Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots in Alaska: From Anchorage to the Arctic Circle
Here are some recommendations and tips for Aurora viewing in Alaska. If you want a guided experience by the pros at great locations, view my post about Northern Light Tours in Alaska
1. Anchorage & Nearby Viewing Spots
Anchorage Hillside
Drive time: 10–30 minutes from downtown
Why it’s great: Despite the city lights, Anchorage’s hillside neighborhoods provide elevated views over the city and Cook Inlet, making it possible to photograph the aurora dancing above the skyline.
Local secret: Head to Glen Alps Trailhead in the Chugach foothills. The trail’s overlook gives a darkened vantage point with city lights below and mountains framing the sky. The probability to see the Northern Lights in and around Anchorage is much lower than if you travel up closer to Sutton, Talkeetna, or better yet, Fairbanks.
Where to stay:
Hotel Captain Cook – Anchorage Downtown (you won’t be able to really see the lights from here, but it offers a great location to drive in and out of for other locations near Anchorage.
Blue Water Base Camp - Smaller personal Chalets
Eklutna Tailrace
Drive time: ~1 hour northeast of Anchorage
Why it’s great: Open water and minimal lighting create stunning reflective surfaces for aurora photography.
Local secret: The pull-off near the hatchery provides a quiet spot with few cars and uninterrupted views of the sky.
Bonus tour: Consider a guided snowshoe tour in the Eklutna area for unique frozen lake shots.
Where to Stay: Anchorage, Palmer, or Wasilla
Alaska Knotty Pine B&B (up Lazy Mountain, which can offer great Northern Light views at a few overlooks)
2. Southcentral & Mat-Su Valley
Hatcher Pass
Drive time: ~1 hour 15 minutes northeast of Anchorage
Why it’s great: High elevation, vast alpine valleys, and rugged peaks offer dynamic foregrounds for aurora shots.
Local secret: Take the Gold Mint Trail snowshoe route for dramatic snow-covered ridges and minimal light pollution.
Where to stay:
Hatcher Pass Lodge (best and closest viewing opportunities)
Alaska Knotty Pine B&B (up Lazy Mountain, which can offer great Northern Light views at a few overlooks)
Talkeetna
Drive time: ~2 hours 15 minutes north of Anchorage
Why it’s great: Quaint town charm paired with possible Denali views make for iconic shots combining mountains and auroras.
Local secret: Walk to the Talkeetna River banks after dark to capture reflections of the lights in the icy water.
Bonus tour: Flightseeing tours out of Talkeetna provide aerial aurora photography chances on clear nights.
Where to stay:
Talkeetna Roadhouse (rustic, charming, and in the center of the little town)
Matanuska Glacier Overlook
Drive time: ~2 hours northeast of Anchorage
Why it’s great: An enormous glacier surface reflecting the aurora is a spectacular backdrop.
Local secret: Check local glacier ice cave tour companies for safe daytime excursions that extend your photography opportunities.
Where to stay:
3. Interior Alaska
Denali State Park & Entrance Area
Drive time: ~3.5 hours north of Anchorage
Why it’s great: Dark skies with the chance to include Denali’s snow-covered peak in your shots.
Local secret: The South Denali Viewpoint is often quieter and gives a cleaner foreground than the busier north side.
Where to stay: Denali park is closed in the winter, only a few spots are open in the town of Healy nearby. Book early.
Fairbanks
Drive time: ~6.5 hours north of Anchorage by road or quick flight
Why it’s great: Known worldwide as one of the best aurora spots thanks to clear skies and location under the auroral oval.
Local secrets:
Murphy Dome is a favorite for panoramic views.
Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge offers accessible dark skies with wildlife foregrounds.
Bonus tours:
Chena Hot Springs Resort offers aurora viewing combined with hot springs soaking and the stunning Aurora Ice Museum. I highly recommend this stay!
Where to stay:
Borealis Basecamp (awesome igloo domed shaped cabins)
Chena Hot Springs (great food, ice hotel, tours, hot springs and more, but know it can stink a little bit (from the sulfer) and the lights of the resort can deter a bit from viewing. But everytime I have stayed it always impresses and its amazing to watch the lights from the hot springs.
Focus on stays outside of the city of Fairbanks, as light pollution can hinder views significantly. Aim for stays north of town. If you stay at a hotel, you can sign up for the northern lights wake up call.
4. Arctic Circle & Far North
This area is going to be one of the harder viewing spots due to accesability and the coldest weather out of all the other locations. I wouldn’t reccomend for your first Alaskan excursion, but if you decide to go this route, heavy planning and research must be done in preperation.
Coldfoot & Wiseman (Brooks Range)
Drive time: ~12 hours north of Anchorage, 6 hours north of Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway (rough, remote route)
Why it’s great: Near total darkness and zero light pollution in a raw Arctic environment.
Local secret: The Middle Fork Koyukuk River near Wiseman offers reflective ice and mountain silhouettes.
Where to stay:
Coldfoot Camp - This isn’t a luxery stay, but a great option if you really want a full Alaskan experience as far north as you can drive to.
Utqiaġvik (Barrow)
Access: Flight only (No roads)
Why it’s great: The northernmost city in the U.S., surrounded by sea ice and tundra — a truly unique aurora experience.
Local secret: Point Barrow spit provides sweeping views of the horizon but requires local guidance due to wildlife hazards.
Where to stay:
Local lodging options in Utqiaġvik
Aurora Viewing Tips for Alaska
Timing: Peak aurora activity usually occurs between 10 PM and 3 AM. Dress for long waits outside!
Dark Skies: The darker the surroundings, the better the aurora shows up. Avoid city lights when possible.
Apps: Use aurora forecast apps like My Aurora Forecast or Aurora Alerts to pick your nights. You want a KP of at least 3 for seeing the lights, 4-7 is ideal. The closer you are south the more it needs to be higher and look to the north sky.
Camera Setup: Use a wide-angle lens, tripod, and manual settings for best results. See my post about Northern Lights Camera Settings for the optimal starting point for taking great Auorora images.
Colors: White/Green will show up first, blues and purples will show up as the KP index gets stronger.
Get a rental car that you can turn off the headlights and dome light off, so you can keep the car running and warm and still view without any problems. (Other viewers nearby will be annoyed if you leave those lights on)
Happy Northern Light Viewing in Alaska!
-Laura
