Alaska, the last frontier, is an awe-striking place to explore. From mountains, to wildlife, and adventurous activities the last frontier has so much to offer. Throughout the year, there is a plethora of things to see and many memories to last a life time.
Summer (June – August)
June through August is the typical time of year that most tourists visit Alaska. Make no mistake, Alaska is large enough to handle it (even those Texans… 😉 ). Activities are bountiful in the summer months. You can find just about every outdoor activity your heart desires. Recommended activities include: fishing, kayaking, whale watching, hiking, biking, ATVing, dog mushing, scenic tours, and plenty of opportunities to see Alaskan wildlife. You can even see more of the sun! With the sun being out up to 24 hours a day in some parts of Alaska, you will certainly understand why we call it the land of the midnight sun. The temperature can get up into the 90’s (Fahrenheit) in some areas, but majority of the time between May and August you can feel a beautiful 60 – 80 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Don’t forget to pack some rain gear, you can see rainy days throughout the summer months (though it certainly isn’t constant). Its no wonder why this time of the year is busier, there are so many activities available and places to see. Plus with all that sunlight, you can do almost anything any time of day (or night…).
Fall (September – October)
In September and October throughout Alaska the temperatures start to cool off. We also notice a change in sun light. At the beginning of September the sun is out about 14 hours a day, but by the end of October is out about 9 hours of the day. September 21st is the fall equinox where we hit the half way mark between the longest day of the year (June 21st) and the shortest day of the year (December 21st). September 21st generally has about 12 hours of sunlight during the day. As the light is changing rapidly, so are the plant colors. Fall is certainly alluring in Alaska. The trees change colors (except for the evergreens of course…) and the ground coverings also change, which make the mountains glow with colors. Its one of the best times to explore trails and see Alaska from a different point of view. Recommended activities include: hunting, hiking, biking, ATVing, Aurora Borealis chasing (northern lights), scenic tours, view Alaskan wildlife, and airplane tours. Though scenery is changing rapidly, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy.
Winter (November – March)
Winter is probably what most people picture when they envision Alaska. But, it is only a season in the majority of the last frontier. There are still plenty of outdoor activities to experience, and with the Alaskan frontier, you can try just about anything. Recommended activities include: ice fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snow-machine (Alaskan for snowmobiles) tours, glacier tours, ice-skating, Aurora Borealis chasing (northern lights), dog mushing, and watching the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (the last great race). This last one is a great feat and is amazing to read about; check out this link for more information on the “Iditarod – Last Great Race on Earth”. As you can imagine, the weather certainly gets colder during the winter season. Though Fairbanks (a major city in the interior of Alaska) can generally have its lowest temperature as -50 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks can see average temperatures between -15 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit in a winter season. Anchorage (Alaska’s largest city and located on the coast in south central Alaska) typically has a mild winter compared to some areas in the lower 48 (Alaskan for continental United States). Anchorage can see average temperatures between 14 and 31 degrees Fahrenheit in a winter season. Alaska can also see plenty of snow during this time frame. Depending on location you could see 8 feet fall within a 24 hour period, though this is not common to much of the Alaskan frontier. Generally most cities visited in Alaska will only have a foot or two of collected snowfall at one time. Roads are also cleared within a reasonable time frame. It does not take an adventurous person to explore Alaska in the winter, just a willing heart to see the white wilderness.
Spring (April – May)
After 5 months of cold temperatures and collected snow, spring finally arrives! Even if we do see a few snow showers in April, this just means more May flowers. The snow melts off fairly quickly during this short spring season. You can also see plenty of plants blooming during this major light change. In April we gain 5-6 minutes of sunlight per day, which means we gain about 3 hours to our day by the end of April! This certainly encourages all the arctic plants to start budding and growing quickly. Temperatures are also rising, which can be anywhere between 25 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to pack warm, waterproof layers! Animal activity is also increasing, birds are migrating in from southern locations and bears are starting to awaken from their winter hibernation. Recommended activities include: whale watching (May), fishing (May), scenic tours, ATVing, Alaskan wildlife viewing, and airplane tours. There are plenty of opportunities to see the last frontier and all the wild creatures that call Alaska home during the short spring season.
Any trip during any season needs someone there to organize the details!
If you are looking for an Alaskan Travel Agent or interested in what we offer, start the process of booking your Alaskan vacation by visiting our Contact page or email us at travelthelastfrontier@gmail.com. Come see what makes Alaska the last frontier!