Perhaps one of the most spectacular day hikes of all time is the hike up Exit Glacier to the Harding Ice Field located in Seward, Alaska on the breathtaking Kenai Peninsula. Stretching as far as the eye can see for over 700 square miles, the Harding Icefield is one of the four major ice caps in the United States and is the crown jewel of the Kenai Fjords National Park.

To be able to hike to its edge and see the massive sheet of sparkling ice dating back to the last major Ice Age emotionally and physically takes your breath away, and is an unforgettable experience. It is listed as a demanding, strenuous hike but in my opinion, is worth the sore knees and racing heartbeat to receive such an incredible gift at the end.

The 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail is a spectacular day hike leaving from the Exit Glacier Area. Starting on the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes though heather-filled meadows and ultimately climbs well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Icefield. The top of the trail is a window to past ice ages – a horizon of ice and snow that stretches as far as the eye can see, broken only by an occasional nunatak, or lonely peak.

-US National Parks

My 16-year-old daughter looking out at the icefield in awe and wonder.