Alaska Northern Lights and Snowshoe Tour Northbound
Anchorage to Fairbanks
5.0 (5 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Northern Lights Viewing
- Quiet Trails
- Gorgeous Mountain Views
- Wildlife Encounters
- Denali Views
- Intimate Alaskan Lodges
Description
While March and April are the peak of spring time in the Continental USA, in Alaska these months are a perfect time to have a winter experience of “The North.” As the dark heart of the Alaskan winter gives way to longer days and clear, sunny skies, at night the Northern Lights continue to light up the horizon. What this means for you is that it’s an opportune time to explore Alaska in its most peaceful and pristine season, when the crowds and bugs are nowhere to be seen, the landscape is in a pure state, and the Aurora Borealis are dancing across the night sky.
We’ll venture out on snowshoes by day to explore the Alaskan wilderness, gain views of Denali (North America’s tallest peak at 20,310′), discover the magic of the Kenai Peninsula and hopefully spot some wildlife. After our hikes we’ll retire to cozy lodges and cabins, then venture out again in the evenings to – with any luck – see the breathtaking Northern Lights. Join us for an experience of Alaska at its best!
Important: this tour is also offered as a southbound option from Fairbanks to Anchorage, following the same itinerary in reverse. If the dates for this tour don’t fit your schedule, we recommend checking out the Alaska Northern Lights and Snowshoe Tour Southbound for additional departures.
$725 Single Supplement
The single supplement guarantees your own room. If you would like to forego the single supplement, you can request to be paired with a roommate of the same gender. If we are unsuccessful in pairing you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This tour features daily activities with moderate distances and elevation gains and losses. The difficulty of snowshoeing can be variable depending on snow conditions. The depth of the snow, and whether it’s dry, crusty, icy…etc. can all make the hikes more or less strenuous.
Hiking Distances:
Up to 7 Miles
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 1300 feet
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Snowshoe and hike uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain, potentially deep snow, and icy or crusty snow conditions
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Alaska winter adventure a solitude 4. You can expect to see a couple other groups of hikers per day.
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
On this tour you may have the option of choosing between two different accommodations on Nights 4 and 5.
- Rustic, Alpine Cabins at Hatcher Pass Lodge
At Hatcher Pass Lodge, we stay in rustic cabins without running water. Each cabin has a marine style toilet. Running water and communal showers are available in the main lodge. The value of this accommodation is in its dramatic, alpine setting. - Modern, Hotel Style Rooms Mat-Su Resort
Another option is to stay at Mat-Su Resort on the shores of gorgeous Wasilla Lake. This hotel has private bathrooms, running water, wifi and more.
PRIVATE TRIPS
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
PRIVATE RATES FOR THIS TRIP
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
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ITINERARY
Day 1
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hiking Distance: 3.5-6.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 400-800 feet
Beginning in Anchorage, for our first adventure we head to Chugach State Park, which is one of America’s most expansive state parks, and is in fact comparable to many national parks. Your guide will show you how to securely fasten your snowshoes, and we’ll set off to explore the majestic forests of south-central Alaska. We’re less than 500 feet above sea level here, and the flora may surprise you, as it’s characterized by Cottonwoods and a variety of pine, spruce and fir. We’ll keep a sharp eye out for wildlife as we hike. This area is rich habitat for moose, lynx, fox, eagles, owls and even wolves. Following the day’s hike we’ll turn north into the Talkeetna Mountains and settle in to our private cabins at Hatcher Pass, or our modern hotel rooms on the shores of Wasilla Lake. We will regularly check out the forecasts for both weather and solar activity, which are the factors that affect the northern lights. If the conditions look favorable we dress warm and head outside to enjoy the aurora borealis dancing above the towering mountains.
Day 2
- Drive Time: minimal to 45 minutes
- Hiking Distance: 3-8 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000 feet
On our second day we will walk into the open air for views of gorgeous mountain terrain all around us. After a hearty breakfast to fuel the day’s activities, we’ll leave from Hatcher Pass Lodge and ascend a groomed trail. Our destination is the historic Independence Mine site, where we’ll check out the buried structures and imagine what life was like for the miners living and working at Hatcher Pass in the 1800s.
After the morning hike we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and then head out for the second adventure of the day. We’re heading up the Gold Mint Trail along the headwaters of the Little Susitna River. This area, buried in snow, will look and feel like the dazzling, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas or Alps, yet we’re only at an elevation of 3,000 feet and close to the coast. These two factors lead to mild winter weather at Hatcher Pass, which the locals consider their best kept secret.
We’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and then head outside to hopefully catch the Northern Lights, which with the alpine ridges and peaks of Hatcher Pass as the backdrop, can be wonderfully dramatic.
Day 3
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hiking Distance: 4-6.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 500-800 feet
Before departing Hatcher Pass, we’ll enjoy one more foray as we hike out towards Glacier Pass and Reed Lakes for stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Then we head north along the Talkeetna Range to the town of Talkeetna. Tonight’s accommodation sits on a hill above Talkeetna, and provides our first chance to potentially see Mount Denali. We’ll cap off today with a delicious meal, hot drinks, and get some rest in preparation for tomorrow’s hike.
Day 4
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hiking Distance: 5-7 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 800-1300 feet
We’ll start today with a hot breakfast, coffee and fruit, then make our way toward Denali State Park. En route we’ll keep an eye out for moose, which are a relatively common sight on today’s drive. Our hike is a thrilling snowshoe trek to Curry Ridge, which boasts breathtaking views of Denali. Curry Ridge is arguably the best lower elevation place to gaze upon Denali’s grandeur. We’ll spend the day on Curry Ridge, enjoy a picnic lunch and eventually return to Talkeetna and the shores of the Susitna River for a hot dinner, warm drinks and – with any luck – another opportunity to catch the Northern Lights.
Day 5
- Drive Time: 6 hours
- Hiking Distance: 3-5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 500 feet
Today is incredibly special as we approach the Alaska Range and get to visit famous Denali National Park. In the morning we will set out on a snowshoe hike around the frozen Byers Lake in hopes of gaining views of Mount Denali. Leaving the lake and continuing north, we’ll keep an eye out for caribou and views of the famous summit, eventually stopping at the science center in Denali Park to get a glimpse of an unusually quiet scene at a park that is usually very crowded throughout the summer. If we’re lucky, we might see the park’s working sled dog ‘canine rangers’ before continuing our journey north to the famous Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Day 6
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hiking Distance: 4-6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 500-800 feet
On the final day of our Alaska experience, we will head out on a very unique snowshoe hike along pristine Angel Creek. As well as being a premier destination for Northern Lights viewing, the Chena River Valley is famous as a winter wonderland for both locals and visitors eager to experience the wonders of Alaska. We will snowshoe once again through the tundra along frozen creek beds and absorb the magic of a scene that many people picture when they think of Alaska. Returning to Fairbanks, it’s a bittersweet end to an incredible adventure.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- 5 nights of double occupancy lodging (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Top-of-the-line daypack, snowshoes and trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- Transportation from your hotel in Anchorage and ending in Fairbanks
- Entrance fees and national park permits
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to the national parks
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
We provide all your meals from breakfast the first day through lunch the last day. Your guide will prepare breakfasts and lunches with a variety of hot and cold meals that are appropriate for the day’s activities. Feel free to tell us about your food preferences, as we’re more than happy to tailor the menu to your needs/desires. For dinners, we’ll visit local restaurants you’re sure to enjoy!
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Snowshoes
- Leki trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group at 6PM at the Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport the evening before your trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days in advance to coordinate the rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have.
This trip ends in Fairbanks, AK.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and its connecting flights from many major US cities make Anchorage very accessible. The major airlines that fly to Anchorage are Delta, United, American, Alaska Airlines and Sun Country. Direct flights are often available from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Because this tour ends in Fairbanks, you may want to fly back to Anchorage for your return flight. Flights from Fairbanks to Anchorage are a short 45-minute duration, are offered multiple times every day, and tend to be very affordable.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time during the pre-trip communication. Generally, you can expect it to be around 7 am, although the exact time will depend on several factors such as planned activities, current weather and road conditions. On the final day of the trip, you can expect a return to Fairbanks around 6 pm, and your guide will drop you off at your hotel. Note: A variety of circumstances can influence our timeline on the final day of a trip, therefore Wildland Trekking does not guarantee return times.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. uninterrupted for a minimum of 8 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in Alaska
This trip covers a dramatic diversity of terrain from coastal areas to mountains and tundra to glaciers. The weather will be largely dependent on which ecosystem you’re at the moment hiking in, so it’s best to be prepared for a range of temperatures and conditions. Read below for average high and low temperatures in different parts of the Alaska:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Denali
|
Kenai
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
March
|
25°
|
0°
|
.5 in
|
35°
|
16°
|
.64 in
|
||
|
April
|
40°
|
17°
|
.4 in
|
45°
|
27°
|
.59 in
|
||
Accommodations
Hatcher Pass Lodge
0-2 NIGHTS
Perched in a glacial-carved valley above treeline at 3,000 feet in the Talkeetna Mountains, this rustic lodge is in a perfect spot to experience the full spectrum of outdoor adventure in Alaska. We will enjoy individual, cozy, charmingly rustic cabins. The value of this accommodation is in its superb location and its perfect reflection of Alaskan culture. (dry cabins with marine style toilets, flush toilets and showers available in main lodge)
Mat-Su Resort
0-2 NIGHTs
Mat-Su Resort is a boutique hotel on the shores of a gorgeous lake with sweeping views of the Chugach Mountain Range, one of Alaska’s most famous ranges. It has 12 rooms, all with modern amenities and either a balcony view or a front veranda so you can soak up the beauty of Alaska.
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
0-2 NIGHTs
Perched on a ridge, looking down on the town of Talkeetna, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge offers breathtaking views of the tallest peak in North America, Denali. This lodge features the highlights of Alaska, inside and outside. Outside, we’re right in the action where we can explore Denali and beyond. Inside, guests enjoy a cozy fire in a classic rock fireplace, award-winning food, friendly service—and a great place to recuperate between hikes! (private bathrooms/showers, wifi)
Susitna River Lodge
0-2 NIGHTS
The Susitna River Lodge is a majestic Alaskan lodge located on the shores of the Susitna River and just a short jaunt (5-10 minutes) from the charming and historic downtown area of Talkeetna, Alaska. This classical Alaskan lodge is cozy, clean and put us right in the action for our snowshoe adventure. (private bathrooms/showers, wifi)
Chena Hot Springs Resort
1 NIGHT
Enjoy one night in an eco-friendly resort in the Alaskan wilderness! What our guests love about this lodge are the geothermal hot springs lake, outdoor and indoor hot tubs, as well as heated indoor pools. This unique accommodation puts us right in the action and tops it off with amazing hot springs. (hot springs, heated pool, hot tubs, private bathrooms, showers, wifi)
*These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used
Trip Reviews
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- HIGH - LOW
Trudy P
Kudos all around Wildland!
Our Alaska trip was delightful! It was especially so, given our guide. Drew W. went beyond the call of duty to make sure we were well attended to - and especially, well fed! We were lucky with the weather, having a clear view of Mt. Denali and the evening ski. Our lodging was terrific too. Kudos all around Wildland!
Robert F
Alaska winter experience was fantastic
As someone who has been to Alaska in the summer only, and whose only view of Denali as of clouds, I can testify that the Alaska winter experience was fantastic and completely different than the summer experience. Totally different. Our guide Drew has designed the perfect itinerary for 6 days of experiencing Alaska in the winter months. Accommodations were great, and very representative of local atmosphere. Restaurant choices were first rate. The hikes were enjoyable and not overly challenging, and Drew had lots of options to modify the hikes to fit the group's desires and fitness level. Drives were not overly long, and Drew broke them up with hikes and other stops of interest. I can't over-state what a different experience it is to see Alaska in the winter, and how the beautiful the mountains were, completely different perspective than summer trips in Alaska!
Trina J
Good food, good times..great trip!!
I highly recommend Northern Lights Snowshoe trip for anyone wanting to experience Alaska snowshoe adventures and still have warm food, drinks and lodge waiting when you get off the trail.
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