How to Elope in Kenai Fjords National Park

Planning a Kenai Fjords National Park Elopement

Eloping in the Kenai Fjords National Park is to have the ultimate adventure elopement experience. This guide will help you get started on planning your dream day in Alaska! Learn everything you need to know about how to plan a Kenai Fjords National Park elopement, and about the cozy town of Seward.

The Kenai Fjords National Park is undoubtedly one of the top parks everyone should visit in their lifetime. Making it all the more desirable for an elopement experience! The stunning mountain views from Resurrection Bay will take your breath away. You’ll love the charming small town vibes of Seward. The glaciers and waterfalls will amaze you. And, you’ll see a plethora of wildlife from humpback whales, orcas, bears, sea otters, moose, and more. You can experience the Kenai Fjords from land, sea, or air – and have an incredible elopement day no matter what you choose!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Kenai Fjords NP Special Use Permits
• Best Spots in Kenai Fjords NP
• Where to Stay
• What to do Here
• Where to Eat
• Best Time of Year to Elope Here
• How to Obtain Your Marriage License
• Finding Vendors

Kenai Fjords National Park Elopement Permits

To begin planning a Kenai Fjords National Park elopement, you’ll need a special use permit. The best way to find out the most up to date info about special use permits is to check the NPS website for Kenai Fjords NP, and contact them if you have any additional questions. The permit fee is $100 and application must be turned in at least 2 weeks in advance to the park building in Seward.

Leave No Trace

It’s important to note that there are several rules to follow when you elope outdoors, especially as a permit holder in a national park. Failure to follow rules can result in fines. These rules generally follow the same principles of Leave No Trace. You can learn more about LNT here.

Kenai Fjords NP Contact Info:

• 907 318-2040 (Special Use Coordinator)
• Email link available on their NPS webpage

Best Spots for Your Ceremony & Photos within Kenai Fjords

The Kenai Fjords National Park consists of ~670,000 acres. This includes the massive Harding Icefield that feeds 40+ glaciers over roughly 700 miles – as well as the Chugach Mountains, tidewater glaciers, and of course, the stunning fjords that shape Resurrection Bay. There’s a plethora of options to choose your scenery for elopement day. You can pick multiple for an epic multi-day adventure, or focus on your favorite choice. Many areas of the park must be accessed by boat or helicopter, which can add such a fun and unique experience to your elopement day!

• Boat/helicopter tour to a private beach surrounded by the fjords
• Helicopter tour up to the Harding Icefield and mountains
• Boat/kayak trip to a waterfall
• Hike from Exit Glacier to Harding Icefield

Where to Stay During Your Kenai Fjords Elopement

It’s important to book lodging as soon as you can when you begin planning your Kenai Fjords National Park elopement. The best lodgings can go quickly, especially in the summer months. You can stay in downtown Seward by the Bay, a cabin on the beach, secluded in the Alaskan rainforests, or even out in the ocean at private cabins only accessed by boat! Some of my favorites:

• Orca Island Cabins (accessed by boat tender from Seward)
• Salted Roots (in Seward)
• Millers Landing (in Seward)

Nearest Airport to Kenai Fjords National Park

The closest airport to the Kenai Fjords, or otherwise Seward, is going to be the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Anchorage is about a 2.5 hour drive to Seward. If your flight arrives late at night, I’d suggest staying in Anchorage for a night or two to catch some sleep before making the drive. For one, you HAVE to see the incredible scenic views along the Seward Highway. There’s also no cell reception along a large portion of the route and it’s very dark and desolate with large wildlife crossing the road. So, it may be peace of mind to do it during the day. Alternatively, you can catch one of the public transports that will take you to and from town.

What to do During Your Kenai Fjords National Park Elopement

There are so many amazing adventures to be had across the Kenai Fjords National Park. Many of these can make for a memorable and fun experience for you and your spouse to enjoy on elopement day. Some of these ideas are:

• Take a private boat to see the fjords and tidewater glaciers
• Take a private boat to search for marine life, such as whales and orcas
• Take a private helicopter ride to the high mountains and glaciers
• Take a private helicopter/boat ride to a secluded beach
• Hike or fly in to see the Harding Icefield
• Take a private sailboat tour through Resurrection Bay
• Hike from Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield

Where to Eat After Your Kenai Fjords Elopement

Seward has some great eats right in Downtown or just down the road, which makes it close and convenient to grab a bite when you get back in from your day of adventuring. Some local favorites:

• Apollo (Greek)
• The Cookery (Seafood, American)
• Ray’s Waterfront (Seafood, American)
• Flamingo Lounge (Steakhouse, American)
• The Highliner (Seafood, American)
• Resurrection Roadhouse (American, Bar)
• Seward Brewing Company (American, Bar)

Best Time to Elope in the Kenai Fjords National Park

When to elope in the Kenai Fjords National Park will depend on what experience you’re most wanting out of your elopement day. Things can change quickly from month to month, so it’s important to have a thorough understanding of each month and season to pick your best fit!

Spring (March-May)

Late spring is a great time to visit the fjords to dodge the heavier summer crowds and see marine wildlife, like whales, becoming active in the Bay again. Though keep in mind, March and April are still cold and snowy. Wildlife sightings are less likely until late April/May, and the boat and helicopter tours generally begin operations more consistently in May than earlier in the season.

March Expectations

March is cold and wintry. Average highs are around the upper 20s to upper 30s °F. Snow is still significant and coming down. The local boat tours often start in early March, though scheduling can depend on weather. Local marine life will be out, but migrators, like whales, will be sparse. On land, many animals will still be hibernating. Heli tours can be sparse due to weather conditions at higher elevations. Town is relatively slow this time of year – many of the seasonal businesses will still be closed.

April Expectations

Average highs will be in the 30s °F. Snowfall starts to dissipate and turn into rain as the month progresses. Trails can be slushy or muddy from snowmelt. Daylight increases significantly as we build into spring/summer. Marine life will start getting more frequent and active. Bears may start to emerge for the season, though early April can sometimes be too early for them still. Crowds are still relatively smaller. Tours and local businesses are beginning to prepare for the busy season and will begin having more consistent availability.

May Expectations

Things are still transitioning from snowmelt to greenery. Average highs will be around the 40s to 50s °F. We’re now reaching about 17+ hours of sun per day. Trails will be muddy from snowmelt, and higher elevations may still have snow. May is the peak month for whale watching! The humpbacks have returned to the bay, and orcas will be easier to spot. Land mammals are starting to get active as well. This is the beginning of the tourism season, especially by the end of the month – it just won’t be as busy as June-August. This is a more ideal time for scheduling boat and heli tours in spring due to better weather conditions.

Summer (June-August)

This is prime time to visit the Kenai Fjords! Wildlife will be very active on land and at sea, and the weather is favorable. It’s also the busiest time to visit. Seward is a cruise ship port, so ship days can make the population triple in size, with roughly 4 cruise ships docking per week. Check the port’s cruise ship schedule so you can plan outside of ship days when it’s slower. You can use sites like the CLIA Alaska for a scheduled list. It also helps to plan any tours/excursions you want to do as early as possible, since cruisers can take up a lot of the slots. That generally applies to commercial tours, but booking your private elopement tour early is just as important. June and July will have higher probability of sunshine, while August tends to be one of the wettest months of the year.

June Expectations

Highs average in the mid 50s to low 60s °F. Snow may still be lingering high in the mountains. There’s nearly 19 hours of daylight, and this is one of the driest months of the year, so usually high probability of sunshine. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see loads of marine and land critters. The wildflowers will be blooming. This is the start of peak crowds, so scheduling your elopement on a day cruise ships aren’t in port can help for the best experience. Book your lodging and elopement tours ASAP due to demand.

July Expectations

The week of 4th of July is arguably one of the busiest weeks in Seward annually. The town has a unique tradition of locals and tourists alike running up ~3,000ft for a race on Mt. Marathon. The race attracts over 35,000 visitors, so unless you want to partake in the celebration, this is a time I’d otherwise recommend not visiting due to the extreme crowds. Outside of 4th of July week crowds, this is one of the most ideal times to visit the Kenai Fjords due to the warmer weather, higher probability of sunshine, and very active wildlife. Just keep in mind again that this is peak busy season so check that cruise schedule and book early.

August Expectations

It comes at an advantage to visit the Kenai Fjords during a wet month like August. For one, the rainfall dependent waterfalls will be flowing, which can be dozens to hundreds of visible waterfalls trailing down the sides of the fjords. Crowds slow down, even if just a bit from the peak of summer. Wildlife is still very active on land and at sea. It’s personally my favorite time for Kenai Fjords elopements because there’s just nothing quite as stunning as seeing all those waterfalls in the rainfall. Alaska rainfall tends to be light drizzles here and there throughout the day versus heavy downpours, so it’s much more tolerable. There’s still chance of sunshine, but on average 50% of the month will be at the very least cloudy. You can check out this late August Seward Elopement for an idea of the weather at this time.

Fall (September-November)

This shoulder season will bring less crowds, and less active wildlife as the season progresses. It can be a great time to elope in the Kenai Fjords if your priority is a calmer environment to visit the fjords and you want autumn colors. However, early to mid September is most ideal due to how quickly things will turn to rough waters and harsh winter.

September Expectations

This is another wet month like August. Making it a great time to catch those rainfall dependent waterfalls. Average highs will be in the low to mid 50s °F but will drop to the 40s by the end of the month. Snow may start to stick in the higher elevations by late September. Daylight will begin to drop down to about 11 hours by the end of the month. Whales will start to leave the bay as the month progresses. Land life will still be active. Crowds will start to slow down and major cruises will end by late month/early October. Autumn colors will begin settling in at higher elevations, crawling their way to sea level. It’s a beautiful time to elope if you want vibrant colors.

October-April Closures

The boat and heli tours through the Kenai Fjords will be closed until the weather improves again in May. Elopement options become very limited in this timeframe. Many local shops, restaurants, and lodgings will also close for the off-season, which means town can be pretty quiet with limited things to check out. To get the most out of your Kenai Fjords elopement experience, you’ll want to consider a time outside of this season.

Aurora Season (August-April)

The Kenai Fjords/Seward can be a great area to spot the Northern Lights. While there is light pollution from town, this is otherwise a very remote area so it’s minimal. Odds of seeing the Aurora are greatest during the darker months, generally from late-August to mid-April. Viewing hours are typically best between 10:00pm-2:00am, when the skies are darkest.

Obtaining Your Alaska Marriage License

How to elope in Kenai Fjords National Park is step 1, then you have step 2: getting your marriage license. Alaska marriage license applications are a bit of a lengthy process. Plan accordingly, especially if coming from out of state, to ensure you get your license on time. Two witnesses are required to marry in Alaska, these witnesses could be random hikers, your vendors, or any loved ones you bring with you to see you get married. Here’s additional license info:

• Cost: $60 for license (check or money order made payable to “Alaska Vital Records”), $70 if Priority Mail is required because you cannot pick up locally or need it quickly.
• Submit the completed application WITH payment to the records office closest to your ceremony location (Alaska Vital Records in Anchorage or the Seward Court location)
• Must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent.
• Form of identification, like drivers license or passport, required.
• Both parties must be sworn in by a Licensing Officer or Notary and sign the application IN PERSON, in their presence. This can be done at the Anchorage Vital Records Office, at any Alaska Courthouse, by an Alaska postmaster, or by a notary in your home jurisdiction.
• Once issued, the license is valid for only 90 days. You must get married before expiration, or re-apply and pay again.
• A specific ceremony script isn’t required, but you both have to be present in front of an officiant and 2 witnesses and give your consent to the marriage.
• After the marriage has taken place and all parties have signed, you must turn it back into the Vital Records Office, or mail it to them for registration once you get home.

You can download the application form at the Alaska Dept. of Health website.

Finding Vendors For a Kenai Fjords Elopement

It’s helpful for you to work with vendors familiar with how to elope in Kenai Fjords National Park. There are more favorable times of the year to visit the Kenai Fjords for the best experiences, and activity options that will change with the season. Someone who knows the crowd schedule can also help you optimize your visit so it’s less stressful.

Seward, and the Kenai Fjords, is my summer home. My family spends summers, and sometimes the whole year, residing in town. All my expertise from this area comes from firsthand experience and the knowledge of my family and neighbors that stay in town year-round. It’s an absolutely stunning place I’m fortunate to spend my time at. I’d love to help you plan your elopement/honeymoon in the Kenai Fjords National Park and document your dream day!

Wanna elope in the Kenai Fjords? Reach out!

I’d love to chat with you about how to elope in Kenai Fjords National Park! My home away from home is truly one of the most incredible places you’ll ever see. This is the kind of experience you’ll be raving about forever. I know we could make magic together for your elopement!