Kenai Fjords National Park guide · 1 min read
Fjord Cruises to Tidewater Glaciers from Seward
The Northwestern Fjord Cruise runs seven to eight hours from Seward and goes deeper into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other fjord tour.
The route passes three glaciers, including Northwestern Glacier, a remote and active glacier that anchors the trip.
Much of the park can only be reached from the water, so a boat is the main way to see its tidewater glaciers, where the ice meets the ocean. Full-day trips reach these glaciers, while half-day trips stay in the more sheltered water of Resurrection Bay.
The cruises also offer marine wildlife viewing. Orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, harbor seals and puffins are among the animals you may spot, and the Resurrection Bay route also passes sea otters and eagles. Many boat tours include Park Ranger interpretation, so a ranger can help you make sense of the glaciers and animals you pass.
The shorter Resurrection Bay tour takes about five hours and goes as far as Fox Island. It passes Bear Glacier, the largest glacier in the park, and its calmer water suits anyone prone to seasickness. The six-hour Kenai Fjords tour, the most popular option, passes through Resurrection Bay, crosses the Gulf of Alaska and enters Aialik Bay, reaching Holgate Glacier or Aialik Glacier, with sea stacks along the way.
The park does not run boat tours itself. Local companies run the boats, and their schedules and onboard comforts vary, so compare before you pick. Departures leave from the small boat harbor in Seward, and reserving ahead is advisable.
