Chances are high that seeing the northern lights in Alaska or Norway is on your bucket list. Am I wrong?
If so, oh well.
It SHOULD be on your bucket list.
If you want to watch the heavens open, have an out-of-body experience, and have unlimited bragging rights amongst your friends, watching the northern lights in Alaska will satisfy all of those things.
(Although you can view the northern lights in other places such as Iceland and Scandinavian countries, I’m going to focus on Alaska specifically…although most of these points work across the board.)
I was lucky enough to view the northern lights in Alaska a few times earlier this month (September 2021) and can hand-on-heart tell you that nothing you hear or pictures you’re shown will ever compare to experiencing them in person.
If you’re not a local and only have a limited amount of time on your trip, viewing the northern lights in Alaska takes some preparation.
Here are my 4 tips for viewing the northern lights in Alaska, tried and tested personally!
Do your research to track the northern lights in Alaska
If you’re hoping to see the northern lights during your upcoming trip to Alaska, you need to do a little bit of prep work. Being able to see the northern lights is NEVER a guarantee, no matter where you are in the world.
Like anything in nature, it does its own thing. You’ll want to track when and where the northern lights will be most likely to appear, and continuously check…even when you’re there.
There are TONS of websites out there to help you track the northern lights in Alaska, such as the Aurora Forecast. I’d recommend familiarizing yourself with these types of websites, and checking for patterns with the lights.
I was fortunate to have my friend Ashley on top of this for weeks before our trip. She was constantly sending me screenshots of the aurora activity, along with some recommendations on where we could best see them.
Another part of your research should include a topographical scan. Obviously the best areas to see the northern lights in Alaska are the places with the least amount of light pollution, but being atop a mountain would be even better.
Familiarize yourself with the topography of the area that you will be visiting. Where are the mountains, cities, valleys? Your best bet would be to find a clearing at the top of a hill or mountain, with a clear and unobstructed view of the sky.
Be flexible when hunting the northern lights
Like I mentioned before, the northern lights do their own thing. Even if conditions are perfect, they might not show up where you think they will appear.
So the best thing for you to do is this – be flexible. Have patience. I know, it’s not the most sexy piece of advice, but it’s the reality when hunting for the northern lights.
On the plane ride into Fairbanks, Ashley kept updating me with where and when we could see the northern lights. Oddly enough, the best chance we had for viewing them at their strongest would be the night we arrived. We tried to see them from the airplane, but the blue glow from the lights was killing our vibe.
Once we landed, we realized that we both got our second wind and the sky was clear. We made the quick decision to take off driving into the mountains and found a spot to hopefully see the lights.
Again, no guarantee.
After what seemed like forever, we found a clearing at the top of a mountain and the sky literally exploded with color. I couldn’t believe how lucky we were!
I ended up chatting with a few people and one lady told me the ultimate story about being flexible with the northern lights. She lives close to where we were viewing the lights and she had to use the restroom around 1am. On her way back from the bathroom, she looked outside and saw the lights dancing. Not wanting to miss out, she pulled on some more clothes, grabbed her dad and camera, and headed out.
Even the locals understand the importance of flexibility when it comes to the northern lights.
Pack extra clothing and food
We learned this one the hard way. Because you never know how long they’re going to last, when they’ll start, or how long you’ll be outside with your eyes and lenses pointed to the heavens, you need to be prepared.
I rarely get cold. I remember so many times running out into the snow in shorts. But let me tell you – I was freezing cold when we were watching the northern lights in Alaska. Standing still, in the dark, barely moving, will chill you to the bone.
Every hour or so, Ashley and I would make our way back to the car to add another layer of clothing to our already questionable fashion decisions. But we didn’t care.
We were willing to stay out as long as possible to get the best shots we could…and the weather wasn’t going to become a factor.
So take my advice – bring layers of clothing. You can always pull more on, so don’t skimp. Blankets are clutch as well. If you have those hand warmers (we wish we had them), get them into your gloves and socks.
And, depending on how long you’ll be out there, bring some snacks (but remember you’re in bear country). Ashley and I came straight from the airport, so we were limited to the snacks we purchased during our layover in Seattle and what we brought from Salt Lake City…but it was enough for the 4 hours we were watching the lights!
Get your own vehicle
If there was one piece of advice I could stress to you, dear reader, is to get your own vehicle to hunt the northern lights in Alaska.
Now, obviously, I don’t know your circumstances. I don’t know if you’re comfortable driving in the dark, in a vehicle other than your own, in an unfamiliar place. Shoot, I don’t even know if you have a drivers license.
But having your own vehicle to hunt the northern lights offers you so much more freedom and flexibility (which is key) than any organized tour can do for you.
When Ashley and I decided to rent our own car for our Alaska trip, I set myself some parameters and I’ll offer the same to you. Find a vehicle that you feel comfortable in, has enough space if you need to sleep in it, and has 4-wheel drive.
There are plenty of places in and around Fairbanks, Alaska (where the northern lights are prime) that you can access on paved roads. But having the option to go off-roading on some backcountry roads opens up a whole new world for you.
While a guided tour to see the lights might be more your speed, it might not be your best option. Having your own vehicle gives you the opportunity to stay out as late as you want, go wherever you want, and how ever many times you want. Since the lights aren’t guaranteed on a tour, you might lose out on a lot of money…and often, more money than what you’d spend on a private car rental!
Well, those are my top 4 tips for viewing the northern lights in Alaska! These can be used across the world, no matter where you choose to go view the lights. I hope you find the time to go see them – they are breathtaking and something that can’t justifiably be put into words!
Have you ever seen the northern lights?
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