Yes, You Can Chase the Northern Lights in Summer!

 

There’s still time to view Alaska’s famous aurora borealis during your summer Alaska vacation

Are you heading to Alaska later this summer or fall? Depending on the dates, it may be possible to view the aurora borealis, or northern lights, during your summer Alaska vacation. Many travelers are surprised to learn that the aurora can be visible during late summer. 

As the skies overhead begin to darken in late August, the aurora (which occurs all year but is most visible in dark conditions) sweeps overhead in a dance of green, red, and even purple, thanks to solar storms making their way to Earth’s atmosphere. While the majority of northern lights enthusiasts tend to visit in winter, a growing number of Alaska visitors are finding out that late summer and early fall can still deliver tremendous views of the aurora borealis without needing to travel north in the cold Arctic winter. 

Three reasons to chase the northern lights in Summer

It’s warmer!

Compared to the much colder winter aurora season, temperatures during the summer and fall months generally run between 45F and 55F during the day, and fall in the 30F to 40F range at night, depending on the location. Compared to the temperatures in the middle of winter, which it can go down to negative 40 in Fairbanks, it’s pretty warm. While visitors from some places may want to bundle up, most guests find the temperatures far easier to manage than the frigid winter months. Wear layers of clothing, including a warm outer jacket, hat, and light gloves or mittens on colder nights. Remember, too, that you’ll be standing or sitting still for much of the night, so staying warm is important! 

The photos are spectacular.

With the rivers and lakes of Interior and Southcentral Alaska still running before ‘freeze-up,’ it is possible to capture unforgettable images of the northern lights reflecting off a body of water. Our local guide team makes a special consideration to viewing locations to maximize this opportunity whenever possible, and Alaska’s landscapes are stunning backdrops for the dancing northern lights. 

Summer Alaska activities are still in full swing.

Most of Alaska’s most popular adventures like bear-viewing, hiking, and scenic day cruises are still operating in August and September, often with far fewer crowds than the busy peak times of June and July. Our tip: Book your other must-do activities, first, then visit the Greatland Adventures online booking platform and select a preferred date for your northern lights tour. We will ask for your arrival and departure date/time, plus any potential additional nights you have available to join a tour during the booking process. We gather this information from all of our guests so we may help to maximize your chances of seeing aurora while visiting Alaska while still allowing for other activities. 

Find us in both Anchorage and Fairbanks

Greatland Adventures has home bases in both Anchorage and Fairbanks, giving guests plenty of opportunities to take advantage of days that are still long enough to enjoy a wealth of activities, but also to experience dark skies full of stars and the effervescent auroral borealis.

In Anchorage, northern lights tours begin August 21 and are a great addition to other adventures around Alaska’s largest city. About 360 miles to the north, Fairbanks aurora tours begin August 28. Our all-local guide team uses innovative technology to forecast aurora viewing conditions, and each night’s tour location is chosen to maximize your chances of viewing the lights.

Why our northern lights tours are the best

Comfortable tour vehicle: We are proud to utilize a fleet of comfortable tour vehicles as traveling base camps.

Well-structured tour preparation and forecasting: Tours generally depart between 8-11 p.m. and return between 3-6 a.m., depending on the season and forecast conditions. You will receive a forecast call from our aurora team between 3-5 p.m. on the day of your booked tour. This call will let you know what time pick-up will be that night, the estimated driving distance, and our expected return time. We will also discuss anticipated cloud cover and any other potential challenges we might face that evening.

There’s a chance for a re-do: If conditions are unfavorable and a tour is not recommended that night, we will work with you at that time to rebook to another night, based on availability.

As always, our northern lights tours always include hotel pick-up and drop-off in Anchorage or Fairbanks, aurora forecasting, a professional northern lights guide who knows the area and the aurora, snacks and hot drinks, and web-quality photos to share upon your return home. 

It’s also good to keep in mind that heading out for a northern lights tour is a night-long adventure, departing between 8 and 11 p.m. and not returning until the wee hours of the following morning. We highly recommend guests not schedule other tours, flights, or rail transfers due to the duration and time of the tour. Additionally, the minimum age for northern lights tours is 13, however, if you are traveling with kids under 13, ask about a private tour that accommodates younger visitors. 

Let’s chase the northern lights this summer!