The worst time to visit Alaska
Alaska is a beautiful state, and I was lucky enough to visit it recently. It’s a wonderful place to see the northern lights, bears and salmon. But, be sure to avoid visiting Alaska at the worst time. The summer would provide longer days to enjoy the landscape, but winter would be better for seeing bears along salmon streams. Fall is also an awesome time to see bears along salmon streams if that’s more your thing. No matter what time of year you choose, your trip will be amazing!
It was amazing, but here’s the worst time to visit.
With a little planning, you can visit Alaska anytime of year. It’s true that the weather can get cold in the winter months (January and February are the coldest), but there’s plenty to do on your trip even if it does.
The summer offers longer days for seeing all the highlights of Alaska: wildflowers and bears along stream banks, whales swimming off shore, glaciers calving into icebergs. Fall is also a great time to visit because it offers some of nature’s most spectacular shows—from salmon streams full of spawning salmon to moose rutting season and leaf color changes in Denali National Park.
The weather can be very cold in Alaska.
The worst thing about Alaska is that weather can be very cold. Summer days are warm and pleasant, but evenings are cool, even when the sun is shining brightly. If you plan to spend time outside at night during the summer months, bring a jacket or sweater for evening activities such as stargazing or hiking in national parks.
The temperature drops dramatically at night during the winter months (October through March). Bring warm clothing and boots if you plan to stay outside after dark during this season. You may also want to consider staying indoors until the sun rises if your accommodations don’t have heaters or fireplaces; while temperatures tend not to fall below freezing in most areas, it’s best to stay on the side of caution when dressing for winter weather in Alaska to avoid bad experience.
Winter is the best time to see the northern lights.
If you’re visiting Alaska in winter, you can expect to see a lot of snow and ice. The summer months are the least ideal time for viewing the northern lights because it’s too warm for them to appear. In general, if you want to see the northern lights in winter (when they’re brightest), then December through March is your best bet, though you might have better luck with clear weather during mid-January or February.
The summer would provide longer days to enjoy the landscape.
If you’re looking for a great time to explore Alaska, the summer months would be a better choice. During these months, it’s not uncommon for the days to last an extra hour or two, so you can enjoy without having the worst time to see the rich landscape even longer.
Also, if you’re interested in seeing wildlife, summertime is actually one of the best times to do so. In areas where there are lots of glaciers and mountains with snow on them year-round (like Denali Park), there’s much less chance that bears will come wandering close by during the wintertime, so they’ll often be more active in warmer temperatures.
That said: if your goal is visiting Denali National Park specifically or seeing both wildlife and northern lights together (with no preference as far as which weather conditions work best), then fall might actually be your ideal time for this trip!
Fall is a great time to see bears along salmon streams.
This is one of the best times to witness a bear family feasting on fish as they come upriver to spawn. The bears have survived the salmon’s three-year cycle and can now gorge themselves on their favorite food: fresh, fatty fish!
You may also see the northern lights (aurora borealis). The sun’s activity increases during fall and winter months, which cause solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which may trigger geomagnetic storms that can lead to auroras at night. These colorful displays occur when charged particles from the sun reach our planet’s atmosphere and collide with oxygen atoms, giving off light energy in various hues of green, blue-green or red depending on their altitude.
Alaska is an incredible place.
The state is a great place to visit (not during the worst time), but you should be aware that it’s different from other areas of the United States. There are many things to do in Alaska and it’s possible for you to enjoy yourself there if you plan ahead and make sure your trip goes smoothly.
You can see wildlife such as whales, seals, and bears. You can also hike in the mountains or fish along rivers and streams by rafting through them.
No matter what time of year you choose, your trip to Alaska will be amazing!
While it’s true that July and August can be uncomfortably hot in most parts of the state, they are also the only time when you’ll feel a little bit of summer sun on your face. If you’re looking for long days, spectacular views, and cooler temperatures (with a chance of rain as well), then summer is an ideal time to visit Alaska.
Summertime typically brings longer days so you have more time to enjoy the landscape with more hours of sunlight than any other season in Alaska (except perhaps winter). It’s also bear season – meaning that many bears leave their dens in early summer and start wandering around looking for food like salmon streams or berries. Another perk? You’ll have an easier time finding open campsites during this busy season.
Fall has some similar benefits with shorter lines at parks as tourists head home before winter hits! Fall is also prime bear territory as they prepare for hibernation throughout September through November each year. The fall foliage might be one of your main reasons why you want to visit Alaska – it’s stunning!
Conclusion: worst time to visit Alaska
We hope this article gave you some insights into the best and worst time to visit Alaska. There’s no doubt that no matter when you choose, your trip will be amazing!
