Photograph the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska

Save

View all 6 photos

All 6 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

1 miles

Elevation Gain

1 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Nate Luebbe

Perfectly situated within the aurora-circle, and easily accessible from anywhere in the US, Fairbanks is the absolute perfect place to chase the northern lights.

As close to magic as you'll ever see on this Earth, the northern lights, or aurora borealis, are an absolute must-see for any nature enthusiast.

The aurora borealis are visible in Fairbanks from August through April, meaning there's an astounding nine months of aurora viewing! Of course, the aurora are only visible when it's dark out, so the between September and March will offer the most opportunities.

Of course, the other ingredient for an incredible display of northern lights is clear skies. Thankfully, due to Fairbanks' inland location, clear skies during the winter are extremely common. The general rule of thumb is that only 4 days in Fairbanks is all it takes to more or less guarantee a night of aurora!

Starting at about 9 or 10pm, drive out of the city a bit to reduce light pollution. I suggest heading towards Chena Hot Springs so you can warm up with a quick soak or a drink after a night out under the stars.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Photography

Skiing

Snowshoeing

Adult Beverages

Bathrooms

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Food Nearby

Forest

Hot Springs

Picnic Area

River

Romantic

Scenic

ADA Accessible

Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Snowshoe the Granite Tors Loop Trail

The Granite Tors Loop Trailhead is located at Milepost 39 on Chena River Road east of Fairbanks. It starts at about 700ft above sea level and climbs to about 3200ft, peaking around the 8 mile mark. The climb is slow and continuous adding to the difficulty of the hike.The Chena River State Recreation Area has a much different landscape than the mountainous areas of Denali or Anchorage. It doesn'...

Backpack Granite Tors

We split this 15-mile loop into an overnight backpacking trip and had an amazing time. Our route started up the eastern side of the loop and took us past the trail shelter. Once we reached the tors, we settled in and set up camp. It was stunning and we actually wished we would have left a day between hiking in and hiking out to just explore the tor formations. If you're interested in treating y...

Snow Biking in Alaska's Arctic

White Mountains National Recreation Area is run by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and is best traveled during the winter months. The BLM maintains three trailheads to provide access to 12 public recreation cabins that are connected by extensive trail systems. Trailheads for the Wickersham Creek Trail and the Colorado Creek Trail are provided at milepost 28 and 57 Steese Highway, respective...

Hike Angel Rocks Trail

Angel Rocks is a moderately difficult trail in the Chena River State Recreation Area. The 3.5-mile loop is a great day hike and is frequented by many locals after work. The hike takes you along the Chena River before climbing up 900 feet to sweeping views of the forest below. The “Angel Rocks” are granite pillars formed by millions of years of erosion. You can climb atop the various pillars for...