Kenai Fjords alerts

Herman Leirer Road, the only road access into Kenai Fjords National Park, is currently closed to automobile traffic.

• State and federal agencies close the road to cars seasonally, around November through May, allowing winter recreation when conditions permit.
• Beyond the first closed gate, the Exit Glacier Area is another 7 miles (11.5 km) away; the Exit Glacier Overlook is 1 additional mile beyond the area.

Check current road and park conditions and plan for winter access before traveling.

The canyon from Exit Glacier’s toe to where Exit Creek opens into the Outwash Plain is closed; stay on designated park trails.

• Unpredictable outburst floods caused by hydrology within the glacier—not prevailing weather—can happen at any time and send sudden surges of water, large ice chunks, rock, and debris through the canyon; designated trails do not cross these flood-susceptible areas.
• The entire Outwash Plain is susceptible to flooding, and water levels can rise quickly. Watch your surroundings and seek high ground immediately if water levels begin to rise.

Check current park conditions before setting out.

Entry into the prohibited ice-fall hazard zone at Aialik Glacier’s terminus is not allowed.

• Unstable ice can fall in blocks or columns; collapsing and breaking ice can generate localized tsunami waves that wash over newly deglaciated and nearby beaches, causing severe injury or death.

Check current park conditions before visiting.

Snowmachine access to the Exit Glacier Area is currently closed; do not ride into the area.

• Snowmachine use is permitted only after the superintendent determines that snow cover is adequate to support use without damaging vegetation, soils, or wildlife habitat; the determination considers snow depth, snow structure, and vegetation characteristics.

Check current park conditions and review snowmachine regulations before traveling.