Top of the Cliffs

Top of the Cliffs is a named viewpoint about 2.4 miles up the Harding Icefield Trail from the Exit Glacier area. It is one of the first places where the Harding Icefield and the rocky nunataks rising through it come into view. If you don't want to hike all the way to the trail's end, this is a natural lunch stop and turnaround. Allow 4 to 6 hours for the round trip to here.

From the overlook, Exit Glacier lies below the broader icefield horizon. The isolated rock peaks poking through the ice are called nunataks. They break up the sweep of snow and help you read the scale of the landscape; this is the kind of view that makes the climb feel worth continuing past the valley floor.

The last stretch from Marmot Meadows is roughly a mile and the steepest part of the trail, with many switchbacks. Earlier, the path winds through cottonwood and alder forest, then heather meadows, before rising above tree line. Stay on the path: alpine plants are fragile, and cutting switchbacks adds to erosion.

The full Harding Icefield Trail is a strenuous 7.8-mile round trip that takes at least 6 to 8 hours; Top of the Cliffs is a shorter turnaround, but still a substantial hike. Snow often covers the upper trail through early July, and avalanche danger is possible, so check trail conditions before setting out. Storms, high winds, strong sun and quick temperature changes are all possible up high. There are no toilet facilities along the trail, and pets aren't allowed on park trails.

For a photo, keep a little of the rocky overlook or alpine slope in the foreground with Exit Glacier and the icefield beyond. That bit of ground gives the ice a sense of scale and makes the view feel like a place you reached on foot.