How to See Alaska's Northern Lights: Expert Tour Guide

The Northern Lights In Alaska Don’t Just Shine, They Speak In Shimmering Tones!

Table of Contents

Northern Lights is a phenomenon like no other! If you look for the best opportunities to see Alaska’s Northern Lights, you are in the best place. In Northernlightss.com, we will help you solve your query on How to See Alaska’s Northern Lights.

The most reliable place in Alaska is Fairbanks, above the Arctic Circle. The Aurora belt in Alaska’s interior and arctic region is the most active for Aurora in the world. Experiencing these lights could be easier than you think. The far North offers the best opportunities to witness Aurora, but Fairbanks, at a latitude of just under 65 degrees North, makes it the best base. However, the biggest queries is when and where to go in Alaska To haunt Aurora. To know the answer to these questions, go through the article.

When & Where to Go to Witness Northern Lights In Alaska?

If you are still wondering How to See Alaska’s Northern Lights? Then here is your answer. The best time to witness the Northern Lights in Alaska is from late August to Late April, the nights are darker and longer enough to see Aurora. But when you want to chase Aurora in summer and enjoy summer activities, plan your trip in mid-August through early October to enjoy activities like Wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, cruising, and more. Travelers who love winter Northern Lights, can plan their trip from late November through April and enjoy winter activities such as skiing, dog sledding, and snow machining.

The most important requirement for watching Northern Lights in Alaska is clear, dark skies and a place away from city light pollution. The interior, Southcentral region, and Artic region of Alaska are under the auroral oval, which makes it the best place for viewing Aurora. Fairbank is the perfect state to haut Aurora, including the widest variety of tours and specialty accommodations. South Central regions such as Anchorage, Talkeetna, and the Mat-Su Valley are excellent basecamps for the Northern Lights. Some top spots for northern lights viewing are Coldfoot, Wiseman, Nome, and Utqiaġvik.

Your chances of viewing the northern lights increase with the time of your visit, no matter where you go. To increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, book your ticket three to five nights in advance. This will increase the likelihood of clear skies and aurora activity. Get ready for a late night! The best time to see the northern lights is between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

The Science Behind Northern Lights

Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis occurs 60 to 70 miles above the earth’s surface. It is about 10 times higher than a jet aircraft flies and can extend hundreds of miles into space. Electrically charged particles travel through the earth’s magnetosphere and collide with gasses, which creates energy in the form of light. The intensity of solar flares varies the intensity and extent of activity within the Auroral Oval the ring-like area above the geomagnetic north. The common colors in this brilliant display of colors are green, blue, red, and purple.

Alaska Northern Lights Forecasts

The Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a great resource for short-term forecasts of Northern Lights activity. Fairbank in Alaska is the headquarters of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, this University issues a night forecast on Aurora viewing alongside a 27-day forecast. To get a reliable three-day geomagnetic forecast Solar Ham is best. Aurora Forecast App shows travelers the perfect position of the auroral oval around the Arctic Circle.

Three Ways to Haunt Northern Lights In Alaska

Alaska Northern Lights Tour

The Northern Lights tours take out the guessing game of tracking activity and where to go, for which you should know about the weather conditions and aurora forecasts and know the top-secret spots for viewing the aurora.

Tour packages include access to warming huts or lodges so you can get cozy and enjoy a hot drink while viewing the lights. If you don’t have a car and you want to let experienced Northern Lights chasers lead the way, Northern Lights Tours is perhaps the right pick. Our tour is based out of Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Overnight Packages

You book an overnight Northern Lights viewing package, which maximizes the possibility of seeing the aurora. The longer you are there looking for the lights, the better, and overnight packages are the perfect way to extend your northern lights viewing to several days. Specialty accommodations such as glass-dome-ceiling igloos, cabins and chalets with floor-to-ceiling windows, lodges that offer viewing platforms and atriums, and the list goes on, promise to bring a truly unique and cozy way of viewing northern lights. These cozy retreats usually stay out of town far from the city lights in areas with ideal aurora viewing spots so you do not even have to get out of your place when the lights are on. All the packages include delectable meals and day activities such as dog sledding, wildlife viewing, snow machine tours, snowshoeing, and more.

Independent Aurora Viewing

Do you prefer to go out on your own? Don’t have enough time in your itinerary to book a tour or overnight package? You can still catch the light show on your own with a little planning and research. Our 1 tip is to keep a close eye on the weather forecast and aurora trackers. The sky needs to be clear to see the aurora, so keep an eye on the local weather forecast for evenings with low cloud cover. The statewide aurora forecast provides a 27-day forecast of aurora activity along with daily forecasts in three-hour time intervals so you can see when and where the lights will be most active. If you’re based in the Fairbanks area, the Fairbanks aurora tracker provides real-time aurora viewing updates along with a three-day activity and weather forecast.

FAQs

1. Is Iceland or Alaska better for the northern lights?

Both places are best for viewing the Northern Lights, as the ideal position for viewing the Aurora Borealis is North of 65 degrees latitude.

2. Can you see the northern lights in Alaska without a camera?

Yes, you can see Northern Lights in Alaska with the naked eye but it will never be the same as in photos.

3. Do the northern lights happen every night in Alaska?

If you’re planning your Northern Lights Alaska tour you must be wondering how often you can see the Northern Lights in Alaska. The display of dancing lights can be seen on the average of four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough!

4. Is an Alaskan cruise a good way to see the northern lights?

It’s pretty rare to see the Aurora Borealis on an Alaskan Cruise. This is mostly a contradiction time, these cruises run in May through September, and the best time to witness these magical lights is October and March.