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kenai fjords virtual tour

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Alerts in effect, where mountains, ice, and ocean meet.

At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate.

Everything you might need to know as you start planning your trip to the park.

Check the Current Conditions and Alerts in the Park

Learn about glacier change at Kenai Fjords National Park through the lens of repeat photography.

Become a Junior Ranger and learn more about the park. No matter your age, we've got a program for you.

Rugged and bountiful. Subtle and dramatic. The wilderness of Kenai Fjords has been homeland for the Sugpiaq people for thousands of years.

Enjoy magnificent scenery along well-maintained paths for all abilities.

Last updated: May 6, 2024

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Beat the Heat with This Immersive Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park

Tours are also available for Hawaii’s Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas.

Kayak in Kenai Fjords National Park

Heat waves and fires throughout the West have left many of us in what seems to be an interminable state of sweat and existential dread. And with travel restrictions implemented due to the spread of COVID-19, escaping these lingering miseries has proven difficult.

Fortunately, there is still one way to break free to a few destinations at the top of your “Places to Go” list.

A partnership between Google Earth and the National Parks Service is bringing the sights and sounds of a few iconic parks that can be enjoyed from the comfort, or presently unbearable heat, of your own home.

The partnership’s immersive tours highlight five stunning parks: Kenai Fjords, Hawaii’s Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas.

With the aforementioned inferno-like conditions , what better example to dive into than Alaska’s Kenai Fjords ? Here you can enjoy guided exploration courtesy of park ranger Fiona North, who begins the tour with a jaunt onto the surface of an expansive glacier.

From there visitors can plunge deep inside one the glacier’s intimidating crevasses, with commentary from North providing unique facts to accompany every visual feature.

Interactive icons are available to click on throughout the tour, like the 12-year timeline that depicts the rapid recession of the end of Exit Glacier, an ice formation North says once retreated an average of 46 feet annually, but has since spiked dramatically.

“It’s been melting about 150 feet per year,” North says in the tour. “At this rate, where will the ice be 10 years from now? How long before it’s not even here at all?”

Virtual visitors can continue the experience with a first-person, 360-degree view from the seat of a kayak. Paddle through a lagoon replete with whale sightings, eerie underwater sounds of shifting icebergs, and crashing walls of glacial formations.

A stunning aerial tour of the area is also included.

Pro tip: Drop an ice pack or three under your shirt to amplify the experience’s sensations.

Once you’ve wrapped up the tour of Kenai Fjords and the four other parks, delve into a separate Google Earth virtual tour with an interactive map and imagery of 31 parks .

kenai fjords virtual tour

Screenshot courtesy of Google Earth

“From the breathtaking vistas of the Shenandoah Valley to the awe-inspiring hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the National Parks allow us to truly experience the natural wonders of our country,” writes Google Earth’s editorial lead Kristin Appenbrink.

“Start with the pink granite formations of Otter Cliff in Maine’s  Acadia National Park , then head west to explore the ancient Pueblo dwellings of  Mesa Verde National Park  in Colorado. Finally, complete your journey with a peek through the North Window arch in Utah’s  Arches National Park .”

Sure, it might not be as awe-inspiring as the real thing, but it’ll sure help you map out future trips when everything returns to normal in 85 years.

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How to Visit a National Park Without Actually Visiting a National Park

Get your fill of the sights and sounds of u.s. national parks even when you’re stuck at home because of coronavirus..

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How to Visit a National Park Without Actually Visiting a National Park

Take a virtual tour of Alaska’s Kenai Fjords with Google Arts & Culture.

Photo by Sekar B/Shutterstock

Now is the time to stay at home to help “ flatten the curve ” of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak spread, but that doesn’t mean you have to have to give up the great outdoors entirely. There are real cognitive benefits to interacting with the natural world , which is why most shelter-in-place orders make exceptions for safe, socially distant outdoor recreation . Of course, for many of us, a stroll around the neighborhood just won’t scratch that nature itch like an invigorating hike in the Great Smokies or Rocky Mountain National Park would.

But as more and more parks close temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re going to have to put our national park camping trips and weekend getaways on hold.

Instead, lace up your virtual hiking boots and get your national park fix online. You can actually reap many of the mental health benefits of nature simply by looking at pictures of it . And with virtual tours, webcams, sound recordings, and multimedia experiences, you can fill your living room with the sights and sounds of the national parks , recreating some incredible park experiences without ever leaving home. Here’s how:

Google Earth offers virtual tours of 113 national park sites, including Wupatki National Monument in Arizona.

Google Earth offers virtual tours of 113 national park sites, including Wupatki National Monument in Arizona.

Photo by Nate Loper/Shutterstock

Take a 360-degree virtual tour

Google Arts & Culture teamed up with the National Park Service to create free, immersive, guided tours through five national parks. The series, The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks , was released in 2016 in honor of the National Park System’s (NPS) centennial celebration and focuses on lesser-known sites, including the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park , Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, Utah’s Bryce Canyon , and Dry Tortugas in Florida.

Each tour features 360-degree photos of different spots in each park with short, one- to two-minute narrations from park rangers. Virtual travelers can spin around to view the area as the rangers relate facts about the flora and fauna and the park history, then they can click on an icon to hop to a different section of the park. Certain spots in each park also include extra 360-degree video experiences, such as a helicopter flyover at Hawaii Volcanoes, a horseback ride through Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos, and snorkeling in the coral reefs of Dry Tortugas.

Click through Google Earth tours

Google has also created 360-degree Google Earth tours of 113 national parks sites , including 31 parks and a number of monuments, historic sites, and seashores. Some of these are popular sites you may have visited or dream of visiting, such as Mount Rushmore or Alcatraz ; others you may never have heard of, including Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado or Wupatki National Monument in Arizona. These tours don’t include recorded narration, but like other Google Earth experiences, you could spend hours—days even!—clicking your way along pathways and spinning around to get full views of the park scenery at the Grand Canyon , Yellowstone National Park , Craters of the Moon National Monument , Canyon de Chelly , Point Reyes National Seashore , Ellis Island , and more.

Get a bird’s-eye view of an eagle nest like this one with a webcam in Channel Islands National Park.

Get a bird’s-eye view of an eagle nest like this one with a webcam in Channel Islands National Park.

Photo by Paul Reeves/Shutterstock

Watch a live webcam

You may not be able to visit Yellowstone, but you can watch Old Faithful erupt from the comfort of your couch. These days, many national parks have webcams set up so that far-flung park lovers can enjoy the views. Some even capture sights that you might never see otherwise, such as the Brooks Falls brown bear webcam in Alaska’s Katmai National Park—at times, we’ve seen around a dozen bears gathering to fish salmon out of the stream! Take in the New York skyline from the Statue of Liberty , admire the cherry blossoms at the National Mall , watch water cascade over Yosemite Falls , spot fish darting in and out of swaying kelp on the Channel Islands National Park ocean webcam , or peek at a bald eagle’s nest .

Listen to nature sounds

Level up your virtual national park experience with soundscapes recorded at some of the NPS sites. You can turn these tunes on while you’re clicking through a virtual tour, or keep them on in the background to create a “work from a park” experience. (Trust us, it makes an overloaded inbox seem so much more manageable.) The National Park Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division maintains a library of park sounds , which includes bird sounds, animal calls, and different natural and wildlife soundscapes. Unfortunately, they’re not curated into a playlist, so you’ll have to click individual tracks to external links to listen to them. But for a quick and easy sample, check out PARKTRACKS , a 12-minute mix that features chirping birds, elk calls, advancing rain, coyote howls, and cicadas singing.

It’s also worth checking out this NPS article about natural sounds recordist Jacob Job’s experience recording five parks for Colorado State University’s Listening Lab . It includes links to recordings he made at each spot, like the dawn chorus at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, screech owls clacking beaks at Sequoia National Park, and coyotes at the rising sun in Yellowstone.

Learn about the science of Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone with the park’s story map.

Learn about the science of Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone with the park’s story map.

Photo by Cheryl Ramalho/Shutterstock

Explore interactive multimedia tours

If virtual tours don’t dive deep enough for you, you may be more satisfied with the topic-specific multimedia tours created by a number of national parks. Through new and historic photos, maps, and blurbs, these interactive tours explore a single place or topic in a national park, such as the Angels Landing hike in Zion or archaeology in the Grand Canyon . Take an “e-cruise” around Acadia National Park , “climb” the Grand Tetons , or wander through Upper Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park.

There is no index of all the NPS multimedia tours, which the organization generally refers to as either virtual tours or sometimes story maps. (Note that occasionally, a “virtual tour” may simply be an in-depth article about a place, like this one about Fort Yellowstone, rather than an interactive experience.) But much in the same way that a great hike or viewpoint is better when you find it yourself, part of the fun of these tours is stumbling on them while exploring individual park websites.

Photos in the National Parks Conservation Association’s new book offer fresh perspectives on favorite places.

Photos in the National Parks Conservation Association’s new book offer fresh perspectives on favorite places.

Photo by Art Wolfe

Get lost in a photo book

One of the great advantages of visiting a national park is that it often allows you (or forces you, depending on cell reception) to unplug. Recapture that feeling by shutting down the virtual tours and cracking open in a nature-focused book. Last fall, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) released a gorgeous photo book in honor of its centennial anniversary (the NPCA was founded the year after the NPS).

National Parks Conservation Association: A Century of Impact is a mix of landscape photography and multi-page spreads that pair historical images with the untold histories of people, who, over the years and across the country, have stood up to help protect places like Glacier National Park and Stonewall National Monument. Learn about Mary Stoneman Douglas, the journalist and champion of the Everglades who, in the 1960s, actively fought encroachment of business into what she called a “river of grass.” Or Minerva Hoyt, the Southern belle who founded the International Deserts Conservation League and worked to establish Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936. (It is now a national park.)

Because many shipping services, including Amazon, are experiencing delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, don’t expect to opt for two-day shipping on this one, but for true park nerds and history buffs, this beauty is worth the wait.

Buy now: $32, amazon.com ; $50, barnesandnoble.com

Products we write about are independently vetted and recommended by our editors. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links.

>> Next: 10 Virtual Travel Ideas That Will Transport You to Another Place

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kenai fjords virtual tour

17 national parks you can take virtual tours to

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Recently updated on May 1st, 2020 at 05:38 pm

Bored of lockdown strolls at your local park? Why not take it up a notch by hiking to Everest, scaling El Capitan, or walking the sand dunes of Namibia, the glaciers Patagonia and the trails of the Grand Canyon? With dozens of the world’s best national parks offering interactive tours online, you can now go exploring in your pyjamas! Here are our top 17 national parks you can discover with a virtual tour.

1. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentinian Patagonia

perito moreno glacier patagonia argentina

If you’re looking for incredible wilderness, it’s got to be Patagonia. The region stretches over Chile and Argentina and is filled with natural wonders, like the Perito Moreno Glacier of Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. Covering 250 km2, it’s big – and getting bigger !

Check out these interactive images on 360cities to get an insight into the sheer scale and dazzling blue of the glacier. Then watch this immersive video of the landscapes beyond the glacier with beautiful rivers, rainbows and a pack of guanacos. 

RELATED CONTENT: These are the places our Trafalgar team are dreaming of visiting right now

2. Grand Canyon National Park, USA

red rocks south rim grand canyon united states

At 445,000 kilometres in length, 1,857 metres deep, and with rocks dating back around two billion years ago, it’s easy to see how the Grand Canyon got its name. You can hike along the Bright Angel Trail along the Colorado River to the South Rim all from your home with Google Street View Trek .

Explore even more with Google Earth view where you can see iconic sights like Angels Window or Wontons Throne. If you’re after a bird’s eye view, head to AirPano , a VR project offering 360-degree images of the beautiful Red Rocks.

3. Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

blue imja river himalayas everest south base camp nepal

Few people can say they’ve scaled Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, but now you virtually can when you visit Sagarmatha National Park, all from the comfort of your lounge. Go e-exploring at an altitude of 5,380 metres, with interactive 360-degree views of Everest’s south base camp in Nepal.

You can see the towering 8,848-metre summit and more of the Himalayas with this interactive map and if you click on the human-shaped icon, you can explore more of the mountain range below. Click on the blue dots for close-up views of mountain villages, colourful prayer flags, and the stunning Imja River. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the base camp and river with the 360-degree images at AirPano .

4. Abisko National Park, Sweden

green northern lights abisko national park sweden

Seeing the aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights, is on almost everyone’s travel bucket list. These mystical lights can only be seen in countries at high northern latitudes, like Canada, Iceland, Russia and Scandinavia. But you don’t have to travel too far to catch them.

Head to the Norwegian Lights over Lapland project for a five-minute journey through a 360-degree video. You’ll start in Abisko National Park in Sweden and travel through Arctic birch forest and Lake Torneträsk on a reindeer sleigh, before stopping at a wooden Sami hut near Mount Nuolja. You’ll then watch an amazing time-lapse video of the dancing green streaks and arcs of the Northern Lights.

5. Kenai Fjords National Park, USA

glacier kenai fjords national park alaska united states

Take a virtual tour through the beautiful fjords, icebergs and glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. It’s got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and luckily for us, they’ve taken their national park online. Dive through an icy crevasse, kayak past glittering icebergs and marvel at the sweeping views of the fjords. You can even see how a glacier melts and learn about the effects of climate change on this region. 

lake mountains denali national park alaska united states

For more Alaskan viewing, check out the Nationals Parks service virtual tour of Denali National Park or visit Denali through Google Earth . The park covers six million acres of wilderness, including the spectacular Savage River and Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

RELATED CONTENT: 47 ways you can keep your love of travel alive without leaving the house

6. Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

red sand dunes namib desert sossusvlei namibia

Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia is home to the famous red sand dunes of the Namib. It’s the oldest desert in the world, dating back 80 million years ago. It’s also one of the most remote places on earth, but you’ll have it all in the palm of your hands with these interactive 360-degree images by AirPano . You’ll see some of the largest dunes in the iconic Sossusvlei area, including Dune 7 at 338 metres, Big Daddy at 325 metres and Big Mamma at 198 metres. Don’t forget to check out the spectacular Deadvlei and a starlit sky showing the Milky Way. Simply stunning!

7. Yosemite National Park, USA

forest river el capitan yosemite united states

Yosemite is one of the most famous and most beautiful national parks in the United States. It’s home to the Sierra Nevada mountains, gorgeous meadows, rushing rivers, magical forests, and the iconic El Capitan, a 900-metre tall vertical cliff face.

You can scale El Capitan with US climber Lynn Hill, the first person to free climb the route in 1993. Learn about the skills and techniques as you make your way to the top… just don’t look down! Once you’ve finished your climb, you can explore more of Yosemite with these 360-degree images . Don’t forget to check out Bridalveil Fall, Ahwahnee Meadow and Yosemite Falls!

8. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

uluru red sunset australia

Uluru is the largest rock monolith in the world and you can take an interactive tour with 360-degree visuals and audio clips around this incredible place. You’ll hear the desert birdsong, discover important sites and listen to the traditional owners sharing stories and cultural knowledge. 

pelicans marshland Kakadu national park australia

If you want to see more beautiful Australian terrain, check out these 360-degree views of Kakadu National Park . Cruise along Twin Falls gorge, take a virtual dip at Gunlom and marvel at the rock art of Ubirr.

9. Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

basalt columns giant's causeway northern ireland

The National Trust of the UK protects thousands of hectares of nature reserves and historic landscapes. You can explore some of the most iconic sights like the stunning Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Take this virtual tour to see more than 40,000 geometric, interlocking basalt columns.

Legend says they were made by giants as a stairway to Scotland, while scientists believe they were formed by lava flowing into the sea 60 million years ago. However they originated, you’ll marvel at views from Aird Snout Headland and the bay of Port Noffer. You can even get a bird’s eye view of the Carrick A Rede trail with these incredible images from AirPano .

RELATED CONTENT: How it was formed, and other fascinating Giant’s Causeway facts

10. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

misty forested pillars Zhangjiajie China

One of China’s most famous national parks can now be visited online. You’ll likely recognise this one from James Cameron’s Avatar film as the mystical quartz-sandstone pillars were used as inspiration for the floating peaks of the Hallelujah Mountains. We’re sure you’ll be equally inspired as you fly around the soaring columns on this interactive video tour and marvel at these beautiful 360-degree images from the sky . You can also explore the park’s ancient temple from 870AD and the Bailong glass elevator, the world’s longest and highest glass bridge, through these 360-degree images .

11. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA

volcano eruption hawai'i volcanoes national park

Ever wanted to see an active volcano? Now you can, since the Hawai’i’ Volcanoes National Park is now online with this virtual tour . Fly over an active volcano, marvel at the volcanic coastal cliffs, and see the effects of a 1959 volcanic eruption. You can even take a look at the Nāhuku Lava Tube, a cave which drains lava during a volcanic eruption.

12. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

cave Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Vietnam

Online national parks tours don’t get much better than this. You can virtually wander through Hang Sơn Đoòng, the world’s largest cave located in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It was first explored by scientists in 2009 after it was discovered by a local man in 1991.

National Geographic created the Sơn Đoòng 360 project to preserve the cave before it potentially becomes overrun with tourism development. You can see it in all its glory with this trek, complete with 360-degree images and atmospheric sound effects. Pass the 70-metre tall Hand of Dog stalagmite and stroll through huge sinkhole jungles. Don’t forget to zoom in on the cave to spot hidden plants and animals.

13. Yellowstone National Park, USA

old faithful geyser yellowstone united states

Lace up your virtual walking boots and get your US national park fix online with this virtual tour of Yellowstone. Not only does the park have the title of the first national park in the world (established on 1 March 1872), but it’s also home to some of the world’s greatest natural wonders. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the iconic eruption of the Old Faithful geyser.

RELATED CONTENT: That longing for the great outdoors you’re feeling right now has a name – it’s called ‘fernweh’

14. Stonehenge Landscape, England

sunrise at stonehenge england

The Stonehenge World Heritage Site has mystified people for decades and is a protected archaeological site under the National Trust. You can scratch your head in amazement and learn more about the secrets of Stonehenge with this interactive tour . There’s also Google Street Views , where you’ll get a 360-degree look inside the famous stone circle.

15. Dry Tortugas National Park, USA

sandy beaches blue waters Dry Tortugas Florida United States

You can travel underwater in a national park online! This virtual tour of Dry Tortugas National Park takes you off the coast of Florida and you’ll get to explore protected beaches and 19th-century Fort Jefferson. Watch for sea turtles at Loggerhead Key and explore the wreck of Windjammer near Loggerhead Reef. You can even virtually swim through the third-largest coral reef in the world. Who says you can’t get tropical when on lockdown?

16. Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

elephants mount kilimanjaro tanzania

Did you know you can conquer the highest peak in Africa without even breaking a sweat? Head to Google Street View to get all the spectacular views from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. 

views from mount elbrus russia

While you’re there, you can scale other massive mountains, like Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. There’s also Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. This virtual tour of Elbrus in Russia’s Prielbrusye National Park will have you feeling like you’re actually on top of this snowy mountain!

17. Crater Lake National Park, USA

crater lake national park united states

You’ll find the deepest lake in the US at Crater Lake National Park and you can do it all online. This video tour was produced by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. It features 360-degree views over the massive Crater Lake, the sunrise over Garfield Peak and Phantom Ship, an ancient rock formation. 

Have you visited any national parks online? Let us know in the comments below!

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How to Explore National Parks With Virtual Tours

Virtual tours of national parks are providing a valuable service.

kenai fjords virtual tour

  • University of Georgia

Google Arts & Culture)

  • Conservation

"The mountains are calling and I must go," conservationist John Muir famously wrote in 1873. Many people can relate to feeling beckoned by nature, although for various reasons we can't always heed the call as quickly as we'd like. Fortunately, it's increasingly possible to tide ourselves over by calling the mountains to us.

Over the past year, it has been a bad time to congregate in crowds. It may be OK to get outside by walking around your neighborhood or visiting a nearby park, but only if lots of other people aren't doing the same thing at the same time. That has been the problem lately at some U.S. national parks, which have reportedly become even more crowded , despite widespread calls to stay home as much as possible.

Some national parks were closed in response, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Great Smoky Mountains; some have now reopened with limited services. This probably isn't the best time for most people to visit national parks anyway, especially popular ones.

At the same time, however, national parks offer valuable health benefits that could be particularly useful right now. Spending time in forests and other natural settings, for example, can improve mental and physical health in several ways, including reduced anxiety and depression, while the dramatic scenery in many parks can also help us experience awe, which may also boost our overall well-being.

And while virtual tours are obviously no substitute for actually being there, they do offer a compromise that lets us explore national parks from afar. That can help with planning future visits, but it's also turning out to be a nice resource to have when you're hunkering down at home.

Hidden Worlds

Virtual tours of national parks have been around for a while, but they've become deeper and more immersive over time. In one option, " The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks " by Google Arts & Culture, viewers are swept away to five different national parks, where they can explore the unique landscapes in multiple ways. The result is an "incredible lifelike journey," as Krista Karlson writes for the Sierra Club , and "an important reminder that the world is still beautiful and wonderful and weird, even in uncertain times."

Google Earth also has simpler virtual tours for 31 U.S. national parks , and while those are worth seeing, too, they aren't as immersive as the new Hidden Worlds project, which takes a deeper dive into five parks: Alaska's Kenai Fjords, Hawaii Volcanoes, New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns, Utah's Bryce Canyon and Florida's Dry Tortugas.

At each park, the Hidden Worlds tour opens with a video that introduces us to the park and to a ranger who will serve as our guide. That's followed by a series of interactive 360-degree videos, in which we can look around the landscape while our ranger provides context about what we're seeing. Again, this may not compare with physically being there, but these videos still create a compelling and surprisingly realistic experience, especially if you've spent the last couple weeks cooped up indoors with few glimpses of natural splendor.

You can drop underground in a Hawaiian lava tube, climb down a glacier crevasse in Kenai Fjords or swim through a coral reef in Dry Tortugas, learning details about these otherworldly places as you gaze around. Additional videos let you explore even further, and thanks to the ongoing commentary from your guide (which can be paused if you want), that makes these tours educational as well as meditative. This is an "information-heavy" experience, as Karlson puts it, and could be useful infotainment for kids while schools are closed. Yet it's also a potentially valuable resource for almost anyone, both teaching us about these priceless places and helping lift our spirits while we're stuck at home.

Other Options

As mentioned above, Google Earth already lets us explore 31 U.S. national parks with virtual tours, which are less flashy and more self-guided than the Hidden Worlds tours, but still teeming with interesting details and captivating views. They include many of the country's most iconic parks, zooming in from a satellite view to let users explore famous attractions like the Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Trail, Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring, and Yosemite's El Capitan and Half Dome.

There are also a few other ways to virtually visit certain national parks. The relatively new Virtual Yosemite , for one, launched in 2019 with high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic views from more than 200 locations throughout the park.

You can also take online tours from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) itself, typically on the official websites of certain parks. These tend to be much simpler than many virtual tours, often featuring a collection of photos, videos, maps and educational materials rather than slick interactive experiences, but some also cover lesser-known aspects of the parks, with unique images and information. On the Yellowstone National Park website, for example, you can find virtual tours of attractions like Fort Yellowstone, Fountain Paint Pot, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs, among others, as well as a scrolling "story map" about the park's Upper Geyser Basin.

The NPS offers webcams for many parks, too, letting people all over the world check in for views of current conditions at specific sites and vistas.

None of this may quench our thirst for freedom and wilderness, but as long as we're stuck at home, it's at least nice to briefly lose ourselves in these virtual replicas. They can help calm and entertain us during anxious times, but they also serve as valuable reminders that natural wonders are still out there waiting for us — and eventually, one day, we'll be able to answer their call.

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Major Marine Tours

Kenai Fjords Cruises

About our kenai fjords cruises.

For over 30 years, Major Marine Tours has been showing our guests Alaska’s towering glaciers, abundant marine wildlife, and stunning scenery on our world-class Kenai Fjords cruises. Surrounded by steep mountain walls and glacier-carved fjords, Kenai Fjords National Park provides the perfect habitat for Steller sea lions, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, mountain goats, bald eagles, puffins, and a vast number of seabirds. Our Kenai Fjords National Park cruises offer some of the best whale watching opportunities in Alaska, with chances of seeing humpback whales, orca whales, gray whales, fin whales, and minke whales.

We offer multiple cruise options departing from the beautiful harbor town of Seward, Alaska. We have something for everyone, from half-day cruises perfect for families to full-day small vessel adventure cruises ideal for photographers and birders. Our Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise was voted most popular attraction in Alaska by TripAdvisor in 2018, and we were named one of the top 10 boat tours in North America by the USA Today Reader’s Choice Award in 2020!

8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise

MAY 31 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

ADULT PRICE: $289.00 Cruise not suitable for children under 12.

7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

MAY 24 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

ADULT PRICE: $239.00 CHILD PRICE $119.50

6 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

MAY 4 – SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

ADULT PRICE: $219.00 CHILD PRICE $109.50

4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise

JUNE 17 – OCTOBER 13, 2024

ADULT PRICE: $139.00 CHILD PRICE: $69.50

Orca Quest Cruise

MAY 12 – JUNE 15, 2025

ADULT PRICE: $145.00 CHILD PRICE $72.50

Spring Wildlife Cruise

MARCH 8 – MAY 11, 2025

ADULT PRICE: $115.00 CHILD PRICE $57.50

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  • National Parks

With more than 60 national parks, plus hundreds of national monuments, seashores, preserves, battlefields, and more, our National Park System offers visitors more than 85 million acres of beautiful, protected public land. History buffs, nature enthusiasts, extreme sportspeople, and laid-back campers alike can find fun, tranquility, and unbelievable scenery, from Yellowstone's geysers and springs to the Everglades' gator-filled swamps. Iconic outdoor destinations like Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Grand Canyon are justifiably popular, but there are many lesser-known sites to discover, both in the U.S. and abroad.

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For inquiries or to book by phone, call

1.888.478.3346

  • 4 hr. Spring Resurrection Bay Tour
  • 5 hr. Resurrection Bay Tour with Fox Island
  • 5.5 hr. Glacier Dinner Cruise
  • 6 hr. Kenai Fjords National Park Tour
  • 8 hr. Northwestern Fjord Tour
  • 8.5 hr. National Park Tour with Fox Island
  • Fox Island History
  • Room with a Cruise
  • Private Charters

Boat with glacier in the background

A day full of wildlife spotting, iconic landscapes and unbeatable destination dining

Hoping to see all you can during your once-in-a-lifetime visit to coastal Alaska? This is the cruise for you. 

Combining two beloved locations, this 8.5-hour tour offers an incredible day of adventure. Enjoy a fully guided, interpretive cruise through Resurrection Bay and into Kenai Fjords National Park. With the most time on the water, you’ll see tidewater glaciers and rugged shoreside scenery while increasing your opportunities to spot whales, puffins, otters, sea lions and more. Enjoy lunch on board and dinner at the beautiful Fox Island.   .

kenai fjords virtual tour

*Vegetarian and gluten-free items are available upon request. Meal options may vary and are subject to change without notice.

Lock in the best rate when you book in advance Ages 2 and under cruise free Cancel up to 4 days before your trip for a full refund

For inquiries or to book by phone: 1.888.478.3346

2024 Tour Dates: May 18 – August 25

Kenai Fjords Tours Frequently Asked Questions

tripadvisor

Spot more of the iconic creatures that live here. This tour offers ample opportunities for your captain to point out our friendly neighbors — including seabirds, whales, puffins, otters, sea lions and more.

Disembark at Fox Island and enjoy dinner in the heart of Resurrection Bay. This remote island’s untouched beauty will leave you in awe — and the prime rib dinner is sure to leave you full.

These huge glaciers bring visitors to the Kenai Fjords from far and wide. See either the Aialik Glacier or Holgate Glacier and spot other remarkable seaside landscapes on your exclusive journey.

Lunch and dinner are included. Enjoy a hot southwest chicken burrito on board for lunch and a prime rib dinner during your exclusive Fox Island stop. *Vegetarian and gluten-free items are available upon request. Meal options may vary and are subject to change without notice.

Map Image

I had an incredible tour with Kenai Fjords Tours as I did the National Park Tour with Fox Island! We saw a lot of wildlife: sea otters, puffins, humpback whales, orcas, seals, sea lions and bald eagles! The glacier views were incredible! The food is included which is a good burrito and food on Fox Island! Highly recommend.

Travel and Leisure

The six-hour tour of the Kenai Fjords National Park was dazzling in a whole new way.

TripAdvisor

Great tour. Crew was amazing, accommodating, and helpful! Saw lots of orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, otters, bald eagles, puffins and big chunks of ice falling off the glacier! Captain was great at pointing things out and very knowledgeable.

The Washington Post

Nothing could have prepared me for the sensory stimulation of this six-hour adventure.

We did the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour with Dinner on Fox Island and had a lot of fun! It was exciting to see the glaciers, and a bunch of wildlife. Crew was also extremely helpful and accommodating.

I booked the (Glacier) dinner cruise and am so happy that we did because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We saw everything from mountain goats to orcas, breaching humpback whales, sea lions, and glaciers. The captain of the tour was awesome.

Stories from Kenai Fjords

The #kenaifjordstours experience.

Connect with @KenaiFjordsTours on       

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IMAGES

  1. Kenai Fjords Virtual Tour

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  2. Exit Glacier Virtual Tour

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  3. How to Take a Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park

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  4. How to Take a Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park

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  5. Virtual Tour

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  6. Beat the Heat with This Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park

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VIDEO

  1. Kenai Fjords National Park Boat Ride

  2. Boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, USA

  3. Kenai Fjords Tour

  4. Kenai Fjords Cruise

  5. Kenai Fjords National Park

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COMMENTS

  1. Kenai Fjords Virtual Tour

    Explore Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska!For more 360 videos of Alaska, checkout our playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-hr3xIvMIMVkmcinUVZVrmm...

  2. Day Trip to Kenai Fjords National Park

    A visit to Kenai Fjords is an encapsulation of what Alaska is all about - big, wild, rugged and beautiful. This virtual video tour takes you on a day cruise...

  3. Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    Where Mountains, Ice, and Ocean Meet. At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the ...

  4. Beat the Heat with This Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park

    A stunning aerial tour of the area is also included. Pro tip: Drop an ice pack or three under your shirt to amplify the experience's sensations. Once you've wrapped up the tour of Kenai Fjords and the four other parks, delve into a separate Google Earth virtual tour with an interactive map and imagery of 31 parks.

  5. Exit Glacier Virtual Tour

    Explore Exit Glacier, part of Kenai Fjords National Park, outside of Seward Alaska!For more 360 videos of Alaska, checkout our playlist:https://youtube.com/p...

  6. Kenai Fjords Tours

    Lock in the best rate when you book online and in advance. Ages 2 and under cruise free. Cancel up to 4 days before your trip for a full refund. For inquiries or to book by phone: 1.888.478.3346. 2024 Tour Dates: March 14 - September 29, 2024. Kenai Fjords Tours Frequently Asked Questions.

  7. How to Take a Virtual Tour of the U.S. National Parks

    Take a virtual tour of Alaska's Kenai Fjords with Google Arts & Culture. Photo by Sekar B/Shutterstock Now is the time to stay at home to help " flatten the curve " of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak spread, but that doesn't mean you have to have to give up the great outdoors entirely.

  8. Admire the breathtaking beauty of Alaska through this virtual tour

    The virtual tour of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska presents users with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the icy elements on an epic online adventure. The tour is guided by park ranger Fiona North as she takes users to see a glacier up close and personal and journey 30 feet below into the inside of an icy crevasse. While it ...

  9. Virtual Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska

    This month, let's visit Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. This park is not accessible during the winter, but is home to nearly 40 glaciers. ... The virtual tour is narrated as if you had your own personal tour guide! Click on the below link and press play. Click each circled captions to visit in depth tours.

  10. National Parks You Can Visit Virtually

    Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. This virtual tour lets you explore glaciers, fjords, and icebergs located in the Alaskan wilderness. Descend into an icy crevasse, kayak through majestic ...

  11. Kenai Fjords National Park Tour

    Cancel up to 4 days before your trip for a full refund. For inquiries or to book by phone: 1.888.478.3346. 2024 Tour Dates: May 4 - September 29, 2024. Tickets & Pricing. 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award. Kenai Fords Tours | National Park Tour. Watch on.

  12. 17 national parks you can take virtual tours to

    5. Kenai Fjords National Park, USA. Take a virtual tour through the beautiful fjords, icebergs and glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. It's got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and luckily for us, they've taken their national park online.

  13. Kenai Fjords National Park Tours from Seward

    Seward, Alaska is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park! There are two primary ways to access the park. On the Water: Kenai Fjords. This is how you get out into the fjords. Many visitors are short on time, so the quickest, easiest way to gain access to the park is a day cruise. These tours range 5-8 hours and get you out to see the ...

  14. Wildlife & Whale Watching; Inside the Kenai Fjords Tours Experience

    Kenai Fjords Tours operates the largest day cruise fleet in Southcentral Alaska, including three custom-built, 82.5-foot catamarans: the M/V Aialik Voyager, the M/V Orca Voyager and the newest vessel in the fleet christened in 2015—the M/V Callisto Voyager. Designed for wildlife and glacier viewing, a smooth ride, environmental friendliness ...

  15. How to Explore National Parks With Virtual Tours

    Google Earth offers virtual tours of 31 U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone. Google Earth. As mentioned above, Google Earth already lets us explore 31 U.S. national parks with virtual tours ...

  16. All Kenai Fjords Cruises

    7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise. Dates. MAY 24 - SEPTEMBER 8, 2024. Price. ADULT PRICE: $239.00 CHILD PRICE $119.50. Visit an active tidewater glacier and discover the whales and abundant wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park. This is the best option for those interested in booking same-day transportation packages from Anchorage.

  17. The 17 Best Kenai Fjords National Park Cruises from Seward (2024)

    Seacor Tours - Seacor is another smaller Kenai Fjords National Park cruise operator based in Seward. They sail on the M/V Outright, an aluminum catamaran that can fit up to 30 passengers. This makes for an intimate experience. They offer just one set cruise itinerary, a 6.5-hour Wildlife & Glacier Tour.

  18. Kenai Fjords Tours

    Northwestern Fjords Tour, 8 hours. Home to three tidewater glaciers, the Northwestern Fjord is unlike anywhere else on earth. Watch for wildlife at every turn, and get so close to the glaciers you can almost touch them on this fully-narrated full-day cruise. Seabird rookeries dot the islands and alpine glaciers cover the horizon.

  19. National Parks

    National Parks. With more than 60 national parks, plus hundreds of national monuments, seashores, preserves, battlefields, and more, our National Park System offers visitors more than 85 million ...

  20. Travel Deep Into Kenai Fjords With the Northwestern Fjord Tour

    Ages 2 and under cruise free. Cancel up to 4 days before your trip for a full refund. For inquiries or to book by phone: 1.888.478.3346. 2024 Tour Dates: May 25 - August 25. Kenai Fjords Tours Frequently Asked Questions. Tickets & Pricing.

  21. Kenai Fjords National Park Tour Cruise with Dinner on Fox Island

    Lunch and dinner are included. Enjoy a southwest chicken burrito on board for lunch and a prime rib dinner during your exclusive Fox Island stop.*. 8.5 hour tour departing at 10 a.m. Please arrive one hour before your departure time. *Vegetarian and gluten-free items are available upon request. Meal options may vary and are subject to change ...

  22. Best boat tours out of Seward? : r/alaska

    If you want a smaller boat and more custom experience, look up Seward Ocean Excursions. Major Marine and Kenai Fjords Tours both do a perfectly adequate job. You'll probably have a good time with either. I did both the 8.5 hour and 7 hour major marine tour! Highly recommend!