line. Your email address will not be published. Hike the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park. The trail is strenuous! I am passionate about finding unique, fun family experiences all over the world & creating lifelong memories for our family. Geography. Harding Icefield Trail Hike. You really can’t lose when choosing which hikes to do in Alaska, the state is so full of beauty that you will be starry eyed while taking out your trash in the morning. This was definitely the right decision for our family. Though the elevation profile is not always even, each of these sections is right around 2 miles so it breaks the day up nicely for objectives. Required fields are marked *. View over Harding Icefield from end of trail. Some people in our party think they saw fresh bear tracks. Snacks (I brought granola bars, almonds, and of course a sandwich), Camera (I have this one, it’s great for hiking and lightweight), Bear Spray! Harding Icefield Trail – The Arrival. The forest slowly opens up as the trail steepens and you start some long switchbacks. The eight mile (round-trip) trail begins by following Exit Glacier, but then climbs steeply and eventually ends overlooking the massive Harding Icefield, the largest icefield entirely within the US, which feeds Exit Glacier and about 40 other glaciers. Would you hike to the Harding Icefield? We did the Harding Icefield Hike at the end of August and were constantly wowed by the beauty and stunning views. It also has a couple of spots that we carry water for easy access. Elevation Gain of the Harding Icefield Trail. We did spot a couple of mountain goat, which was neat. The one I bought in Alaska was 70 bucks (pricey, but if it saves your life…. Summer 2019 saw us visiting Alaska for the first time where we did three hikes during our short stay. All while on a budget. It is not an easy walk in terms of elevation gain but anyone with moderate level of fitness can do it. NPS Photo / F. North. We started out with the kids and hiked the short trail up to the Glacier lookout. When I am not traveling the world, eating tacos, or working on the blog you can find me crunching numbers as an accountant for a non-profit. All-Day Hike: The Harding Icefield Trail is strenuous! Hiking conditions are best from June to September. Kenai Fjords National Park - Harding Icefield Trail: Summary: Starting on the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes though heather filled meadows and ultimately climbs well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Icefield: Type: Day Hike - Out and Back: Distance (Total) 7.4 miles / 11.9 km: Elevation Gain The trail itself is only 3.8 miles out, but you'll need to access it via the Exit Glacier Paved Path, which adds to the overall distance.Hikers can expect sweeping views of the Exit Glacier area as … Alaska, hiking, National Parks, RVs, scenic byways, Travel, Uncategorized. Camping: Yes, along the Harding Icefield Trail corridor, though you must be a decent ways from the trail on bare rock or snow. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The Harding Icefield hike is a must-do hike in Kenai Mountains. Make sure you are dressed properly, as the weather on top is often different than in the Exit Glacier area below. I took this photo of two hikers we met on the trail and sent it to them after: One last climb up some very rugged switchbacks and you feel like you’ve summited the moon. 8.2miles or 13km return. The National Park Service says hikers gain about 1,000 feet of elevation per mile, while Backpacker Magazine puts the elevation gain at 3,366 feet. The 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail is a spectacular day hike. Tag: Harding Icefield Trail elevation gain. I had heard of the Harding Icefield and even drove by the trailhead on previous trips to the Kenai Peninsula and always wondered what an icefield is like. I probably took more photos in the first hour of this hike than I will at my own wedding (you know, if I get married). Starting on the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes though heather filled meadows and ultimately climbs well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Icefield. Harding Ice Field Trail est un sentier allez-retour de 8.2 miles très fréquenté situé près de Seward, Alaska. The hike to view the Harding Icefield is about 4 miles (oneway) with 3,500 feet elevation gain. Harding Ice Field Trail: Harding Icefield - See 190 traveller reviews, 281 candid photos, and great deals for Kenai Fjords National Park, AK, at Tripadvisor. This trek climbs 3000 feet alongside Exit Glacier as it passes through several climatic zones. Lush trees, bears, and vast icefields of Exit Glacier. Guests are in for a remarkable day hike on an 8.2-mile loop along the Harding Icefield Trail. Le sentier offre plusieurs activités et sa meilleure utilisation est de mai à octobre. 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The 13.19662-kilometer round trip Harding Icefield Trail is a spectacular, moderately strenuous day hike. HOW TO HIKE THE HARDING ICEFIELD TRAIL OVERVIEW: The Harding Icefield Trail is an 8.2-mile, 5-hour hike round trip with a 3,150-foot elevation gain. Hikers gain approximately 1,000 feet of elevation with every mile. We like to attach bag so we can pick up trash as well. Allow at least 6-8 hours for the hike. Leaving no trace is super important! There is a day parking area and a small nature center. The 8.2-mile out-and-back hike along Harding Icefield is a spectacular outing. I bought this at a store when I arrived in Alaska, but if you’re checking luggage you can probably buy some cheaper ahead of time. Finally, you will reach a small shack and then the final view of Harding Icefield. 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