Anchorage Aurora Tour: Northern Lights Photos from Chugach

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/24

Duration6h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Six hours chasing the aurora across Chugach State Park, with a photographer's eye and a tripod in hand

This is the longest-running northern lights photo tour in the Anchorage area, running from August through late April. A professional photographer guide picks you up at your hotel and takes you to viewing locations in and around Chugach State Park—Glen Alps trailhead, Mt. Baldy, and the Palmer area near Hatcher Pass—where you'll photograph the aurora and learn the science behind it. No photography experience is required. The tour runs only if the daily forecast shows a chance of seeing the northern lights, and if you don't see them, you get a free make-up tour. You can reserve multiple nights and pay 48 hours before each departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Aurora viewing and photo tour

Pick up from Anchorage hotel
Visit Glen Alps trailhead overlook
Stop at Mt. Baldy trailhead viewpoint
Explore Palmer area from Knik River to Hatcher Pass
Observe and photograph northern lights

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Anchorage hotel in the evening, then heads out to Chugach State Park. Your guide—a professional photographer—does a daily forecast update for both the aurora and weather before committing to the night, so the tour only runs when conditions favor a sighting. This means you're not driving out on a guess; the decision is made on data. The 6-hour window gives you time to reach multiple viewing spots and wait for the lights to move across the sky, rather than rushing through a single location.

You'll spend most of the night in the Palmer area and around Hatcher Pass Management Area, with possible stops at Glen Alps trailhead—where a short walk leads to an overlook of the city and a wide view north—or Mt. Baldy, which sits at high elevation and opens up expansive views. Your guide teaches you how to photograph what you're seeing, so whether you came with a camera or just your phone, you'll learn to capture the aurora instead of just watching it. Tripod, blanket, coffee and tea are included; snacks keep you fueled through the cold hours.

Because the aurora and weather are natural phenomena, sightings aren't guaranteed—but if you don't see the northern lights, the tour gives you a free make-up night to try again. The Reserve Now & Pay Later system lets you book multiple nights in advance and only finalize payment 48 hours before each one, so you can hedge your bet across several clear-sky forecasts without committing the full cost upfront.

What’s included

Hotel pickup in Anchorage.
professional photographer guide in English.
state park admission fees.
tripod.
blanket.
coffee and tea.
snacks.
aurora portraits taken during the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alaska Photo Treks

Is this one for you?The 6-hour commitment means you can't fit this into a half-day itinerary, but it also means you're not rushed—you have time to reach multiple viewing spots and wait for the aurora to move across the sky instead of chasing it from one location to another. Book multiple nights across your stay and only pay 48 hours before each one, so you can chase clear forecasts without locking in the full cost upfront.