Conde Nast Traveler put Anchorage at the top of its list for U.S. travel destinations this year, citing outdoor adventures, a new Nordic spa, and northern lights views. Northern lights flicker from August to April, salmon roil downtown’s Ship Creek, and moose make guest appearances along a 100-mile trail network. Many travellers fly here for a multi-day stay before cruises or journeys along the Alaska Railroad – which is celebrating 100 years in 2023.

Wedged between a majestic sea and the towering Chugach Mountains, Anchorage plays basecamp to Alaska’s vast wilderness.

Welcome to Alaska’s First Nordic Spa and the winter opening of Alaska Glacier Lodge.

A winding road leads you deep into the mountains to the lodge for northern lights viewing and glacier helicopter tours, including flightseeing, ice climbing, and dog sledding. When adults-only Alyeska Nordic Spa opened last September – the first Nordic spa in the state – Anchorage also became Alaska’s most accessible wellness destination, pairing all that nature with an equal measure of indulgence.

If you love the great outdoors as much as comfort and privacy, Alaska Glacier Lodge is your perfect Alaska accommodation, and it is now open in winter. Temperate rainforest surrounds Finnish and Russian-style saunas amid the spa’s 50,000-square-foot bathing circuit, which is part of Alyeska Resort. Summer means mountain bike rides and glacier hikes in this award-winning ski area.

5 Best Spots to See the Northern Lights in Anchorage.

Spotting the northern lights can depend on everything from weather conditions to the presence of man-made light, so to maximize your chances, it’s best to be in a location known for clear, dark skies.

When the skies are clear and solar conditions are right, these are some of the top places to see the northern lights in Anchorage. Fortunately, one doesn’t have to travel far from downtown Anchorage to find prime aurora-viewing locales.

1. Glen Alps

The Glen Alps trailhead parking lot is a high-elevation vantage point for northern lights above the city.

2. Point Woronzof

At the northwestern edge of the city, this coastal park has great northern exposure along the shore of Cook Inlet.

3. Eklutna Trailrace and Knik River Valley

The Knik River drainage has a northern horizon without any mountains. The area offers good visibility even when the aurora is low on the horizon.

4. Girdwood

The Chugach Mountains shield the quaint ski town of Girdwood from Anchorage’s city lights, and the Alyeska Resort offers a northern lights wakeup call.

5. Eagle River Nature Center

At the end of Eagle River Road, the Eagle River Nature Center is an entrance point to Chugach State Park and a serene spot that seems a world away from daily life.

With more than 135 miles of paved trails, the nation’s third-largest state park, first-class amenities and a blend of cultures found only in Alaska, Anchorage lives a Big Wild Life.

For information on Anchorage’s wild adventures and urban delights, visit www.Anchorage.net.

 

 

Written by: William Trevan

 

 

 

 

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