Alaska is one of the most reliable places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, thanks to its position directly beneath the auroral oval, a ring-shaped zone of high geomagnetic activity that circles the far north.
How the Northern Lights Work
The aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, producing glowing bands of green, and sometimes pink or purple, light. Green is by far the most common color, since it comes from oxygen molecules at the altitudes where most auroral activity occurs.
Best Time and Places to See It
Aurora season in Alaska runs from around late August through mid-April, when nights are dark enough to see the lights; it isn’t visible during the bright summer months. Activity can happen any night in that window, but you need clear, dark skies away from city lights to see it well.
Fairbanks is the most popular base for aurora viewing because it sits almost directly under the auroral oval and averages well over 100 potentially visible nights per season. Chena Hot Springs Resort, about an hour outside Fairbanks, is a well-known viewing spot that lets visitors watch the sky while soaking in natural hot springs. Denali National Park and the Dalton Highway communities of Coldfoot and Wiseman, both farther from city lights, are other popular options for serious aurora chasers. Anchorage and Juneau occasionally see the lights, but their more southerly latitude and greater light pollution make sightings less frequent.
Tips for Aurora Viewing
Check the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute’s aurora forecast before heading out; it rates activity on a Kp index from 0 to 9, with higher numbers meaning a stronger, more visible display. Plan to stay several nights if possible, since clouds or low activity can shut out any single night, and dress for temperatures that often drop well below freezing. Guided aurora tours, typically running a few hours late at night, are widely available in Fairbanks and can take you to dark-sky viewing sites outside town.
Other Winter Activities to Pair With Aurora Viewing
Many visitors combine aurora viewing with other winter activities such as dog sledding, ice fishing, and snowmobile tours, all widely available around Fairbanks and other interior communities during the winter season.
