Plan your next aurora-hunting adventure in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
The northern lights are one of the most mesmerizing and awe-inspiring natural phenomena in the world. Also known as the aurora borealis, these dancing waves of color and light pulsate through the skies in vibrant hues of green, yellow, blue, pink and violet, putting on a surreal show for spectators.
This dazzling spectacle in the sky is created by energized particles from the sun that reach speeds of up to 45 million mph as they crash into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Since the planet is protected by its magnetic field, the particles are then rechanneled toward the poles, interacting with the atmosphere in that process. It’s this interaction of energy that creates the fluorescence, forming the aurora borealis.
The northern lights actually occur 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but you need to be at the right place at the right time to view them – preferably in what’s known as the auroral zone. This location falls within an area that covers a radius of approximately 1,550 miles around the North Pole. The night will need to be clear, and it’s best to view the aurora away from the light pollution of a city, ideally in a wilderness or dark sky location, if possible. Optimal viewing locales for the northern lights include destinations in Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, but you don’t even have to leave the U.S. to witness the show.
Alaska is one of the best places on Earth to catch the aurora borealis. The state is brimming with scenic destinations, exhilarating tours and top-notch hotels that offer myriad opportunities to see the northern lights. If this incredible natural phenomenon is at the top of your bucket list, it’s time to start planning your Alaska adventure.
Northern lights forecast for Alaska
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced aurora chaser, you’ll appreciate Explore Fairbanks’ real-time Aurora Tracker. This online reference shows up-to-the-minute information on the temperature, weather and likelihood of the best time to catch the northern lights in Fairbanks. Much of the data comes from one of the world’s foremost aurora research centers, the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska–Fairbanks. To further assist in your search, you can also download the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app on your smartphone.
For other parts of the state, the Geophysical Institute website’s Aurora Forecast has daily forecasts of geomagnetic activity up to three days in advance and taken at three-hour intervals. There’s also a summation on the webpage of whether the aurora will be active – or not – and where you’ll find the best visibility in Alaska.
When to go
If you’re headed to Alaska to catch a glimpse of the aurora, experts advise that the best time to see the northern lights in the Land of the Midnight Sun is from late August through April, with Fairbanks known as one of the top places in the world to watch the spectacular natural light show. And the further north you go – toward and above the Arctic Circle – the more time you’ll have for aurora hunting.
On the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year, which typically falls between Dec. 20 and 23 – Juneau (in southeastern Alaska) has six hours and 22 minutes of daylight. Further north, by approximately 730 miles, Fairbanks experiences three hours and 42 minutes of daylight. Meanwhile, Utqiagvik (also referred to as Barrow) sits about 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 500 miles north of Fairbanks; it experiences 67 days of darkness from Nov. 18 to Jan. 23, creating endless opportunities for viewing the northern lights.
Where to see the northern lights
No matter where you decide to travel to in Alaska in search of the aurora, you’ll be thrilled you made the trip once you see the show. Here are some of the best places to view the northern lights in Alaska.
Fairbanks
Fairbanks, known as the Golden Heart of Alaska, sits at 65 degrees north latitude, making it an excellent choice for aurora hunters, especially first-timers. It’s easily accessible and offers plenty of accommodations, dining, attractions and aurora viewing, including northern lights tours. You can also be outside of Fairbanks within minutes to find excellent viewing locales. The city’s tourism website, Explore Fairbanks, advises that the best times for catching the northern lights in this area fall between Aug. 21 and April 21, during aurora season. Your chances of seeing the aurora borealis are excellent as the city sits where the activity of the polar lights is concentrated – under the ring-shaped zone known as the auroral oval. Local experts say that on clear evenings when the sky is very dark, you should be able to witness the skies light up on an average of four out of five nights in Fairbanks.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna sits about 115 miles north of Anchorage in south-central Alaska, at the base of Denali, the tallest mountain peak in North America. With its old clapboard buildings, log cabins and roadhouse dating back to 1917, this historic town offers a lot of outdoor winter fun beyond chasing the aurora. Main Street is filled with galleries, shops, restaurants and a brewery. The quirky village, once a former mining town, was the inspiration for the imaginary borough of Cicely in the TV show “Northern Exposure.”
If you visit in December, check out the festivities at the monthlong Winterfest. This event features a parade of lights, a tree lighting ceremony and the Taste of Talkeetna food festival, plus entertaining events like the Bachelor Auction and the Wilderness Woman Competition. When it’s time to look up in the sky for the lights, local aurora hunters recommend heading out of town to Christiansen Lake or past the airport on Beaver Road. If you prefer to stay close by, look north into the sky toward Denali from Talkeetna Riverfront Park.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is another top spot to view the northern lights in Alaska – not to mention one of the top tourist attractions in the U.S. The National Park Service says almost everywhere within the park is free from light pollution, so if the conditions are right (meaning that’s it’s clear and dark enough), you should be able to see the aurora borealis, especially when looking toward the northern horizon. However, when wintertime rolls around – from September or October through April – it’s more difficult to access parts of the park, even though it’s open year-round. Keep in mind, too, that the lodges closest to the park are closed from mid-September to mid-May.
If you still want to head to the park for aurora viewing, consider staying in the nearby town of Healy at Aurora Denali Lodge. Located less than 15 miles from the Denali National Park entrance, this property offers year-round accommodations equipped with queen-sized beds, smart TVs and private bathrooms. Rates at the lodge include a continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking and complimentary hot drinks. What’s more, the property says visitors can expect plenty of wildlife sightings, such as bears, moose, lynx, owls and snowshoe hares, just outside your door.
Coldfoot Camp
Coldfoot Camp is situated above the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Mountain Range, near the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The remote wilderness destination is ideal for aurora viewing since it sits directly under the auroral oval. It’s also the perfect locale for backcountry snowshoeing, wildlife viewing and dog mushing.
The Inn at Coldfoot Camp offers rustic accommodations located in trailers that once housed Alaskan pipeline workers. The rooms include two twin beds and a private bathroom and shower. Guests can dine at the on-site Trucker’s Café, which offers breakfast and dinner buffets in the summer months and all-day a la carte dining in the winter. And when you’re ready for a cold one at the end of the day, check out the Frozen Foot Saloon and order an Alaska-brewed beer. If you prefer camping and have your own gear, you can camp free of charge on the property. Coldfoot Camp also hosts a selection of year-round Arctic adventures and excursions, including a trip to the village of Wiseman for aurora viewing.
Wiseman
This small village of 12 full-time residents is located in Alaska’s Brooks Range, about 15 miles north of Coldfoot Camp, 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 270 miles from Fairbanks. Wiseman is an off-the-grid wilderness retreat. The community sits directly under the auroral oval, making it one of the best places in Alaska to view the northern lights. You can expect to see the spectacle in the sky in Wiseman about 250 nights a year, especially between late August and mid-April. Wiseman has more sled dogs than people, and there are three properties to choose from for accommodations for your visit.
Arctic Hive is an excellent lodging option in this remote destination that’s only accessible by foot – jump to the section on top hotels for viewing the lights to read more about its snug cabins, aurora excursions and yoga studio. Meanwhile, you can drive to bed-and-breakfast Arctic Getaway, which sits between the middle fork of the Koyukuk River and Wiseman Creek, offering three cabins. While here, you can learn what it’s like to homestead in Alaska above the Arctic Circle and enjoy outdoor activities like dog sled rides across the vast wilderness, cross-country skiing, pack rafting and flightseeing by bush plane. Finally, Boreal Lodge (also reachable by vehicle) has several rental options, ranging from lodge rooms to larger cabins with living areas and kitchens.
Nome
Located in western Alaska overlooking the Norton Sound of the Bering Sea, Nome is the ending point for the more than 1,000-mile, 50-year-old Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race in March. Once the most populated city in Alaska, Nome had almost 20,000 residents and an average of 1,000 new people arriving daily during the height of the gold rush in 1899. Nome is a little quieter now, with a population of less than 4,000 residents.
If you’re in town to chase the lights, plan to stay at Aurora Inn & Suites, a 52-room hotel with views of the Bering Sea. Some of the best spots for viewing the aurora are about a mile outside of Nome. The hotel’s front desk staff can also provide you with additional tips during your stay. Plan your trip for mid-March to join in the festivities around town surrounding the end of the Iditarod.
Utqiagvik
Situated on the banks of the Arctic Ocean, Utqiagvik is the northernmost city in the U.S. The town, formerly known as Barrow, changed its name in 2016 back to Utqiagvik, its traditional Inupiaq name. Utqiagvik is only accessible by plane, and Alaska Airlines offers service from both Anchorage and Fairbanks. For accommodations, make reservations at a hotel named for its location – the Top of the World Hotel. The property’s comfortable rooms offer views of the Arctic Ocean; the on-site restaurant, Niggivikput (meaning “our place to eat”), serves traditional local dishes like reindeer soup. While you may be there for aurora hunting, don’t miss the excellent wildlife-viewing opportunities: You may see polar bears, caribou, foxes, bearded seals, whales, walruses, migratory birds and the great snowy owl on the tundra.
Source: usnews