Anchorage Aurora Tour: Northern Lights Photos from Chugach
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.
Information
Lasts 6h, runs every day at 22:00, from US$ 315 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated today
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.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What do I actually do on this tour? Just watch, or do I get to photograph the aurora myself?
You photograph the aurora with guidance from a professional photographer. Your guide teaches you how to set up and shoot the lights, so you'll learn new photography skills whether you arrive with a DSLR or a smartphone. Tripod and blanket are provided.
Does the tour run every night, or only on certain nights?
The tour runs only if the daily forecast indicates a chance of seeing the aurora and favorable weather. Your guide does a forecast update before each departure, so the decision is based on real conditions, not a fixed schedule.
What happens if we don't see the northern lights?
If the aurora doesn't appear during your tour, you receive a free make-up tour to try again on another night when conditions are better.
Where exactly do you take people to see the lights?
Most of the tour takes place in the Palmer area and around Hatcher Pass Management Area in Chugach State Park. Possible stops include Glen Alps trailhead, where a short walk reaches an overlook with wide views north, and Mt. Baldy, which offers high elevation and expansive northern views.
How long is the tour, and what's included to stay warm?
The tour runs 6 hours. Included are a blanket, coffee and tea, snacks, a tripod, and state park admission fees. Everything you need to stay comfortable while waiting for the lights.
Can I book multiple nights if the forecast doesn't look good on my first night?
Yes. You can reserve as many nights as you like and use the Reserve Now & Pay Later system to finalize payment only 48 hours before each departure, so you can book across several forecasts and only pay for the nights you actually go.
Anchorage Aurora Tour: Northern Lights Photos from Chugach
6h · EN
from US$ 315 per person