12 Reasons Why You NEED to Visit Alaska in the Winter
It’s common knowledge that the tourist season in Alaska is short. Tour companies try to pack as many trips as possible into three summer months. This is for a good reason. Alaska is beautiful in the summer! The days are long, and it’s possible to do more than any other time of the year. But what many people don’t know is that Alaska is a hidden seasonal gem and an incredible winter destination! Now let me tell you why…
1. Fewer Tourists
It’s known that the summer months are the busiest for travel in most parts of the world. Alaska is no different. During the summer, cruise ships enter the state daily; tour buses are packed with travelers, trains, and flights. When you visit attractions around the state, you will share your experience with larger crowds of travelers. For some, this can be a bit overwhelming.
Winter is a different story altogether. During this time, the number of travelers visiting Alaska drops drastically. Though the days are shorter and the temperatures are colder, most places you hope to see in Alaska are still open, which leads me to my next point.
Winter view over Downtown Anchorage
2. Better Prices
As I mentioned earlier, because the summer season is so short, companies work around the clock to squeeze all they can out of the busy season. To make enough money to survive the slower months, most businesses, such as hotels, rental cars, tours, and others, have higher summer prices. In winter, you can easily find more affordable accommodation, discounts on train travel, and lower entrance fees at certain places.
If it’s your dream to visit Alaska, but you are trying to save money, I highly recommend visiting in the winter.
3. Northern Lights
In the summer, parts of northern Alaska have 24 hours of daylight. It might not be a full 24 hours of daylight in areas further south, but it usually never reaches total darkness at night. For this reason, it’s nearly impossible to see the northern lights in the summer!
In the winter, the places that experienced 24 hours of daylight now have 24 hours of darkness. Areas further south, such as Anchorage, don’t sit in total darkness. The shortest day of the year is about five and a half hours long, so your chances of viewing the northern lights are much greater! It’s important to note that you don’t need to visit Alaska in the dead of winter to see the northern lights. Some of the best northern lights we’ve seen were in early September.
Read our article Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights in Alaska to learn more.
4. Outdoor Sports
Nordic ski into Portage Glacier
When it comes to winter sports, Alaska has it all! This is the perfect destination if you’re a traveler who likes to stay active and incorporate activities into your vacations. During these months, locals and visitors alike engage in numerous activities, including (but certainly not limited to!) downhill skiing, snowboarding, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, hiking, far biking, sledding, dog sledding, and more!
There are many places to participate in these activities around Anchorage and plenty of areas across the state! Each town usually has Nordic ski trails that are regularly groomed, cleared lakes for ice skating, and companies that organize dog sledding or glacier trekking excursions. Alyeska is the main resort in southcentral Alaska for downhill skiing, just a 40-minute drive south of Anchorage. Here you can combine winter fun with luxury and relaxation.
5. Fur Rendezvous
Read more about Fur Rondy!
The annual Fur Rendezvous festival is held from the end of February through early March in Anchorage. This event has been held each year since 1935, beginning as an event to bring the community together and help boost their spirits in the middle of winter. Today, it still very much serves this purpose! Many popular events take place, such as the Miner and Trappers Ball, a beard competition, fur auctions, an outhouse race, a snow sculpture carving competition, running with reindeer, city-wide scavenger hunts, a parade, and more. This is a family-friendly festival with daily events for people of all ages.
Snow sculpture competition at Fur Rondezvous
The end of the Fur Rondy festival leads to the start of the world-famous Iditarod Dog Sled Race. Spectators can watch the ceremonial start of the race in Downtown Anchorage and spend time watching the sled dogs. This is the perfect time to plan your winter trip to Alaska.
6. Hot Springs
Alaska is a land of fire and ice. Alaska is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped arc containing 452 volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean. When it comes to geothermal hot springs, Alaska has plenty of them! One of the best-known hot springs you will come across in Alaska is Chena Hot Springs, which is about an hour's drive north of Fairbanks. This all-inclusive hot spring resort offers accommodation, dining, tours, and spa services. You can also join a day tour that will pick you up and Fairbanks and take you to the hot springs, where you can relax.
7. Dogsledding
Alaksa winter dogsled ride
Have you always wanted to try dogsledding but didn’t know when you would have a chance? Now is your time! Many companies across the state operate dogsledding excursions and kennel tours year-round. You will find many small local family-run companies from Juneau to Fairbanks and beyond that offer incredible experiences. Iditarod finishers and champions even run some of these operations!
Dog sled rides are available along the Park Strip (the main park near Downtown Anchorage) during the Fur Rondy Festival.
Here are a few companies that operate these tours
Ididaride Dog Sled Tours - Seward, Alaska
Husky Homestead - Denali, Alaska
Paws For Adventure - Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska Icefield Expeditions - Juneau, Alaska
8. Aurora Winter Train
Winter ride on the Alaska Railroad
The Aurora Winter Train, operated by the Alaska Railroad, is a train route beginning in Anchorage and ending in Fairbanks, with many hop-on or off stops along the way. The train runs on the weekends from mid-September to mid-May. A one-way trip is 12 hours, traveling north to Fairbanks on Saturdays and returning south to Anchorage on Sundays. If 24 hours on a train feels like too much in a weekend, you also have the option to stay for a few days and then take a flight or rent a car for your return journey. This is a fun way to take in the picturesque winter views.
We recommend taking the train to the charming town of Talkeetna, just a few hour’s ride from Anchorage. In Talkeetna, you can visit the Nordic ski trails, enjoy a delicious meal at a local restaurant, or take a flightseeing tour over Denali. Talkeetna is a walkable town with plenty to see and do. Plus, you have an excellent view of Denali on a clear day.
9. Glaciers
There are estimated to be 100,000 glaciers in the state of Alaska. A number of them are easily accessible to visitors! During winter, it can be easier to explore glacial terrain as most of the area is frozen over. Matanuska Glacier is an amazing and easily accessible spot to visit. This glacier is a two-hour drive north of Anchorage, and many companies lead guided tours here. Read our article Your Guide to Visiting the Matanuska Glacier to learn more.
Glacier trek on Matanuska Glacier
10. Wildlife
Moose in Portage, Alaska
Wildlife is active in Alaska year-round. Though some animals may be absent during winter, many are even more active! During the winter, you have a much higher chance of meeting a moose walking around the city and down neighborhood streets!
There are wildlife refuges and centers that are open to the public year-round that we highly recommend. Check out the following:
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - Portage, Alaska
Alaska Sea Life Center - Seward, Alaska
Muskox Farm - Palmer, Alaska
Reindeer Farm - Butte, Alaska
11. Cultural Events
During the summer, fewer indoor events occur, and most people spend their time outside. In the winter, you can expect many exciting events, from museum exhibitions to symphony performances. The Performing Arts Center in Anchorage regularly hosts theater shows, musical guests, and symphony performances between September and April.
The Anchorage Museum also holds a number of interesting cultural events and expositions that are a great introduction to Alaska life and culture. The museum hosts a winter festival from September to May called North X North, where there are various interesting events and workshops, such as artist lectures and traditional craft workshops. The museum has a great kids’ area with many hands-on scientific and creative experiments.
12. Winter Activities and Tours
Several companies still operate during the winter months and guide fun activities. Join a snow machining tour to a glacier, ride on the Alaska Railroad, and go for a glacier trek at Matanuska Glacier. The options are endless!
We hope this article has helped encourage you to visit Alaska during the winter months. If you have any questions about planning your winter travel to Alaska, please visit our Design Your Trip page.
