The park begins to wrap things up. While many states in the Lower 48 drag their heels on the fall colors display, … The memories we create for our guests aren’t typical —every experience is unique, personal and unforgettable. But if you are coming in August to enjoy Alaska, the lights may be a bonus, but I wouldn't count or plan on it. We never stop searching for the places we're passionate about, connections we value and moments that bring us joy. With comfortable weather (including the warmest temperatures of the year), long days and evenings dominated by the Midnight Sun, wildflowers in bloom and the entire place bursting with life, July is prime time in Denali. Snow on peaks and vivid colors make for outstanding photos and shorter days lead to great chances for seeing the Northern Lights. But with each day in August, it get's darker and your odds of seeing the Northern Lights increase as … March and April can be cold and wet in Denali. It’s the start of a memorable vacation the whole family will talk about for years to come. Some say June has the clearest weather. A full moon can steal the show. Views are best from September to … Anchorage's bright starry nights are natures perfect backdrop for dancing northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. Our website uses cookies. In short, the Northern Lights can be seen all year round in Canada, but much easier during winter. These charged particles are present throughout the year, but they tend to be easiest to see in the winter months, when there’s enough darkness at night. The landscape in August is chocked with berries, providing a feast for wildlife like bears. SO by mid-August, it is just starting to get dark again at night . Day tours (like Denali Backcountry Adventure) and shuttles on the Denali Park Road wrap up their seasons mid-September. Winter being the best season is a myth. Fairbanks’ Aurora Season is from August 21 to April 21 and the aurora will be visible in Fairbanks an average of … So the season stretches from late August through to late April. We enjoyed many months of the incredible midnight sun and now for the first time in over 90 days we are getting real sunsets that lead to … Your best chance to see the lights is in the middle of the night, and you may wait for hours before catching a glimpse of the display. Caused by supercharged solar particles colliding with the earth's atmosphere, these ethereal streamers of green, white, purple, blue and even red light draw awestruck travelers from all over the world. Then, the annual Parks Service Road Lottery in mid-September allows some lucky folks to drive the Denali Park Road right before winter rolls in. Hi friends in Alaska! You can spot absolutely stunning aurora borealis displays in September or October, as well as March or April. Best spot: In your own caravan -- ideally with a cup of tea. Insider tips, inspiration and deals — delivered straight to your inbox. It’s a myth that you must travel to the state only during the deep winter, when darkness can last 16-18 hours per day. Pursuit is a collection of inspiring and unforgettable experiences in iconic places including Alaska, Montana, the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver, Reykjavík, Las Vegas (opening in 2021) and Toronto (opening in 2023). In this period of time, no Northern Lights can be observed. The Aurora Tracker is a one-of-a-kind tool for predicting the chances of seeing the northern lights during Aurora Season, August 21 - April 21 if traveling or in the Fairbanks, Alaska area. Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, or aurora borealis, dancing overhead. This makes April through September the best time to cruise to Alaska to see the northern lights, especially near the autumnal and vernal equinoxes, when activity peaks. Here are a few planning tips. The best window to see the Aurora is from late-September until mid-April when the sky is at its darkest. See you all in August :) When you don't have nighttime because of 24 hours of daylight, you can't see any northern lights. Lodges, outfitters, shuttle buses and campgrounds are all closed. The northern lights, whose scientific name is aurora borealis, are a colorful light show that fills the sky with swirls and shades of color. Head To These 17 Incredible Places In Alaska To View The Northern Lights It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the last frontier – Aurora Borealis season! Our choice is August 6th through 13th since my birthday falls during that week, but we are also considering late August, incase it is possible to view the Northern lights. At this time there are often clear skies and you can expect some mild weather. Yes, but not often and nothing like when we have winter skies. Long days bring up to 20 hours of sunlight during June in Denali. Wildlife activity peaks as animals are busy eating, moving and living as much as possible. Just 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Fairbanks is ideal for Northern Lights … Late spring is short but sweet in Denali. Bring a tripod or monopod if you want to take pictures of the event, and pack a few extra batteries, because cold weather can drain them quickly. Northern lights dance across the sky all year round, but we are able to see it only on a dark and clear night. OUR SAFETY PROMISE & FLEXIBLE CANCELATION POLICY, Denali Month by Month: What to Expect When in Alaska. My hubby and I are visiting via cruise ship in early August. One look at the starry sky streaked with the colors of the aurora borealis, and you will immediately see why thousands of people plan vacations each year to beautiful, remote destinations, hoping for a chance to see this natural phenomenon in person. However, if we want to see the Northern Lights in Canada in August or another summer month, a high KP in the southern parts (still fewer hours of darkness) would give you the best chances to see Aurora Borealis. For the most accurate forecast, we look to the University of Alaska Fairbanks’s Geophysical Institute . The landscape in August is chocked with berries, providing a feast for wildlife like bears. Alaska's Northern Lights season is between mid-September and late April, peaking in March, though that's to do more with the long, dark nights than solar activity. Updated February 2021, Best Places to see the Northern Lights in Alaska was originally written in January 2020. Crowds are relative in Denali—once you're here you'll never feel 'crowded'! Summer months offer the best chances to see wildlife, the most moderate weather and the easiest time to visit since that's when services and activities are all operating. As spring arrives, winter slowly lets go of its grip on the park! The exact color depends on the type of gas the charged particles collide with in the atmosphere. In the course of 12 months, it takes an extreme ride through the seasons. The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Most people visit in the summer only, when lodges and tours are operating, and that's generally early June through mid-September. In the most intense Northern Lights area (notably Alaska, Iceland, Northern Scandinavia and Yukon), the lights are observed from late August to mid April. Because days are shorter, you've got a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights in late August. Wildflowers begin to bloom in June and can be seen through July. The Perfect Plan for Seeing the Northern Lights. Find Your Wild Side on These Top Alaska Shore Excursions. There are also plenty of opportunities to get your adrenaline pumping on an adventure experience. . https://www.carnival.com/cruise-to/alaska-cruises.aspx. Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage? From Mendenhall Glacier to Denali National Park, Alaska is a land of natural wonders. Some of your choices of shore excursions include the following: If your dream cruise vacation includes spectacular sunsets, serene natural settings and plenty of heart-pumping fun, check out our Alaska sailings. The Northern Lights Tracker gives real-time and three-day forecasts of Aurora data correlated to six different locations near Fairbanks, Alaska. Read Time – 4 Mins & 10 Secs. You'll likely be dealing with mosquitoes as well, but they're a small nuisance compared to all this majesty! If you want to see the northern lights, you have to be in the right place at the right time. The landscape turns brown, once again, before being covered in a blanket of white. Now that you know when and where to go to see the northern lights, you can start preparing to enjoy the incredible experience. These charged particles are present throughout the year, but they tend to be easiest to see in the winter months, when there’s enough darkness at night. The warmest weather wanes in August—it's been known to snow in August and evenings are chilly. As you’ll learn in this section, if you try to visit Alaska during the wrong season, your chances to see the northern lights are nil. Activities Your Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska in 2020 & Beyond Northern Lights Trip Guide. For the most part, it means that aurora viewing is going to be "very limited" anywhere north of Anchorage from mid-May until August. It seems that the entire landscape turns from brown to green in only a few days at the beginning of June. Our cancelation policy is more flexible than ever allowing you to cancel your trip up to 3 days before it begins. Glorious fall colors. Nordic skiing, winter biking and snowshoeing are optional activities but temperatures can drop below -40 degrees F. Denali National Park sits in the heart of the jaw-dropping Alaska Range, and can range from a frozen winter wonderland to the perfect summer getaway. Up in … By continuing to browse our site you are agreeing to our. Pursuit's Safety Promise is our commitment to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. But conditions must be right! Through this program, we will ensure that everyone feels safe at our experiences so that the power of our places can shine through. Depending upon cloud cover and weather, Alaska nights can be dark enough to highlight great auroras between mid-August through mid-April. As soon as Labor Day comes, Denali becomes quieter. Fairbanks. The regular shuttles into the park, as well as the day tours like Denali Backcountry Adventure, also begin mid-June. Viewing a great aurora depends upon solar activity, cloud cover, moon phase and proximity to light pollution. Wildlife move into hibernation or low-activity modes, and some migrate to warmer climates. Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by ship and destination. Mosquitoes are usually present in Denali from June through the end of July. Fall foliage starts early in Denali, usually towards the end of August when the tundra turns a brilliant golden rose color. We are just wondering if it may be possable to see the northern lights at this time of year? Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) The aurora is a beautiful, if hard to predict, phenomenon, that occurs year-round. Latitude is also a big factor. When is the best time to see the northern lights? Only in the fall, winter and early spring, however, is there enough darkness to allow us to see the northern lights when they occur. And you can't see the Northern Lights unless it is dark. Make sure you pick the right time to visit for your favorite activities and adventures. One of the best ways to experience Alaska is on a shore excursion. You can further improve your likelihood of seeing aurora borealis by getting familiar with the numerous online northern lights activity trackers and by planning a trip with the right tour operator. ), and difficult to predict. Activities, lodges and tours are usually booked solid so be sure to plan well ahead if you're hoping to come in July. Although the light show has been visible as far south as Hawaii, getting closer to the Arctic Circle gives you the best odds of catching it. June is also the month that lodges in and around Denali, including Denali Backcountry Lodge and Denali Cabins open for the summer. I know there is no guarantee of course but is it possable? My husband and I are about to plan a one-week trip to Alaska this August but are confused about which week to choose for the visit. “Iceland is a favourite because you can sometimes see volcanoes too,” he says. The Northern Lights can be seen from most places in Alaska at some point during the dark season between September and April, and there are many good viewing sites near Anchorage. If you are coming to Alaska JUST for the northern lights, then I wouldn't. That helps usher out mosquitoes, which will have disappeared from most areas of the park by August (except wetlands). the later in August you come to Alaska, the better your chances because you will have more hours of darkness for viewing. We inspire travelers and each other. For many people, seeing the northern lights is a major bucketlist item. This natural phenomenon takes place when charged particles from the sun enter the atmosphere and show up as shades of green, red, violet and white dancing in the night sky. When it comes to where you could go, Rodney recommends northern spots like Fairbanks, Alaska, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Churchill in Canada, and Iceland and northern Norway. Depending on conditions, private vehicles can go as far as Mile 30. Everyone can find something fun and enjoyable to do, from learning about the history and culture of the people who live there to watching the wildlife in its natural habitat. If you enjoy watching snowy weather from inside a cabin, or love to layer up in warm winter clothes and explore beautiful trails and terrains, a trip to Alaska to see the Northern Lights should be on your radar as a future vacation destination. Still, the Northern Lights are seen every year in August. It is also the best spot in the United States to see the northern lights, a show you don’t want to miss on your next Alaska cruise. There’s no guarantee you’ll see the light show no matter how carefully you plan your trip. Dress warmly and choose clothing you can wear in layers. Just so, can I see the northern lights in August? May, surprisingly, is the driest month for this area. When to See the Northern Lights: It’s possible to see the Aurora in late August, but due to the nights being so much lighter, it’s far less likely. A cloudy sky may block the view. This is where the earth’s magnetic pole is consistently weak enough for the sun’s charged particles to enter the atmosphere. Plowing begins on the Denali Park Road in mid-March, usually. Northern lights can be seen at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. This makes April through September the best time to cruise to Alaska to see the northern lights, especially near … And can we see them all year long? When you trade the palm trees of the Caribbean for the glaciers lining Alaska’s Inner Passage, you discover a completely different and fun cruise experience. When is the best time to come to Alaska to see the Northern Lights? Because days are shorter, you've got a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights in late August. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. A weak solar cycle can make the aurora appear less dramatic. It’s a remote and wild place that will wow you with panoramic views of the landscape and glimpses of the people and animals who call the 49th state home. They’re elusive, require (usually expensive) travel to far northern latitudes (and southern too! Denali National Park is open year-round. Regardless of the month, the key to your visit to Denali is getting organized ahead of time. Even if this happens, you can enjoy the rest of your cruise vacation and look for other opportunities to experience the wonders of the Alaskan wilderness. Fall foliage starts early in Denali, usually towards the end of August when the tundra turns a brilliant golden rose color. https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/5-places-see-northern-lights-usa An Alaska cruise with Cunard on the Queen Elizabeth is one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights, especially in August or September. Have I seen lights in late August? 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