Exploring Kenai Fjords National Park: A Photographer's Dream

Nestled in the heart of Alaska’s rugged beauty, Kenai Fjords National Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to capture the majesty of towering glaciers, abundant wildlife, and dramatic seascapes. But before we dive into the wonders of the park itself, let’s take a moment to appreciate the gateway to this incredible region: Seward, Alaska.

Resurrection Bay Seward: The Charming Coastal Town

Located at the end of the famous Seward Highway, Seward is a picturesque coastal town with a population of just 2,600 year-round residents. Its small-town charm and stunning views of Resurrection Bay make it the ideal launching point for your Kenai Fjords adventure. The town is accessible by various means—whether you’re arriving by cruise ship, traveling on the scenic Alaska Railroad, or driving along the Seward Highway, one of the most beautiful highways in the world.

Seward’s quaint streets are lined with locally owned shops, cozy cafés, and art galleries that reflect the area’s rich cultural and natural heritage. It’s a peaceful place to stay, offering a warm, welcoming feel that contrasts with the untamed wilderness just beyond its borders.

Kenai Fjords National Park: Glacier Wonderland

Spanning over 669,000 acres, Kenai Fjords National Park is dominated by glaciers that pour from the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in North America. The park’s crown jewel is its dramatic landscape, which is best explored by boat. With over 38 glaciers within its boundaries, Kenai Fjords offers countless photography opportunities, particularly for those eager to capture the raw power of ice meeting ocean.

While the park is largely accessible only by boat, one glacier stands out as easily reachable by land: Exit Glacier. A visit to Exit Glacier is a must for travelers on their way into Seward. A short, well-maintained trail leads visitors close to this impressive glacier, offering unobstructed views and a perfect chance to snap photos of the shimmering ice.

Glaciers by Boat

For those eager to experience the vastness of Kenai Fjords from the water, several glaciers are accessible only by boat, each offering its own unique landscape and photographic opportunities.

Holgate Glacier Holgate Glacier

At about five miles long and half a mile wide, Holgate Glacier flows from the Harding Icefield into Holgate Arm, a narrow fjord off Aialik Bay. While it’s smaller than some of its neighboring glaciers, it’s a popular spot for watching calving events, where chunks of ice break off and crash into the sea. The vibrant blue waters surrounding Holgate make for stunning reflections and contrasts, especially on clear days.

Aialik Glacier Aialik Glacier

Just a short boat ride from Holgate, Aialik Glacier is the largest glacier in Aialik Bay. It stretches 3.5 miles in length and is 1.5 miles wide, offering a massive wall of ice that seems to dominate the landscape. Aialik is particularly active in the spring and early summer, making May and June the prime months to witness dramatic calving events. The sheer size of Aialik makes it a challenge to capture in one frame, but its changing face offers endless photographic possibilities.

Alaskan Wildlife Northwestern Glacier

For an all-day adventure, head to Northwestern Glacier, one of the largest in the park. Carving nearly 10 miles into a steep, narrow inlet, this glacier is accessible only by boat from Seward. The tour to Northwestern Glacier rewards visitors with views of harbor seals lounging on floating ice chunks, adding an extra layer of wildlife photography to the already dramatic glacial scenery. The scale of this glacier and its isolated beauty make it a favorite among photographers.

Bear Glacier Bear Glacier

The largest glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, Bear Glacier, offers something truly special. Unlike other glaciers, Bear Glacier is bordered by a massive lagoon filled with icebergs, making it perfect for a kayaking adventure. Paddling through a lagoon scattered with floating ice, photographers can get an up-close view of the glacier’s icy face and the surreal landscape around them. Kayaking here is an other-worldly experience, providing a perspective few get to capture.

Wildlife and More

Alaskan Wildlife As you cruise through Resurrection Bay and deeper into Kenai Fjords, keep your camera ready. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, with opportunities to photograph sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, humpback whales, killer whales, and various seabirds like puffins and bald eagles. The cliffs around the fjords are often home to coastal mountain goats, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a black bear foraging along the shore.

Hanging glaciers cling to the mountainsides as you cruise through the fjords, adding even more to the dramatic scenery. Each turn offers a new angle, a new shot, and a new story waiting to be told through your lens.

Plan Your Visit

A visit to Kenai Fjords National Park is a must for any photographer looking to capture the raw, untouched beauty of Alaska. Whether you prefer the comfort of a cruise, the intimacy of a kayak, or the accessibility of a short hike, this park has something for everyone. Seward, with its charm and small-town hospitality, is the perfect starting point for an unforgettable Alaskan adventure. From the glaciers to the wildlife, Kenai Fjords is a place where nature takes center stage, offering endless inspiration and breathtaking moments for photographers of all skill levels.

Pack your camera, charge your batteries, and get ready to explore one of the most awe-inspiring corners of the world!