Harding Icefield: One of the big goal hikes in Southcentral Alaska

Harding Icefield is the birthplace of glaciers, spawning some 40 of them in various directions — including Exit Glacier, which is a stunning companion for much of this trail’s length. This hike to overlooks of the icefield is one of the big goal hikes in Southcentral Alaska, and such a worthy goal that some hikers will train all year to make it to the top.

That’s for good reason: Hiking up to Harding Icefield takes plenty of fitness and endurance. If you start early on a day with good weather and take your time, though, this trail can be more doable than one expects. Do keep your eye out for bad weather — this isn’t the kind of place you want to be when cold and wind come rolling in, no matter what the season.

This is hike 77 in my guidebook Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska.

Hiking Harding Icefield

The first 0.4 mile of this trail coincides with broad, flat Exit Glacier trail — the only other maintained hiking trail in Kenai Fjords National Park. Make sure that as you leave the Exit Glacier Nature Center you take the right-hand fork, then enjoy starting your hike with such an easy stroll on broad, flat trail.

At 0.4 mile from the nature center trailhead, the Harding Icefield trail shoots off to the right and begins a series of long, sidehilling switchbacks through mossy forest. My measurement of the Harding Icefield trail length is a little longer than others’ because I count the distance starting from the nature center, whereas some folks start counting when the Harding Icefield trail diverges from the Exit Glacier trail.

At 1.7 miles from the trailhead you’ll hit Marmot Meadows, a great intermediate stopping point for anyone who doesn’t want to hike all the way to Harding Icefield. The meadows wildflowers, lovely resting spots, and great lookouts over Exit Glacier as it spills down the mountain from its birthplace, Harding Icefield.

By 3.1 miles from the nature center, you’ll be hiking on a lovely, hardened gravel trail with streams flowing across it at intervals. You might not be able to avoid wet feet during the rush of spring snowmelt.

At 4.3 miles from the trailhead, you’ll see a small, dark emergency shelter — really just a wooden box that serves as a refuge of last resort in case of really bad weather. This also marks the point where you might find yourself tromping through lingering snowfields, even in the middle of a warm summer.

Many people consider that hut the end of the hike, but I like to keep going on a clear, flagged footpath until I reach the “peak” of mounded rock left by passage of millions of tons of ice. From there, you can really appreciate the vastness of the icefield, stretching all the way out to the horizon and spilling down its far side.

A Few Hazards You Should Be Aware Of

Heads up: While Harding Icefield makes a stunning summer hike, by winter it becomes a technical mountaineering route, presenting serious challenges in routefinding and avalanche hazard. Speaking of which, there’s usually so much snow at higher elevations along this trail, avalanche hazard can easily linger into early July.

Lastly, don’t go out onto the icefield, or onto snow that might conceal part of the icefield. It’s basically a gigantic glacier, and it takes a specialized set of technical skills — and gear — to travel safely in those conditions.