harding ice field trail

We hiked the Harding Icefield trail on a saturday so we could join a free guided rangerwalk. Rangers Joey and Debby took very good care of us.It is a strenuous hike (roundtrip 8.2 miles) but worth every drop of sweat.(you can always go back but I would recommend at least going to Top of Cliffs)The views you get rewarded with are really amazing.Pack a warm sweater of jacket because when you go higher temperature drops.You can do the hike on any day you like but as it is bearcountry I felt more safe during the rangerwalk.

We did this hike in early June, on a sunny pleasant day. Great views, a variety of terrain to pass thru and UP HILL! Take snacks, a lunch for the top and water you will need them all! This was one of the best hikes we did in Alaska. Well worth the effort it took. Set your own pace and this hike can be done by most people in average condition. My walk meter showed about 10 miles total for this hike and it felt like it! Dress in layers so you can stay comfortable in a variety of conditions. We passed thru some decent sized snow fields on our way to the top. Wear your best hiking boots ad enjoy!

Awesome hike, views not so great as was drizzling. A must do if visiting Alaska. Knees hated me for two days, but worth it and look forward to doing it again on a dry day. Proper footwear for hiking a must and dress in layers that you can add or remove. Bring snacks and water.

The views along the way are lovely and if you can't do the full hike, it's worth going part of the way for nice close ups of Exit Glacier and possible wildlife (we saw mountain goats, apparently bears are common too but we didn't see any). The view you get at the end of the trail of the Harding Icefield is definitely worth the full hike if you have time and energy. It was unlike anything else we saw in AK. The trail is pretty easy underfoot but long and very steep (4 miles each way, ~4000 feet elevation gain). Bring lots of layers as temps probably varied about 20 degrees over the course of hike (it gets a lot colder when you're near the glacier because the air coming off the glacier is freezing). We've done comparable hikes in Yosemite and other places but for some reason this felt more intense. And it gets really slippery in the rain so be careful. On the way home it started raining and I fell and sprained my ankle. It was not fun limping down the last couple miles in the pouring rain with only one good leg. Still glad I did it though!

This hike is fairly long and tiring but I wouldn't really consider it that difficult. We did more challenging hikes in our trip to Alaska (Bird Ridge comes to mind), I think with enough time anyone in moderately decent shape could do this hike and enjoy it. The views in every direction are stunning, the glacier, the ice field, the waterfalls, the wildflowers, everything. There's many great reviews detailing the hike so I'll skip the details and simply say that if you have any interest in hiking, this hike is amazing. We did the hike in 5 hours 45 minutes, with a couple decent length breaks and hiking down towards the ice field a ways after reaching the top.A couple suggestions for people. Hiking poles are a great help, even if you're younger and haven't used them before. We bought some (collapsible that fit in our luggage) shortly before the trip and they definitely helped take stress off of the knees. Dress in layers, it's definitely cooler at the top than the bottom, but not as much as you might think, at least not the day we were there. Bring plenty of water, we drank every drop we had with us by the end of the hike and some snacks are a good idea, too, along with a big breakfast beforehand (we had crepes at Le Barn Appetit which is on the way out there). As others have mentioned, there's no bathrooms once you leave the visitors center, so go there before you start your hike. We started our hike just after 10am and got back down around 4pm, which was the time a ranger going out to the bottom of the glacier was starting, so we went on that after completing our hike. We found the ranger hike very interesting, especially after having hiked up to the ice field.Last piece of advice, as it says on one of the displays in the visitor's center, if a bear is eating you, fight back.

This is a STRENUOUS HIKE, at least 8.4 miles RT with an elevation gain of over 3,000 feet! We (couple in our mid 60's) started out on the Saturday morning (9:00) ranger-led hike with 44 people! However, there is really no need to go with a ranger since the trail is well marked. We weren't able to keep the fast pace that the lead ranger kept, so we just went at our own slower pace. There is a rear ranger that stays with the slowest people until they reach the top. You're on your own for going back down. We spent 7 hours and 40 minutes doing this hike, which included about 40 minutes on top to eat lunch and take in the incredible views! This trail definitely ranks in the Top 3 Hikes I have ever done (No. 1 and 2 would be The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah and the other, an 11 mile hike in Kaui's Waimea Canyon). Wildlife seen included black bears (far away), mountain goats (far away), a marmot, and a ptarmigan. Take your time on this hike, the wet rocky trail can be slippery in spots. Bring lots of water; I went through 2 quarts. And if it's a sunny, gorgeous day like our day, be sure to wear sunscreen and sunhat, since you are above treeline for a lot of this hike. And even though it can get quite warm on the hike uphill, if you sit above the Icefields and eat your lunch, it becomes quite chilly. I did not want to leave the incredible scenery that makes you feel like you are on top of the world! Just to let you know, I was sore in my thighs for the next 2 days - it's the going downhill that gets me! But to me it was worth it. This was definitely one of the Highlights of our Alaska trip!Note for the ladies: There are not many places that are private for a pit stop (bathroom break), especially above treeline. But on your way up, after crossing the stream near the gorge, there will be lots of rocky mounds. If you go behind a mound and into the dip, it works as a fairly private spot.

There are various descriptions of how long this hike is. According to my experience, the trail head is 0.4 miles from the visitor center, and the trail is 3.9 miles one way. So in total it’s 8.6 miles from the visitor center. There is also a little over 3000 feet elevation gain from the visitor center to the end of the trail. The mile markers in my review are all from the trail head. Mile 1.3 is the Marmot Meadows viewpoint. There is a giant relatively flat rock just a little off the trail that you can see Exit Glacier very well. This point is a little over 1000 feet elevation gain, so the hike up to this point is certainly not considered easy at all. This is the first good point for you to turn back. The next good turning back point is at mile 1.6, Bottom of Cliffs. The final turn back point is at mile 2.3, Top of the Cliffs. The difficult hike becomes really strenuous after this point and honestly the view of the Glacier does not get better until you get all the up to the end of the trail. The day we were there, it was misty to begin with, and it became a steady rain by the time we got to the Top of the Cliffs. We came prepared with rain poncho. I want to give a shout-out to my kids, ages 9 and 13. I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for the fact that they were so much ahead of me and couldn’t hear me calling them back, so I was left with no choice but to keep climbing up with the rain right in my face and wind blew against me. I want to emphasize the hike up is STRENUOUS and you really need good hiking shoes to keep you from slipping and your feet from getting wet. There are areas on this trail where you don’t see Exit Glacier at all, and it’s all black rock that made me feel like I was on Mars. I am beyond proud that we made it all the way up. There is an emergency shelter at mile 3.6. It’s small shelter with a couple of snow shovels. There is no bench or anything to sit on. It was an interesting read of who’s being there from the writings on the wall as I sat on the floor to rest. It’s amazing to look down and see the clouds coming up at you. The mountain, the glacier and everything else was there a minute ago, and then gets covered by the clouds and completely gone the next minute. It’s such an incredible feeling to know how it feels to be in the clouds. It feels wet :)We enjoyed this hike a lot. My advice is to know your limit and do the best you can. In my opinion, the glacier view from the top is not really that much better than the viewpoints I mentioned above. Matanuska Glacier near Palmer is much more stunning and you can even walk on the glacier. You walk along the glacier at this one until you are at the end of the trail. I am not sure how many people have the strength to walk off tail to the ice field after that. The reward for us is knowing we pushed our limits successfully. This is not only the longest hike I have ever done and the first time in the rain. There was nowhere to sit to rest along the way at all because of the rain. It took us 8 hours 45 minutes altogether. It rained for about 4-5 hours with little breaks here and there. We took 45 minutes at Marmot Meadows for “lunch” and 15 minutes snack break in the shelter. I would not recommend this to anyone who is not serious about hiking. Definitely dress in layers. For us, it got hot quick on the way up before the rain started. It was quite cold once the rain started and after we got to the top. My hiking shoes worked very well against the rain, but I didn’t have a pair of rain pants and the bottom of my pants was wet, so it got the top of my socks wet. Really wished I had brought an extra pair of socks.

I wanted to put out a review during a rainy day since that's the weather travelers very well might expect in this area of Alaska. We thought we'd do it anyway because we're not the type to sit inside, and the reviews for this trail were so great, I thought why not? First off, this trail is strenuous. We're both 23-year-old's in fairly decent shape but I was sore after this hike (granted we are not from hilly areas!). We did it in 5 hours--it is also definitely longer than 8 miles, probably closer to 10. The first part of the trail leads you up out of the forest, and the second takes you along the scree to a rocky outcropping that looks over the Icefield. There was a big cloud in the way so we couldn't see much. BUT it was a fun experience, and I could imagine the view from the pictures I had seen :) We also saw a black bear along the trail, eating some berries. Overall, I would caution against doing this hike in bad weather because you're putting in a lot of effort for little reward. But if you are cursed with all rainy days in your forecast while in the area (like us!), then go for it.

This was a challenging but rewarding hike. We are an almost-30-year-old couple who are pretty active. We made it to the top in a bit under 2.5 hours and took our time coming down in about 2 hours (5 hours round-trip including lunch at the top). We saw people of all ages and apparent levels of fitness on the trail. I believe anyone (without injury) could do this hike, just at their own pace. But it was tough! Finishing the climb was rewarding enough, but the view of the ice field was awesome.If you decide to give it a try, be sure to take plenty of water and lots of layers. It was 34 F at the bottom when we started, and it only took about 15 minutes before we had stripped down to t-shirts and shorts. With backpacks on, we were sweating A LOT (bring water!). Once you get to the top, it's cold and windy, made even colder when you're drenched in sweat. I wished that I had brought an extra t-shirt. There are no bathrooms on the trail (but are at parking lot). The trail is very well marked and maintained - you don't have to worry about getting lost. If you're up for the challenge, this hike is definitely worth it!

Best trail we hiked in Alaska. The views are great all along the trail and the ice field is amazing.

As a middle-aged, moderately in shape person, I was initially a bit reluctant to follow my sister and brother-in-law who wanted to relive their youth. They had done the trail more than 17 years ago and wanted to see if it had changed. This was by far the hardest and most strenous hike I have ever done. For those of you from the DC area, this is the equivalent of climbing 3 Sugar Loafs on a trail that is like the Billy Goat trail. A lot of 20 or 30-something hikers passed us on the way up, and I was cramping and sweating through a good part of the 4 miles. However, things did get a lot easier once past the shelter cabin. The reward: A terrific sense of accomplishment and views I know most people my age wouldn't be able to see. The sun highlighted the expansive view of the icefield on top, Alaska at its prime. But wait, there's more! On the descent, a herd of more than 15 Mountain Goats crossed in front of us, less than 20 yards away. Then about half a mile from the end, my sister on point almost walked into a black bear eating in the bushes. We backed away and fortunately no need to use our bear spray. We did finish the entire trip just under 8 hours, and that was with a few stops to eat and take photos. The cheapest all-day activity one can do in Seward, and worth the price in sore legs the next 2 days.

it is a strenuous 9 miles round trip hike from visit center to the top, but the rewarding view and animals along the path is worth the effort.we hiked in a rainy day with 2 kids (7 and 9 yrs old). it is not easy but we made it to the top. We saw a herd of mountain goats on the trail. Too bad we didn't see black bears as many others have seen. The close-up glacier view is fantastic. so do the glacier creeks. Unfortunately it was raining when we finally got to the top so that we couldn't see the grand view.It took us about 7 hours round trip - 4 hours up and 3 hours down. We spent lots of time for taking pictures and breaks. so it won't be surprising if someone can make a round trip in 4 hours.

The Harding Ice Field Trail is a moderate to strenuous hike. If you are planning to hike the entire trail, I recommend good hiking boots (the trail had muddy patches, wet rocks and roots, patches of small rocks, patches of snow, and a couple of easy stream crossings) to make it a more pleasant journey. Much of the hike is uphill, so you should expect this hike to take longer than the 8 mile distance would generally lead you to believe. But, with all the logistics and warnings out of the way, let me echo the sentiments of other reviewers: the view from the top is well worth it! I have hiked near/to many glaciers, but the ice field was an extraordinary sight unlike any other I have seen. And the view was made all the more sweet by the fact that the hike was a workout.If you are fit (and equipped) for the hike, you will thoroughly enjoy it!

This is at the other end of the scale when comparing to Exit Glacier. It is a long walk with almost a constant uphill incline. You will need a good 5-6 hours for the whole trip depending how long you spend at the top. Children will find it challenging. Is it worth it ? For us yes. This is one place where you can see the birth of so many glaciers and the icefield is so large that one's camera can't capture it all. On the walk you get to see where the Exit Glacier starts from and with a bit of luck you might get to see some wildlife as well. If you're walking alone we suggest you utilise the facility at the start of the walk where you can sign yourself on and off the walk.

This hike is hard. The guide books said 8 miles, my pedometer read 11.5 miles. You do not need hiking boots or poles but the hike is moderately difficult. It is a long hike uphill but worth it in the end. The last mile up is the easiest. Take plenty of breaks and pace yourself. It took roughly three hours to get up and two to get down. The path gets very crowded later in the day. Leave early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Offer some encouragement to those you see slugging their way up as you make your way down. Ladies there is limited area to take an outside bathroom break! At times the trail is very narrow surrounded by thick vegetation. There is a public bathroom at the bottom. You sweat enough going up, so be sure to bring water. It is quite windy and cold at the top. Bring layers for the last mile or so and a hat helps at the top. Bring a marker so you can sign your name at the emergency shelter. Enjoy the hike!