I used to be shocked that many individuals don’t even have Alaska on their radar for Northern Lights journeys! Go do a search, and also you’ll be inundated with Iceland and Norway, however Alaska continues to be a little bit of an outlier. And what meaning? It’s the right place to plan your Northern Lights journey as a result of it’s not as crowded or costly!
A number of key issues make Fairbanks, Alaska, among the best locations for northern lights viewing. I’ve been there 4 instances within the winter and have amassed a number of of my finest ideas for experiencing Fairbanks Northern Lights as a way to profit from your aurora expertise.
Why Fairbanks, Alaska, is the most effective place for a Northern Lights Viewing
Situated just under the Arctic Circle, landlocked, and close to Fairbanks Worldwide Airport, Fairbanks has the right recipe for viewing the aurora borealis.
The Aurora Oval and Kp Index
The Northern Lights kind an oval form above the Earth’s geomagnetic poles. Fairbanks occurs to be completely positioned underneath the oval surrounding the North Pole. Because of this the aurora in Fairbanks is often seen instantly overhead! This distinctive vantage level is nice for aurora pictures and is just discovered underneath the auroral oval.
The Kp index, a measure of electromagnetic exercise within the ambiance additionally comes into play for aurora viewing. A studying of two or greater is often thought of good for Northern Lights recognizing; nonetheless, you possibly can see Northern Lights in Fairbanks even when there’s low exercise due to its place underneath the aurora circle.
“You haven’t seen the aurora till you possibly can look straight up and see it overhead. Whenever you see it overhead – you possibly can see how a lot construction is in it. So it’s finest to return north underneath the aurora oval.”
Aurora Physicist Peter Delemere
Climate in Fairbanks
Aurora season is between August 21-April 21 within the Fairbanks area. And one factor that’s required to see them is a transparent sky. You’re in luck in Fairbanks as a result of it has many clear nights because it’s situated within the inland Arctic – an space they name Alaska’s inside. By the coasts, there’s extra humidity, precipitation, and clouds. However in Fairbanks, it’s a dry local weather which means plenty of clear skies!
“The northern lights are so prolific within the Fairbanks area and the Arctic that guests who keep a minimal of three nights and are actively out in the course of the late night hours improve their probability of seeing the aurora to greater than 80 p.c!”
Discover Fairbanks
Fairbanks Geophysical Institute
The Geophysical Institute on the College of Alaska Fairbanks has earned a global fame for finding out Earth and its bodily environments at excessive latitudes. It consists of seven main analysis models and plenty of analysis help services, and it makes a speciality of aurora analysis on Earth and different planets.
Anybody can go go to the Geophysical Institute and take a self-guided tour, nonetheless, I went to speak to a physicist specializing in aurora analysis, Peter Delamere. Studying the science behind the aurora on Earth and Jupiter was fascinating! I discovered what makes the completely different colours we see and the best way to spot a substorm. His general recommendation was to examine the northern lights forecasts and be persistent – very persistent.
A few of the smartest aurora folks on the earth are in Fairbanks, one more reason why it’s an awesome place for a Northern Lights journey!
Go to the Geophysical Institute in Fairbanks: Public excursions of the Geophysical Institute are free and supplied on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. via the summer time. A self-guided tour brochure is on the market within the foyer of the Elvey constructing. You’re welcome to go to the constructing and take the self-guided tour Monday via Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Geophysical Institute Web site
The Fact About How We See the Northern Lights
Till I went to go to Fairbanks, Alaska, I assumed the Northern Lights had been all simply hype. No – I haven’t joined a Flat Earth Society or determined World Warming is a hoax; I simply didn’t know if I totally believed in them. I had good cause to doubt them.
I had ‘seen’ the aurora borealis twice earlier than – however to my disappointment, it was nothing like what I had seen in photos and movies. There was no colour (aside from what lengthy publicity pictures might seize), and there was no dancing. As an alternative what I noticed was a grey, cloudy glowing blob. These aurora sightings might’ve been mistaken for moon glow or fog, and I by no means would have even seen them besides folks instructed me it was the aurora.
After my disappointing experiences, I began to suppose that the Northern Lights had been brought on by a bizarre conspiracy by tourism departments and Northern Lights tour firms.
I instructed Peter Delamere on the Geophysical Institute about my conspiracy concept, and he defined, “When it’s faint, your eye doesn’t detect it as inexperienced; it seems as a grayish glow, and it may be a bit disappointing.”
I assume I simply had unhealthy luck with the aurora depth in keeping with Peter. To see any colour within the faint aurora, I needed to do pictures to comprehend it was there as a result of it’s not all the time seen to the human eye.
Our eyes use two various kinds of cells to see mild: rods and cones. The cone cells understand high-quality element and colour however want vivid mild. Rod cells can solely see black and white and have poor decision however stay delicate even in very low mild. At evening, with none vivid mild supply, we usually solely see a monochromatic world. Nevertheless, cameras can present us what our eyes can’t see. For this reason you see images with vivid inexperienced lights.
See the Aurora in your Northern Lights Journey
Test the Northern Lights Forecasts
There are a variety of real-time aurora tracker GPS telephone apps and web sites that may assist predict the aurora. I used a mixture of all of them!
Aurora Borealis Tracker
Dwell Webcam
Geophysical Institute Aurora Forecast
See the place the aurora oval is at any time
Take a Northern Lights Tour
It’s possible you’ll need to take a tour, or you might have considered trying the liberty of a rental automotive and chasing the aurora by your self. Both method is nice, and I attempted out a number of completely different Fairbanks northern lights excursions throughout my journey (extra on these within the subsequent part!).
Aurora Picture Excursions
In case your aim is to get an awesome photograph of the aurora, then I extremely suggest signing up for an aurora pictures workshop the primary evening you arrive in Fairbanks. In any case, this can be a bucket listing merchandise for most individuals, and also you need to just remember to know what you might be doing, because the aurora shouldn’t be a straightforward factor to {photograph}.
A 40-minute drive from Fairbanks will put you firmly within the inside – an ideal place to view Northern Lights. Simply off the Steese Freeway, you’ll discover Aurora Bear Pictures Workshops, a small intimate workshop in Frank and Miriam’s off-the-grid house.
Frank affords starting and superior pictures courses, and in case you don’t have your individual DSLR or mirrorless digital camera, he rents them together with tripods. You’ll go away with some spectacular evening sky and (hopefully) aurora images.
Aurora Viewing Tour
These excursions usually have massive numbers of individuals with a mixture of photograph addicts and simply individuals who need to see the aurora. As you may guess – these aren’t my jam. I hate massive excursions and coach buses. Nevertheless, it really works for some folks, and it’s good to know that Fairbanks affords some of these excursions to get you out of town and improve your probability of seeing the northern lights.
Lodges Provide Northern Lights Viewing Packages
Some resorts supply aurora viewing choices the place folks can come and keep up all evening in a heat setting like a yurt or lodge however simply run exterior and benefit from the present when it arrives. We went to Style of Alaska Lodge simply exterior of Fairbanks and so they had an ideal setup for viewing. They’d a warm-ish yurt the place we might keep heat and wait, then run exterior and take images simply. The log cabin lodge offered an exquisite foreground within the images.
I additionally went to and stayed on the distant Black Rapids Lodge. It’s south of Fairbanks however often will get stunning northern lights sightings. The gorgeous factor about Black Rapids is that it’s surrounded by the Jap Alaska Mountain Vary, so you possibly can see the Northern Lights over the mountains!
It’s additionally price noting that all the resorts round Fairbanks will even offer you an Aurora wake-up name in case you join it. This implies you don’t have to sit down up all evening ready; they do all of the laborious work and name you when they’re out. Nevertheless – it’s laborious to see the northern lights in Fairbanks as a result of metropolis lights, so the wake-up name is finest when you find yourself at resorts within the countryside, away from the sunshine air pollution.
Uncover the place to seek out autumn colours in Alaska
Have an Journey Whereas Viewing the Aurora
A number of ready is concerned when chasing the northern lights, so chances are you’ll need to go for an exercise whilst you wait. Fortunately the folks in Fairbanks know the best way to host an excellent out of doors journey! Doing a quintessential Alaska winter journey whereas ready for the lights to indicate up is a good way to maximise your time…and keep heat!
Listed below are a number of examples:
Hire a Automotive and Go Aurora Chasing Independently
You too can simply hire a automotive and head out independently for so long as you’d like. Simply guarantee you may have a full gasoline tank because the automotive will likely be your heat ready spot in the course of the evening. The Discover Fairbanks web site has detailed viewing places excellent for the impartial aurora chasers full with maps and descriptions of the place you possibly can pull over and wait. Carry heat garments and meals and water!
My Favourite Fairbanks Aurora Borealis Excursions
In the event you determine to take a tour, listed here are six of my favorites I’ve accomplished across the Fairbanks space.
1. Aurora Bear – Pictures
It was 10 PM, and we had been going to the Aurora Bear Pictures Workshop. As we pulled into the driveway lit by torches, it gave the entire space a romantic glow within the snow. My pleasure stage perked up and my sleepiness subsided. This was a small, intimate photograph workshop in Frank and Miriam’s off-the-grid house.
TIP: Do an Aurora photograph workshop on the primary evening in Fairbanks to make sure the remainder of your time in Alaska chasing Aurora will likely be photographically productive!
Frank and Miriam instantly became quick associates as we talked of their little cabin lit by candlelight. All of us had a lifetime of travels underneath our belts and we bonded on journey tales over tapas as we received to know one another. This workshop was non-public in that just one celebration might e book it. Frank’s aim was to create one thing extra private and memorable for folks quite than doing a tour with a big group.
“Aurora watching is an emotional factor – it’s one thing from their lifelong bucket listing. They dream of it for a very long time. And it’s loads of effort, time and cash to get to the place you possibly can see it. After they do see it – it’s emotional and we frequently hear very private tales from folks. And that’s what makes it particular for us too.” Frank defined.
Frank offered us with a scientific background, after which we went into pictures ideas and settings as he primed us for the massive present. I discovered a ton about chilly climate Northern Lights pictures. Frank will even take photos of you with the lights so you may have an awesome reminiscence of the expertise. Additionally they supply different styles of issues to do on their property, like snowshoeing whereas watching the northern lights, or you possibly can simply hang around and revel in their canines. The expertise was every thing I might’ve requested for and extra.
I really like this small, intimate setting a lot that I embody it on my Ottsworld Alaska Winter Tour – and it’s all the time a spotlight of the journey!
Aurora Bear Pictures: Learn what different folks considered Aurora Bear Pictures on Journey Advisor. Try all of the Aurora Bear Picture Workshops.
2. Final Frontier Mushing Co-op Aurora Evening – Journey
Amanda and Ryne, the 2 ladies who led our Northern Lights tour, had been each skilled mushing racers. They had been younger, badass, and enjoyable to hang around with. They received us all suited up for a canine sled journey, one thing I had accomplished earlier than, however I had by no means mushed at midnight. With the brand new fallen snow, the black spruce bushes had been magical, all coated with dollops of white. The canines had been desirous to run, and we had been bundled up a lot that we resembled Randy from The Christmas Story.
Frightened of the chilly climate in Fairbanks within the Winter? It simply takes the fitting gear.
Try my Alaska winter packing listing, and go ready!
After the sledding, we warmed up within the comfortable yurt and received our cameras prepared. The forecast was actually constructive for the evening, and the skies had been completely clear. As we ate scrumptious smoked salmon and reindeer sausage inside, Amanda was exterior expecting the aurora. The aurora forecast was constructive for the evening.
“It’s right here!” she exclaimed and we jumped into motion.
We spent the following 90 minutes exterior watching because the lights grew in depth and began to maneuver and circulation like a wave within the sky. This was the substorms I had heard about: streaks of sunshine dancing upwards proper above our heads. At that time, I simply watched in awe. I didn’t take many photos that evening as a result of I used to be mesmerized simply watching it with my eyes. The evening was chilly however excellent. We sat by the hearth, had scorching chocolate, and took photos, however largely, we simply loved the present.
The Mushing Co-op will even take photos of you with the aurora and do enjoyable mild pictures whilst you await the aurora to seem.
Unimaginable canine sledding underneath the starry arctic sky AND dancing Northern Lights…it was two bucket listing gadgets in a single evening!
Aurora Watching and Canine Sledding: Learn what different folks needed to say in regards to the Final Frontier Mushing Co-op on Journey Advisor. Try Aurora Watching and Canine Sledding.
3. Borealis Basecamp and Viewing Domes
In case you are in search of an extremely distinctive option to see the northern lights round Fairbanks and have an even bigger funds, then take a look at Borealis Basecamp. It’s a hybrid glamping and aurora expertise about an hour’s drive north of Fairbanks, the place there’s no signal of sunshine air pollution.
Borealis Basecamp is the latest and most glamorous option to see the northern lights within the area. I didn’t truly get to have the complete in a single day expertise, however I did go there in the course of the day to take a look at the distinctive glamping constructions.
These fiberglass domes are harking back to igloos and they’re what expedition and analysis groups use within the far polar areas. Nevertheless, these igloos have been transformed to incorporate clear, curved home windows that stretch 16 toes throughout every igloo roof. This enables friends to lie in mattress and examine the northern lights with out leaving their cozy quilt.
The igloos are in no way primitive despite the fact that they’re off the grid. They’ve kitchenettes, a full toilet, an actual mattress and mattress, and they’re heated.
4. Aurora Level Tour Expertise
Aurora Level is a comparatively new expertise simply exterior of Fairbanks that caters to quite a few folks without delay. It’s undoubtedly not intimate, however it’s enjoyable and informative. That is principally a snug viewing level quite than a tour. You arrive (you need to get your self there) and enter the big constructing the place you’ll be capable of comfortably wait indoors.
Consolation is vital on this expertise. There are couches and good tables arrange. There are video games to play, scorching drinks, and all-you-can-eat cookies. When you wait they do a lecture on the aurora explaining the what and the way of the phenomenon.
They’ve somebody who goes exterior and does the ready within the chilly for you after which will inform you when the lights are out. They actually have a reside webcam of the sky televised within the constructing so you can too control the exercise and know precisely when to go outdoor.
As well as, they’ve a few beautiful firepits exterior the place you can too hang around and hold watch on the sky. Or you possibly can hike alongside one of many many paths within the fields to maintain transferring and control the sky.
They are going to take photos of you and the aurora and show you how to with your individual pictures too. This expertise is a superb cut price – however you actually received’t be alone.
Reservations are needed, and you’ll have to present your individual transportation there.
5. Chena Scorching Springs Resort Aurora Tour
I’m not a giant fan of Chena Scorching Springs – the standard has actually diminished each time I return, it’s not nicely run in my view, and it’s outdated. Nevertheless – they do have an awesome and distinctive aurora tour they provide that’s price one in a single day keep. Plus, you get to benefit from the scorching springs, too, after all.
The tour is like nothing I’ve skilled earlier than. They name it a snow coach tour, however it’s not a bus, it’s an outdated military-style monitor automobile related like a practice to different ‘vehicles’. It slowly and loudly makes its method up the mountain to the highest of Charlie Dome, the place there are two Monolgian-style yurts. That’s your base for the evening – removed from any civilization and much from the resort, too!
They supply scorching drinks and snacks in the course of the night. Once I went, it was a full moon, however don’t let that deter you. You may nonetheless get good pictures throughout a full moon. In actual fact, I received this cool shot of a moondog and the lights on the similar time!
6. Arctic Circle Northern Gentle Tour
It is a lengthy 16-hour tour, however it’s a option to expertise the most effective of the area and cross the Arctic Circle!
Embark on a journey excessive above the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot by air. Take pleasure in lunch on the truck cease (a singular expertise itself), after which transition to a van for the charming return drive alongside Dalton Freeway to Fairbanks.
Alongside the best way, we made stops to marvel on the pipeline, interact in some exhilarating sledding, and savor the distinctive landscapes of the Arctic Circle and the Yukon. Roughly 90 minutes north of Fairbanks, we stopped at a small cabin to see the aurora. It steadily emerged throughout our van journey, reaching its full, mesmerizing show by the point we reached the cabin.
This was one in all my most memorable nights for aurora exercise, with the lights gracefully dancing throughout the sky for hours. Furthermore, the cabin supplied a pleasant haven for warming up and indulging in snacks throughout breaks between aurora spectacles. This was an extended day – however it was price it.
E-book this tour via the Northern Alaska Tour Firm. They provide drive-up/fly-back variations in winter.
Why an Alaska Prepare Journey Ought to Be On Your Winter Itinerary
What Time Do the Northern Lights Seem in Fairbanks
The standard time the northern lights seem round Fairbanks is 10 PM to three AM. Oof – thanks, Aurora Oval, for preserving me up all evening. I made a decision an Aurora Borealis journey in Alaska could be like a journey to Vegas. You find yourself in a bizarre sleep sample the place you might be awake from 10 PM to 4 AM when the lights are hopefully seen after which sleep till 11 AM the following morning.
There are tons of nice issues to do in Fairbanks moreover chasing the Northern Lights, however simply don’t plan too many early-morning actions. Late nights and early mornings don’t combine!
TIP: Take a nap within the afternoon to organize to your late-night aurora chasing.
“Every part good occurs after midnight right here.”
Peter Delemere Aurora Physicist
I’ve visited Fairbanks quite a few instances and loved viewing the Aurora Borealis there greater than I might rely. You’ve every thing you want in Fairbanks, Alaska, for an awesome Northern Lights journey. The perfect half is that you simply really feel like you may have a spot for your self since you’ll be blazing your individual path whereas others head to costly Scandinavian nations. Come to Fairbanks, Alaska, to see for your self!
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Disclosure:
I used to be a visitor of Discover Fairbanks throughout this journey, nonetheless all opinions expressed listed here are my very own. This submit incorporates some affiliate hyperlinks. In the event you select to buy gadgets via these hyperlinks, I’ll earn a small fee at no additional value to you. These commissions assist cut back the prices of working this website
