The Chugach Mountains Chugach National Forest , the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge , and the state of Alaska have provided a network of trails in the Chugach and Kenai Mountains for those of the backpacking persuasion who prefer to tread the beaten path. Trails from the fringes of Anchorage ascend steeply into the high country of Chugach State Park, sparing users the effort of bushwhacking through the lower elevations on their way to the alpine tundra. Not much has changed in 100 years, and thus bushwhacking is not recommended in this area. Vicinity Although Kenai Fjords National Park is most easily accessed by boat, there are some opportunities for those of us who are limited to shoe leather as a means of transportation. The Exit Glacier area features day hikes of varying intensity, most notably the Harding Icefield trail, which runs beside Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield.
Major crevasses are well marked on topographic maps and can be avoided if some care is taken.
The park has its headquarters just outside of Seward, which is a four hour drive from Anchorage. Seward has outlets for camping and fishing gear, as well as full-service grocery stores. Near Seward, primitive, unmaintained trails run west up Mount Marathon, a strenuous day hike that rewards the successful with a sweeping view of Resurrection Bay. Another trail runs southward along the bayshore, eventually reaching the old World War II coastal defense installation on Caines Head, a popular destination for backpackers. In the park, there is an extensive and well-maintained trail system around Halibut Cove, featuring trails that access spectacular glaciers, climb high onto alpine ridges and mountaintops, and wind along forested coves.