{"id":2092,"date":"2024-11-25T22:18:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T22:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/detouron.com\/blog\/?p=2092"},"modified":"2025-01-04T23:08:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T23:08:48","slug":"things-to-do-alaska-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/detouron.com\/blog\/things-to-do-alaska-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska in Winter: Things to do between Anchorage and Fairbanks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The drive between Anchorage and Fairbanks in Alaska in winter offers a wealth of unique experiences, from breathtaking snowy landscapes to winter sports and cultural stops. Here are some activities and destinations you can enjoy along the way, in order from south to north.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dogsledding – Photo by Dennis Zhang on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center<\/a> (AWCC) is located in Portage Valley, about 40 miles south of Anchorage, surrounded by the breathtaking Chugach Mountain Range and the Turnagain Arm Inlet. It is home to a variety of native Alaskan wildlife such as moose, bison, bears, and wolves. Explore the center on a 1.5-mile scenic loop that you can drive, bike, or walk, or better yet, borrow a kick-sled from the visitor center. In winter, the center is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 10am-4pm. Entrance fee $25 per person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do in Anchorage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have time to stay and see Anchorage, here’s a quick list of possibilities: Rent a fat bike or nordic skis for the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail<\/a>. Shop for souvenirs – Anchorage and Fairbanks are tax-free cities! Visit the Anchorage Museum<\/a> and the Alaska Native Heritage Center<\/a>. Spend time in one or more local coffee shops and\/or breweries. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Dr.Vallabh Kulkarni<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Active Outdoor Winter Tours around Talkeetna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cross-country ski, fat bike, snowshoe, snowmobile, dog mushing, ice fishing. What else am I forgetting on this list? It’s all possible in Talkeetna! Talkeetna is a charming town about 2 hours north of Anchorage with a quirky, laid-back vibe, and great views of Denali (weather permitting). If you’re traveling on a budget, simply rent outdoor gear from Talkeetna Gear Shop<\/a>, such as fat bikes, cross-country (nordic) skis, or snowshoes. They also offer guided tours. Alaska Wild Guides<\/a> offer snowmobile and dog-sledding tours. You can even learn to mush<\/a> your own dog sled team! Snowhook Adventures<\/a> will take you ice fishing. And K2 Aviation<\/a> will fly you to a glacier in Denali (sorry, no glacier landing Dec-Feb).

On your way to Talkeetna, stop for a quick tour at Alaska Wild Harvest<\/a> to try authentic Birch Syrup. This makes for great souvenirs from Alaska! Gift shop open Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm in winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore Denali National Park on Snowshoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

About 3-4 hours north of Anchorage is the entrance to Denali National Park, a stunning winter landscape with opportunities for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The park road is closed to vehicles after mile 3 in deep winter, but you can still explore a few trails near the visitor center on foot. The Winter Visitor Center, the Murie Science and Learning Center, has snowshoes you can borrow. It also offers an indoor picnic area, restrooms, and a water bottle filling station, but no food. The closest services are in Healy, 11 miles north of the park entrance. You can visit the park’s\u00a0Sled Dog Kennels<\/a>\u00a0in winter, although the dogs are sometimes out on the trail. Open hours are hosted by a ranger on Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm, except for major holidays. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Denali Range seen from Parks Highway – Photo by Frank K.<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>
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Nenana Ice Classic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Nenana Ice Classic<\/a> is a contest that involves guessing the exact date and time the ice on the Tanana River will break up in the spring. Make a quick stop by the Nenana Ice Classic Office, an hour southwest of Fairbanks, to learn about the history of the event and submit your guess. For some reason it’s really difficult to find historical data of the event on the internet, so I’ve attached below a copy of the calendar they gave me in person. You can see that the ice usually breaks between April 20-May 20 and roughly between noon-7pm Alaska Standard Time. Of course there have been some outlier years, so gamble with your gut. You can submit as many guesses as you’d like at $3 per guess. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Nenana Ice Classic – Past Winning Dates and Times<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

University of Alaska Museum of the North<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re in Fairbanks in winter, the University of Alaska Museum of the North<\/a> is a great place to warm up when it’s dark during the day. It showcases a variety of exhibits related to Alaskan culture, natural history, and art. The exhibits on native cultures and the state’s wildlife, as well as the store of Alaska Bus 142<\/a>, are especially interesting. $20 admission includes 30-min film about the aurora borealis. Open daily 9am-5pm. Caf\u00e9 closed Sun-Mon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot Springs and Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs Resort<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

60 miles east of Fairbanks is the Chena Hot Springs Resort<\/a>. Exactly as it sounds, the 1-hour drive to dip in natural hot springs surrounded by snow is absolutely worth it! While there, also visit the Ice Museum<\/a>, which is kept at sub-zero temperatures year-round. The museum features incredible ice sculptures, ice furniture, and ice bars that are truly one-of-a-kind. Entrance fee $20 per person for the museum, includes an appletini in an ice glass at the ice bar. $20 for a day pass to the hot springs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winter is the best time to see the Aurora Borealis, and this is obviously the reason you’re going to Alaska in winter, right? Technically, there’s no “best place” to see the northern lights. Just drive out at night to a place away from city lights. You can use the Aurora Tracker app to guide you to an optimal location. The farther north you go, and the more remote the area, the better chances you have of catching the lights. On the strongest solar flare days, you can even watch the lights from your hotel window in downtown Fairbanks. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Northern Lights from Fairbanks Mike<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Alaskan Food and Drinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n