In the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun,’ that midnight sun definitely interferes with the ability to see dark skies! Here are some quick tips: If you need more help capturing the perfect photos during your trip, check out our full guide of aurora photography tips. Let us know in the comments. And once the sun rises, Anchorage offers plenty of other ways to wow. I spent fifteen formative years living in this small community – which can sort of be considered a suburb of Anchorage in a very Alaskan way. Once we are at a lodge/location we plan on taking tours out into the wilderness for viewing. As the summer winds down, days become shorter and cooler. Each year the Fur Rendezvous festival and Iditarod Race offer cultural experiences during the short days and plenty of long nighttime hours for trying to spot the aurora. As such, I spent fifteen winters enjoying the northern lights, and these are some of my favorite spots to view the aurora in Eagle River – ‘near home.’. We don’t want to do a lot/any winter driving. I founded STG to help others learn about and experience the night sky. April and May are a great time to visit Alaska because they’re cheaper and less crowded – but you most likely won’t see the northern lights during a trip at this time. The Best Time of Year to See the Northern Lights in Alaska, The Best Places in Alaska to See the Northern Lights, Popular Tours & Day Trips to See the Northern Lights in Alaska, 10-day Iditarod/Denali/northern lights tour, 11 Things You Need to Know to See the Northern Lights, The 17 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Iceland This Winter, The 8 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Sweden This Winter, https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-northern-lights-trip/. We live in Washington State on Whidbey Island so travel (flying won’t be too bad). We are so excited. While the lights are unpredictable, it’s best to stay up late to increase your odds of seeing them. You need a camera that allows for manual settings. The number one consideration when planning a trip to see the aurora in Alaska is traveling at the right time of the year. Highlights: Borealis Basecamp just outside of Fairbanks offers a new and unique way to see the Northern Lights. REI Anchorage provides outdoor enthusiasts in the Anchorage, Alaska, area with top-brand gear and clothing for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling, skiing, snowboarding and more. If your main goal in visiting Alaska is to see the aurora, be sure to plan your trip several months before or after June 21st (the summer solstice) each year. They can be incredibly bright, multihued, and fast moving. You’ll also need a tripod and a remote. The best time to see the northern lights is from late August through April and this itinerary was designed with a multiple-night stay in Fairbanks to enhance this opportunity. You can even just try Talkeetna Riverfront Park looking north toward Denali. Once you’re set up, be prepared to be patient and keep shooting. Could you possibly give us some ideas of what to do and where to go. Seeing the northern lights is one of the top reasons people travel to Alaska during the cold winter months, and it’s totally worth it. View the Northern Lights. Many Thanks! This could be a good spot to base yourself; the big hotels near Denali are generally closed for the winter. The train trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks was breathtakingly beautiful – we saw many moose and caribou and Bettles Lodge was absolutely loved. In this section, you’ll find a list of places you can see the aurora near some of the major cities and communities you’ll probably visit anyway on a winter trip in Alaska. Please read the section in this post on the best time of year to see the aurora in Alaska. You’re going to need them all. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t head deep into the Talkeetna Mountains if you’re keen to see the northern lights! Since we wanted to combine the northern lights viewing with activities, we ended up booking a package on Alaska Active. Many of the prime locations are easily accessed from the city. Keep your shutter speed short. Great Article – THANKS! I actually have another article on my other site that might help you answer some of these questions: https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-northern-lights-trip/, Your email address will not be published. This post was originally published in February 2019, and was updated in September 2020. The primary road up into the pass (from Palmer) is typically open in some fashion for skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers who make their way up to the pass for daytime fun. These will inspire you to find the tour that’s right for you and includes daytime experiences you want with nighttime aurora-viewing opportunities. We want to see wildlife like Moose, bear, elk and big horn sheep. Mild winter temperatures keep everyone comfy. This also means that your chances to see the northern lights are growing each day, as the dark nights return to Alaska. Depending on the conditions you might be able to make it all the way to the campground. As the largest city in Alaska by population, most winter travelers will visit Anchorage at least once during a trip. And we where wondering when is the best time to see the Aurora Boreals. About 10 years ago my wife and I went to Iceland. The fiberglass domes at Borealis Basecamp have clear, curved windows that stretch 16 feet across each dome roof, allowing you to lie in bed and view the northern lights. Like what Route to take. The primary road through Hatcher Pass is typically closed to vehicles in the winter because snow makes it impassable. (Hint: it requires a lot of self-sufficiency, and is pretty snowy and cold in the winter!). Flexible schedules. This small community gives you a great sense of what life is like outside the cities in Alaska. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. In Anchorage, it’s more temperate, with average lows in the 10-20 °F (-12-6 °C) range. We are flying into Anchorage. 5 Best Spots to See the Northern Lights in Anchorage. Hope to photograph Northern Lights with as little light pollution as possible, with lakes/mountains in the scene.I would like to keep our budget to around $10,000-$12,000 (lower if possible) – for flights, accommodations, food and tours for the both of us. 3) We are retired! Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska and a popular spot on the tourist circuit. I (STG founder Valerie) grew up in Alaska and has seen the aurora many times there. My name is Valerie, and I'm the founder of Space Tourism Guide! Barnes & Noble is the world’s largest bookseller, and a leading retailer of content and educational products. Any of these spots will be good for a clear view of the night sky. No biggie – the science is actually pretty simple at its core. Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage? Your best chance to see the northern lights is during the cold, clear winter nights between September and April. The Northern Lights are most active between September and April, with the highest activity often occurring in March. The Land of the Midnight Sun. Thank you for all the info. She decided to start the site after realizing how many friends and family had never seen the Milky Way, and that space tourism was going to unlock the next great travel destination: space! Required fields are marked *, Hi! The Best Place in the United States to see the Northern Lights. Many hotels in Alaska will offer an aurora wake-up service. I hope you find resources here to help you do just that. (This may be at 2 am, so be prepared to wake up in the middle of the night if the aurora beckon!). Chris and Kathy, Chris & Kathy, thanks for reading! Heck, you already traveled all the way to Alaska – the rest is pretty easy. Talkeetna is a great spot on your itinerary if you’re planning a winter trip to Alaska – even if you’re not hunting the aurora. 4) I am into Landscape Photography. If you’re planning a shoulder season trip to Alaska, autumn is a great time with some northern lights viewing opportunities too. We had the most fabulous holiday, we saw Aurora Borealis, learnt dog sledding, snow shoeing, snow-machining. When you’re checking in to each place, inquire if they offer this. ... Anchorage is the place where young spirits and adventurous souls come to play. ), I (Valerie, the founder of STG) grew up in Eagle River, Alaska. At night, you can pull off into one of the parking areas and look up to see the aurora if it’s visible. (Note: you’ll need a rental car to reach any of these places. Whether you are coming to Fort Wainwright for TDY, PCS, other official travel or leisure, the Holiday Inn Express Northern Lights Inn on post would like the opportunity to meet your lodging needs. Think Ice Road Truckers meets the greatest night sky show on Earth. Below are just a few prime aurora viewing spots and guides focused on northern lights in the winter: The shimmering aurora are seen swirling in Anchorage’s skies from the middle of August through April. From November through March, you can expect snow and cold, dark winter nights that get longer approaching the winter solstice on December 21st. I want to see the Northern Lights too. Part of the package was the Alaska Railroad Tour from Anchorage and we enjoyed it very much. The great part about trying to see the aurora in Alaska is that it doesn’t require a lot of travel to see them. When shooting in cold weather and with long exposures, your battery will run down much faster than expected. Alaska activities including legendary wildlife, spectacular mountain vistas, fascinating cultures, and icy blue glaciers all await your discovery. North of Eagle River, Eklutna Lake Road leads to Eklutna Lake. Winter is the best time of year to visit Alaska and see the northern lights. To see the northern lights in Talkeetna, you can drive out of town to get away from the ‘city’ lights and pull over pretty much anywhere. While the longest nights occur around the solstice, February is an ideal time to visit Alaska in the winter. One great part about visiting Alaska to see the northern lights is that U.S. citizens don’t need a passport… No immigration, no customs! But, the trails and campground are closed each winter so don’t plan on staying overnight. Share this to help others enjoy the night sky! Several Questions…Agree that Alaska is a great place to go since we currently have travel bans in Canada. Would like to go out viewing most nights we are there – don’t want to miss anything! 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