Whenever I tell people I live in Juneau, Alaska full-time, one of the questions that I get is: even during the winter? I can imagine their minds are filled with images of sled dogs, sub-zero degree temperatures and ice fishing. Ironically, the winter temperatures in Juneau often do not feel as cold as the winters that I experienced in Chicago, sitting right next to Lake Michigan and the frozen breeze that rolled from the lake to on-land.
Alaska remains one of the best destinations for winter discovery, adventure and fun! While temperatures are frigid and the darkness can make the season feel long, the state boasts incredible opportunities.
Adventure Activities: If you just like being outdoors and have the proper warm gear, almost anything is possible and the outdoor culture moves seamlessly from Fall harvest into the winter sports mindset (even the local Costco sells snowshoes!). Snow machines (snow mobiles) fat tire bikes and ice skates are dusted off and put to good use.
Skiing - downhill and cross country: Cross country skiing is a popular sport during the winter with some local towns and areas grooming trails for people to use. In Juneau, you can keep up with the local ski club via their Facebook page and you can also rent skis if you are visiting. Eaglecrest (on Douglas Island which is right across from Juneau) is a downhill ski resort with chair lifts and the biggest ski resort in Alaska is located in Girdwood, which is about a 45 minute drive right outside of the Anchorage area. There are smaller downhill ski locations but these are two of the most well-known.
Heli-skiing and Ice climbing: Valdez, Alaska is known for its frigid temperatures and incredible mountain peaks. During the winter, they receive a lot of snow (on average, 330 inches per winter) and getting outside is a way of life. If you are into extreme sports, consider heli-skiing in the area. Once the waterfalls freeze over, ice climbers will start gathering and find their way up the frozen path.
Fishing: In Juneau (and probably elsewhere in Southeast), there is a short King Salmon season that people will go out and troll for (“Winter Kings”). While I have never partook in this experience, it is a popular time with the local anglers and everyone seems cheerful when there’s a good fishing story to tell later on.
One of my favorite things to do is to check out the Aurora Borealis.
I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to see Lady Aurora so I headed to Fairbanks. There’s a local vendor who picked up a few of us photographers up at the Marriott Hotel late into the evening and took us about an hour away. Once we got out to this spot, there was complete darkness and she was shining beautifully. What I loved most about this excursion was that we all had our camera gear AND enough time to take as many photographs as we wanted.
The cold was biting and I’m thankful for the extra warmth from my hand warmers, especially because I took my hands in / out of my gloves to maneuver my camera several times. The operator drove us to 3 different locations so that we could have different vantage points. Seeing the aurora in action was one of those lifelong bucket list items that I was able to check off my list.
Events: There are quite a few events that are put on during the winter months - one of the most well-known is the Iditarod. Typically, the Iditarod will kick off with a celebration in Anchorage and the ‘real’ race will start in Willow. Over the years, the start location may change due to other things going on (ex. 2025 it started from Fairbanks). Lesser known events but still phenomenal experiences are Fur Rondy which is a Winter Festival in Anchorage or the Holiday Train event that the Alaska Railroad puts on which enables families to ride the train with Santa. Talkeetna has a Winterfest that I hear is a ‘must experience’ and so many of the small towns in Alaska have similar events.
While Alaska can be intimidating during the winter, it is more approachable than you probably expect. The outdoor community is alive and anxious for the next day of chilly temperatures and so much of Alaska’s culture is about embracing nature’s cold blanket. There are quite a few events and activities happening throughout the darker days that keep our spirits alive. Come check out what Alaska has to offer during the winter!