As the plane was landing in Anchorage for my second trip to Alaska, I peeked out the window and noticed that everything looked yellow. Being from a place where foliage isn’t much of a thing, I didn’t know what that yellow was and I just thought Alaska was really dry this time around. Then it hit me: those were the colors of fall in Alaska, and I was in for a real treat.
Alaska is one of my favorite places in the world. I have already been there twice, and I can foresee going again as I love its breathtaking landscapes. I visited Alaska for the first time in August, towards the end of Alaska’s summer; but my second trip was in autumn, and I honestly think that this is the best season to visit.
Alaska in the fall is truly magical. Picture romantic foliage colors; cold, crips air against the clear skies; dazzling northern lights. Add to this better hiking weather and high chances of spotting wildlife and you’ll see why I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Alaska in autumn!
Curious to find out more? Continue reading, as I’ll give you the best reasons to visit Alaska in autumn. But first, let’s find out when exactly fall is in Alaska.
Are you traveling to Alaska for the first time? My post What To Know Before Traveling To Alaska has all the information you need to better prepare for your trip.
When Is Fall In Alaska?
Fall in Alaska starts more or less in mid or end of August, depending on the location, and the best month to experience fall in Alaska is September.
When I visited Alaska for the first time, I noticed fall colors already made their first appearance in late August in Denali National Park and other areas of Interior Alaska, and the beginning of September already looked like fall proper.
In South-Central Alaska – for example in Anchorage – fall starts a bit later, towards the end of August. On my second trip to Alaska, the fall colors in Anchorage were at their best at the end of September.
Fall starts slightly later (September) in the Southeast, where foliage is at its best in early October; whereas it starts earlier in Western Alaska, where fall colors are magnificent in early and mid September.
Compared to many other places in the world, Alaska experiences a relatively short autumn season (it lasts more or less one month, and the peak foliage season doesn’t last more than a couple of weeks), after which winter begins and snow starts falling.
Why You Should Travel To Alaska In Autumn
Beautiful foliage colors
One of the main perks of visiting Alaska in the fall is catching the foliage colors. The tundra landscapes of Denali National Park start turning red, orange and yellow around the end of August. I visited at the very beginning of September, and autumn was already in full swing.
Another place where you can admire foliage and fall colors is Hatcher Pass, which is easy to reach on day trips departing from Anchorage.
But honestly, you don’t even need to get out of Anchorage if a foliage experience is what you want. On our last day there, my friend and I rented e-bikes and rode along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail through the forest, and the views were just stunning (plus we got to see lots of moose).
This e-bike tour of Anchorage goes along the Tony Knowles trail and lasts approximately two hours. It’s a great way to learn more about the city with a local guide, while at the same time taking in the nature that surrounds it.
Wildlife sightings
Autumn is a great time to see animals in Alaska, and there are many fun places to visit in the season. Comes September, they are usually busy preparing for the winter. Bears are easy to spot on the shores of lakes and rivers, catching the last spawning salmons and fattening up in preparation for the winter. We saw lots of them during our visit to Lake Clark National Park.
Want to see bears in Alaska? My post Where To Go Bear Viewing In Alaska highlights the best spots to see bears and other wildlife in the country.
It’s also moose rutting (mating) season, and you don’t even need to venture far from Anchorage to see them – we saw several bulls, females and youngsters as we rode along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
You may also have a chance to see orcas (we saw lots during a cruise along Prince William Sound) and the last of the beluga whales before they migrate.
Hiking at its best
Alaska is hiking paradise, and of course you will want to go on a hike or two when you visit. Fall is the perfect season to go hiking in Alaska. Temperatures are still good for a hike. Just make sure to dress in layers you can take off and put on as the temperatures change, and don’t forget you will always need a rain jacket and rain pants too.
There are many trails you can tackle in the fall season – for example, the Harding Icefield trail near Seward; the Savage Alpine trail in Denali National Park; or one of the many scenic hikes in Hatcher Pass.
My post Where To Go Hiking In Alaska includes a selection of the best trails in the country and lots of useful tips for a wonderful hiking trip.
There are less tourists
The peak tourist season in Alaska is the summer (June to August). The days are longer and it’s also warmer, so of course there are more tourists around. The months of July and August are the busiest.
While Alaska is so vast that nowhere ever felt particularly crowded when I visited for the first time in August, there were a lot of people on the trails and on boat tours (which had to be booked well in advance), and restaurants were packed to the point that they all needed advanced reservations (some even had waiting lists).
It goes without saying that if you visit Alaska in the summer you need to book your accommodation well in advance. Visit in the fall, and you’ll have a much more relaxed experience with less tourists around.
It’s more budget-friendly
There’s no denying that Alaska is expensive, and prices skyrocket in the summer months.
Go to Alaska in the shoulder season, such as in the fall, and you’ll see that there’s more availability for hotels and other lodging, which are also a bit cheaper. Lots of tour companies also offer discounts and shoulder season prices.
This means that visiting Alaska during the fall is actually more budget-friendly (though don’t expect it to be cheap!).
It’s colder but sunnier
I found the weather in Alaska was better in the fall. August is one of the rainiest months in Alaska, and I can attest to that. On my first trip to Alaska in August, not a day went by without rain, and while on some days rain came and went, at times it was so incessant that it made it hard to explore and enjoy.
Of course, it can and will rain in Alaska during the fall. But somehow, September is actually drier. When I last visited Alaska at the end of September, we certainly had rain at some point, but we also had some glorious sunny days. It was colder, but the fact that it was dry and the sky was blue made it even more beautiful.
Northern lights
Another reason to visit Alaska in the fall is the chance of seeing the northern lights. Aurora Borealis season usually starts at the beginning of September, when nights start getting longer and darker.
Of course, there need to be some specific conditions to be able to see the northern lights – for example, clear skies and minimal light pollution. But you may be as lucky as my friend who caught the aurora borealis in the fall in Seward, just by the harbor.
Another prime location to see the northern lights is Fairbanks, which is further north. But if you aren’t traveling that far, you may be happy to know that various companies offer northern lights tours departing from Anchorage.
This northern lights photography tour from Anchorage departs between 9:30 and 10:30 pm and lasts 6 hours. It includes hotel pickup and drop off, hand and toe warmers and hot drinks, and you’ll also have the chance of renting photography equipment and a thick parka to protect you from the cold. The company running the tour will inform you by 2:00 pm whether the tour is taking place or not that night, based on the aurora forecast, and if it’s not running you’ll be automatically rebooked on the next available tour or be fully refunded.
Final Remarks
Alaska in autumn is a sight to behold. As summer fades, the colors start changing and leaves take bright golden and rich copper hues. Snow begins to dust the mountain peaks by late September – beginning of October, adding even more drama to the landscape.
You’ll find that fall in Alaska offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and peaceful exploration. It’ll be slightly colder than in the summer, but it’s also going to be a bit drier and there’ll be less people around, making it an ideal time for a hiking trip and to spot wildlife.
Autumn is also a great time to visit for a chance of seeing the northern lights.
If you are into photography, you’ll have a great time snapping endless photos of the fall colors, of Alaska’s wildlife and of the northern lights.
Your fall trip to Alaska will be truly unforgettable, regardless of whether you’re seeking adventure or simply looking to immerse yourself in the magical beauty of this incredible country.
Legal Disclaimer: I was a guest of Travel Alaska on my latest trip, and wish to thank them for the fantastic experiences. Regardless of that, the views expressed in this post remain my own.
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