Best time to visit Alaska

January in Alaska

Northern Lights Winter wilderness Dogsledding

No one can accuse the days in January of being long – there are still only about 3-4 hours of daylight in the south – but the days are certainly getting longer. There’s plenty of snow for dogsledding among the valleys of the coastal mountains. It’s still seriously wintry in Alaska in January, so brace yourself for daytime temperatures of -16°C – and that’s in milder inland cities like Fairbanks.

February in Alaska

Lighter days Hot springs Cheaper prices

The days get progressively longer in February until, before you know it, you’ve got a full 10 hours of daylight at the end of the month. Denali is much more visible, when its reflective snowy peak shimmers on the horizon like a mirage on blue-sky days (which happen increasingly often as spring approaches). There are few tourists, so prices are cheaper in Alaska in February too. Approach the weather like an Alaskan. They generally think that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

March in Alaska

Winter activities Northern Lights Snow and sunshine

March is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. While the nights get shorter, the skies get clearer – excellent news for those with their eyes on the skies. Expect up to 15 hours of daylight for winter activities like dog sledding and snowshoeing around Fairbanks. There’s a feeling of winter sidling into spring, especially as moose, lynx and caribou start to move around more, leaving tell-tale prints and trails in the snow. The first whales begin to arrive in Alaska in March, completing their epic migration from Baja California.

April in Alaska

Very quiet First hiking trails open Last of winter

Alaska takes a breather in April, with many hotels and activity centers shutting up shop. Melting snow means that it’s not the best time for winter activities. Nights are shorter, so there’s also less chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The perks of Alaska in April? It’s a decent time to experience the state as local people know it. The mid-melt landscapes aren’t as attractive for tourists; many Alaskans, however, take this chance to celebrate the first clear trails and awakening shorelines by pulling on their hiking boots and slipping into their kayaks.

May in Alaska

Bear watching begins Small ship cruises start A short, dry spring

Alaska opens for business in May, when it starts beating the lower US states for daylight hours. It’s the very start of the tourist season, so prices are cheaper and there are fewer visitors. Spring is short and sweet in Alaska, but May is when you’ll catch it. If you’re wondering about what to do in Alaska in May, wildflowers along the coastlines make for pretty hikes and bear watching starts as grizzlies emerge from hibernation with curious cubs in tow. Temperatures become pleasant at the end of the month, reaching 13°C in Anchorage. May often sees the driest weather – even drier than the summer.

June in Alaska

Wildlife watching Midnight sun Approaching peak Alaska summer season

June is one of the best times to be in Alaska, with up to 24 hours of sunlight depending on where you are… and what seems like 24 hours’ worth of activities and festivals. Sunshine and temperatures of around 20°C in the south make for near limitless visibility that’s great for bear and whale watching. Denali Park Road – the only road in this spectacularly mountainous national park – opens in June. By the end of the month, even the most northerly trails are usually accessible. Alaska in June comes with one warning, however: watch out for the worst of mozzie season.

June is great for an Alaska salmon run adventure