Winter Exploring
Alaska is The Ultimate Winter Wonderland
below are reasons why you'll love exploring Alaska in the Winter
The Northern Lights
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If you are a fan of the sunset...just wait until you experience the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, are explained as an interaction of the solar wind combined with the Earth's magnetic field. As unique as a sunset, and hardly predictable, you will see swirling rivers of a blue-green light, sometimes with hints of pink, purple and red. They dance to their own beat and will appear dim, then suddenly turn quite vivid.
When
We like your chances of viewing the Aurora the best in September - April.
Where
Just North of Anchorage in Hatcher Pass is a great place to view the Northern Lights. Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs are all excellent places to view the Aurora.
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Skiing & Snowboarding
Some Alaska ski resorts get over 40' of snow per year, making all types of skiing & snowboarding top notch here. Along with world class ski resorts, heli-skiing is a quite popular winter activity here as well.
When
Ski season is hot in Alaska from late November through late April.
Where
Close to Anchorage!
Alyeska in Girdwood - 45 minutes South of Anchorage.
Arctic Valley - 15 minutes North of Anchorage.
Heli Skiing - 1-2 hours from Anchorage (February - April).
Backcountry Skiing
03
Backcountry skiing in Alaska is as good as it gets! World class terrain, stunning views, expansive landscape, and discovery around every corner. The mountains surrounding you will leave you with a feeling of astonishment, with deep snow, cold temperatures and generally stable conditionds makes Alaska a top location for backcountry skiing not only in the Unitied States but in the entire world.
When
November - April
Where
Kenai Mountains (Turnigan & Summit Pass), AK - 2hrs from Anchorage
Western Chugach Mountains (Girdwood), AK - 1hr from Anchorage
Talkeetna Mountains (Hatcher Pass), AK - 1.5hrs from Anchorage
Central Alaska Range (Denali), AK - 4hrs from Anchorage
Thompson Pass (Valdez), AK - 5hrs from Anchorage
Fat tire Biking Tours
04
This is an excellent taste of what Anchorage is all about in the winter. Perfect for adventures, families, and those who want to get out and explore our winter wonderland. Fat tire biking will put a smile on your face and make you feel like a kid again. Experience the fat bike phenomenon where it was born. Fat tire biking has become one of the most popular ways for locals and visitors to get out and play in the glittering snow. Anchorage boasts 150 miles of multi-use forested trails in the winter, hit the coastal trail, or jump on a Northern Lights nighttime ride. All will make for a one of a kind adventure.
When
November - April
Where
Anchorage, AK
Girdwood, AK - 1 hour from Anchorage
Hatcher Pass, AK - 1.5 hours from Anchorage
Seward, AK - 2.5 hours from Anchorage
Dog Mushing Experience
03
Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxing, scenic ride or the bucket-list thrill of a lifetime, we have the perfect adventure for you! Alaskan Husky Adventures have a humanitarian award-winning, champion dog sled kennel located in Willow, Alaska, just a short drive from Anchorage. Every ride takes place on secluded, private trails with Denali views, and includes plenty of time meeting and playing with the dogs!
When
November - April
Where
Willow, AK - 2hrs North of Anchorage
Iditarod 2023
04
Interested in the Iditarod? Experience it live and in person! The race is really a reconstruction of the freight route to Nome and commemorates the part that sled dogs played in the settlement of Alaska. The mushers travel from checkpoint to checkpoint much as the early freight mushers did. Although some modern dog drivers move at a pace that would have been incomprehensible to their old-time counterparts, making the trip to Nome in under ten days.
When
Saturday March 5th
Where
Willow, AK
Fur Rendezvous Festival
03
The Fur Rendezvous winter festival – known locally as Fur Rondy or “Rondy” – is a significant part of the Anchorage’s history and tradition. In the mid-1930’s, Anchorage was just a small town of about 3,000 people that stretched between Park Strip and Ship Creek. There were no televisions, malls or movie theaters, no video games, ipods or computers, not even an Iditarod! Winters could be brutal and stoking fires, shoveling snow and surviving the elements was a basic daily pastime for some in those days.
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Crowd-pleasing events include the Rondy Carnival, Grand Parade, Outhouse Races, Snowshoe Softball, The Blanket Toss, Curling, Fireworks and Running of the Reindeer – a mellower version of Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls and much more.
When
Fenruary 24th - March 5th 2023
Where
Downtown Anchorage
Snowmachine Tours
04
Expert Alaskan Native guides will lead you along the scenic mountain-side to a snowy backcountry paradise in which to explore and play. They will make stops so you can take in the incredible scenery of the mountains, meadows and lakes surrounding you and also for a chance to spot some of Alaska’s rare wildlife. Remember to bring your camera!
When
End of December - March
Where
Hatcher Pass - 1.5 hrs from Anchorage
Glacier View - 2 hrs from Anchorage
Ice Fishing
03
The hottest fishing in the Alaskan winter is under the ice. Ice fishing near Anchorage keeps anglers busy year-round, and many area lakes are filled with arctic char, grayling, pike, and even landlocked salmon.
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Hook up with a guide for the best fishing. You’ll get expert advice, help drilling holes, and stay toasty warm while fishing local lakes.
When
November - February
Where
Anchorage-area lakes are a great place to start. Beach, Campbell Point, Delong, Mirror, Sand, Goose, and Jewel lake. To the north near Palmer, Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area is a good option as well.
Glacier Tours
04
Glacier Tours offer a once-in-a-lifetime excursion. Guides will narrate the tour, share their knowledge, and are more than happy to stop for photos along the way.
When
October - April
Where
Glacier View - 2 hrs from Anchorage
Ice Cave Tours
03
Walk down a crystal blue ice cave. These colorful caverns are formed in the summer months from meltwater draining down through the cracks in the glacier. The melting water weaves a path under the surface of the ice. Eventually, it makes its way out at the base of the glacier leaving the colourful ice caves. One of the interesting things about Alaskan ice caves is that they are constantly changing. Every ice cave season brings new or very different caves from the year before.
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The largest glacier in the U.S. that is accessible by car, the Matanuska Glacier is 27 miles long and is about 100 miles from Anchorage. You’ll find the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site off of Glenn Highway. This 229-acre facility has trails and a small campground to enjoy.
When
November - April
Where
Glacier View - 2 hrs from Anchorage
Peace & Quiet
04
While Summer is the most popular time of year to visit Alaska and certainly a great time to be here, Winter is wondrous and magical. There are few travelers to bump into, which will make you feel like the king of the mountain. Winter will provide the best backdrop to disconnect and bond with Alaska and all the natural beauty she possesses. Winter in Alaska is a paradise for all the activities mentioned here, including downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, catching the Northern Lights, dog mushing, the Iditarod, Fur Rondy, ice fishing, snow machining, sledding, glacier tour, ice cave tour, ice skating and snow much more...
How is driving in Alaska during the Winter?
03
If snow removal was an art, Alaska would win an award. We do an excellent job keeping major roadways plowed and ready to drive. Our vans do quite well on the roadway in the winter, as we equip them with studded tires and easy to use tire traction straps to help dig you out if in the rare event you happen to get stuck.
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There are plenty of services and restaurants open during the fall, winter and spring seasons. And, our vans are built to be off-grid, with the solar panels on the roof, heat in the living area and sink with water, you'll have everything you need to explore our winter wonderland!