Kenai Fjords National Park is a National Park in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Kenai Fjords
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Kenai Fjords. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Glaciers (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Kenai Fjords the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 36° (NE) at the June solstice and 140° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 325° (NW) in June to 220° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 54° in summer but only 7° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:47 AM | 11:20 AM | 3:01 PM | 4:34 PM | 227° | 6h 47m |
| February | 8:38 AM | 9:42 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:53 PM | 246° | 9h 14m |
| March | 8:18 AM | 9:13 AM | 7:08 PM | 8:03 PM | 268° | 11h 45m |
| April | 6:44 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:18 PM | 292° | 14h 33m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 6:31 AM | 9:25 PM | 10:31 PM | 312° | 17h 07m |
| June | 4:39 AM | 5:58 AM | 10:06 PM | 11:24 PM | 325° | 18h 45m |
| July | 5:07 AM | 6:19 AM | 9:55 PM | 11:07 PM | 319° | 18h 00m |
| August | 6:17 AM | 7:17 AM | 8:55 PM | 9:55 PM | 301° | 15h 38m |
| September | 7:30 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:23 PM | 277° | 12h 54m |
| October | 8:40 AM | 9:39 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:53 PM | 254° | 10h 13m |
| November | 8:58 AM | 10:17 AM | 3:15 PM | 4:34 PM | 233° | 7h 35m |
| December | 9:57 AM | 11:57 AM | 1:56 PM | 3:56 PM | 221° | 5h 59m |
Computed for the park's reference point (59.8180, -150.1065); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| May | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| June | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| July | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| August | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in Kenai Fjords is difficult to predict and can change rapidly. The area generally enjoys a relatively temperate maritime climate, primarily due to the influence of warmer ocean currents that flows through the Gulf of Alaska. Summer daytime temperatures range from the mid 40s°F to the low 70s°F. Overcast and cool rainy days are frequent. Winter temperatures can range from the low 30s°F to -20°F.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 72% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (80%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Kenai Fjords National Park is located just outside the town of Seward in south-central Alaska, 126 miles south of Anchorage. Even though the park is often inaccessible during the winter months, Seward is accessible year-round via the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway. Follow the Seward Highway (AK-1) south from Anchorage. It will become AK-9 around mile 35 (87 miles from Anchorage) with AK-1 heading to Homer and Kenai. Continue on AK-9 to Seward.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Ice Climbing
- Dog Sledding
- Fishing
- Food
- Flying
- Helicopter Flying
- Fixed Wing Flying
- Guided Tours
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
