Alaska's Parks Circuit: Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias & Kenai Fjords

Arrival & The North Face Trail

Arrive in Anchorage and begin the overland journey south toward the Kenai Peninsula. The drive is broken up in Girdwood with a steep hike on the North Face Trail. This 10km route climbs over 600 meters up the side of Mt. Alyeska, a significant effort rewarded with expansive views across the Turnagain Arm waterway and the glaciated peaks of the Chugach Range. After the hike, the drive continues to Seward, a port town on the shores of Resurrection Bay, to set up camp for the night.

DIY Reality Check: While hikers who complete the steep, 2,000-foot ascent of the North Face Trail can receive a complimentary ride down on the Alyeska Aerial Tram, this benefit is entirely dependent on timing. The tram's summer service ends for the day between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, creating a tight operational window for a DIY traveler on an arrival day that also includes landing in Anchorage, securing a vehicle, and driving to the Girdwood trailhead. Missing that cutoff means a strenuous descent on foot. The day's logistics conclude with another 90-minute drive to Seward, where popular campsites like those at Miller's Landing are often booked solid months in advance, with reservations for the summer season opening as early as the preceding year. A structured trip handles the transport, manages the clock, and secures the campsite, removing the cascading pressures of a complex arrival day.

Harding Icefield Trail Ascent

Today is a full-day commitment to the Harding Icefield Trail, a challenging 12km out-and-back ascent near Exit Glacier. The path begins on the valley floor in cottonwood and alder forest, then punches through heather-filled meadows before climbing well above the tree line. The upper trail is often covered in snow and ice late into the season, so conditions dictate the final distance.

The route offers sustained, impressive views of Exit Glacier as it flows from the icefield. Marmot Meadows marks a logical turnaround point for many, while the final push to the Top of Cliffs yields a commanding perspective over the 700-square-mile icefield. The full hike requires 6-8 hours of moving time.

DIY Reality Check: While the Harding Icefield Trail is publicly accessible, the National Park Service warns that its upper reaches are often snow-covered into July, with potential avalanche hazards. For these sections, the NPS recommends visitors possess mountaineering skills—including avalanche terrain recognition and self-arrest—and carry technical gear like an ice axe and avalanche rescue equipment. This places the burden of expert-level risk assessment and equipment sourcing squarely on the independent hiker. Furthermore, the NPS notes that trailhead parking is limited, especially between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM, creating a logistical hurdle for a hike that requires 6-8 hours. A structured trip removes these pressures by providing an experienced guide to make critical safety decisions and by handling all trailhead transportation.

Mount Marathon or Resurrection Bay

The day offers a choice: a demanding mountain ascent or exploring Seward at sea level. The primary objective is the Mount Marathon trail, a notoriously steep 5km route that climbs directly above town. It's the course for one of North America's oldest footraces for a reason—it's a lung-buster, but the view from the top over Seward and Resurrection Bay is worth the effort. For those opting out of the climb, the day is free to explore the town's waterfront, visit the Alaska Sealife Center, or rent a kayak to paddle the bay, watching for sea otters.