Alaska is one of the most beautiful wilderness destinations in the world, but there are better times to visit it than others. Though there are things to do in Alaska at all times of the year, the spring and summer activities are a good deal more popular than the fall and winter ones. Join Viewcation as we explore the best time to visit Alaska, month by month.
April
The first month of the year is January, but the first month of the year in Alaska may as well be April. April is when the majority of cruise ships start sailing, though you may be able to find a few lines sending out ships as early as March. Despite the fact that things start heating up in April, it’s still a ways from being the most popular month to visit Alaska.
One of the benefits of visiting Alaska during the month of April as compared to later in the spring or summer is the fact that the nights are still long enough to give tourists the chance to see the northern lights. Also referred to as the aurora borealis, the northern lights are a naturally occurring phenomenon involving lights in the sky, and they are one of the many reasons that people come to Alaska from all over the world. April certainly isn’t the best month to see the northern lights. They are far more prominent during the winter months, when nights are at their longest. Still, those looking to kill two birds with one stone by going on a cruise and still having the chance to see the northern lights may find visiting Alaska during the month of April enticing.
Besides the chance to see the northern lights, another reason that tourists may prefer to schedule their cruise in April as compared to one of the summer months would be the fact that cruise lines might make it worth their while financially. Since April isn’t the most popular month for cruises, cruise lines often offer significant discounts to tourists that are willing to visit Alaska during the springtime. If you’re looking to visit Alaska on a budget while still taking in some of what make it so popular to visit in the late spring and the summer, then this is another reason that you might prefer scheduling your visit to Alaska in the month of April.
Finally, one last reason that you may want to visit Alaska in April is because of the Pacific herring migration. This natural phenomenon causes plenty of orca and humpback whales to come up close to the surface, where they may be spotted by cruise-goers. Orca and humpback whales love snacking on Pacific herring, and catching them in action may be the highlight of your trip! The spring is also when bears in the area come out of hibernation, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to see one if that’s when you plan your visit.
May
May is the next month that we’ll be taking a look at. May is when tourists really start piling into Alaska, but it’s still not the number-one best month to visit. Things are getting warmer and there’s more daylight. However, it’s not quite the summer and the majority of kids are still in school. Because of this, you’ll find that there are far fewer people scheduling trips to Alaska in May then in June and July. Even so, May has it’s advantages, and you’ll still find some crowds!
If you’re looking to do more than cruise the waters of Alaska, then May is a much better time to visit than April. Things are warming up, so you won’t have to face too uncomfortable of temperatures in order to check out Alaska’s bustling wildlife and beautiful natural scenery. There are plenty of wildlife-viewing opportunities to be had while visiting Alaska during the month of May, with harbor seals and gray whales commonly popping up. On land, you’ll find such creatures as wolves, moose, sheep, and even lynx. Finally, it’s a bit cheaper to visit Alaska during the month of May then it is during the months of June and July. However, it’ll be hard to find quite as good of a deal as you would during April.
June
June and July are considered to be the peak months to visit Alaska, though July generally beats it’s predecessor out in the polls. The months pose similar advantages, with the main one being the summer weather. Weather you’re looking to take a cruise or to explore the land, there’s plenty to do while visiting Alaska in June. You’ll find beautiful waters when you look out to the sea and lush landscapes when you look towards Alaska itself. This is the perfect time for visiting locations such as Denali National Park. The park can get extremely crowded during July, but it’s still relatively reasonable to navigate during the month of June.
As far as wildlife is considered, there’s are a ton of creatures that animal lovers may get the chance to see while visiting Alaska during the month of June. In the water, you’ll be able to see such things as beluga whales and harbor seal pups. On land, there are mountain goats, caribou, and black bears. If you’re looking to visit Alaska during one of it’s peak months, then June is a great contender. However, if you’re looking to get the ultimate Alaska experience, then you may prefer scheduling your visit during the number-one month.
July
July is the number-one most popular month to visit Alaska, and it’s likely pretty easy to see why for anyone that has experienced it at different times of the year. As we’ve already established, July is when the nights are shortest and the weather is warmest. While this may mean that July is the worst time to come to Alaska to see the northern lights, it’s the best time to come and do pretty much anything else. Of course, the popularity of visiting Alaska during the month of July means that those who schedule their vacations during this time period are going to be in plentiful company. You’ll have to face some crowds when you choose to visit Alaska in July, which makes some people prefer an earlier visit.
July is an exceptionally great month for viewing wildlife in Alaska. While April brings the migration of Pacific herring, July is the month when salmon spawn. This means that July is the preeminent month for fishermen to come to Alaska. It’s also considered an even better month to view humpback whales than April is, and you may even see a sea otter. As far as land animals are concerned, the creatures you may be able to spot during July include grizzly bears and mountain goats. There are reasons not to visit Alaska in July, especially if you are averse to crowds and/or specifically interested in the northern lights. However, for the majority of tourists, July is going to be the sweet spot you’re aiming for.
August
Things come full circle in August, when the summer is just starting to be on it’s way out and fall is around the corner. Of course, this means that you’re going to star seeing fewer crowds visiting Alaska when August comes around. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of people who come to visit Alaska in the month of August. Like April, August is a good month for tourists who want to schedule an Alaska trip on a budget. There are other reasons to come to Alaska during the month of August, including the fact that everything there looks pretty beautiful when the colors of the leaves start changing. You’ll still find plenty of wildlife, including humpback whales and grizzlies.
September
September is a cheaper month to visit Alaska then August, and the fall colors are increased. The nights start increasing as the fall comes around, which means that opportunities to see the northern lights once again arise. The opportunities to see the northern lights during the month of September are similar to during the month of April. Everything also starts getting colder, which means that some tourists will have a hard time staying comfortable. Those who wish to visit Alaska during the month of September should be prepared to bundle up when the situation calls for it. September is also the month when snow typically begins to fall, and animals can be exceptionally active as they prepare for winter.
October and November
October and November aren’t very popular months to visit Alaska at all. However, there are still some reasons to visit during these months. Reasons that you’ll find people visiting Alaska during these fall months include fishing. Things start getting cold during these months and you’re liable to see plenty of snow. However, those that are looking to partake in winter activities are advised to wait to winter proper.
December through March
Finally, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of visiting Alaska during it’s winter season. Like October and November, there’s not much reason to look at these winter months individually. These certainly aren’t popular months to visit Alaska when compares to the summer months, but you’ll still find tourists willing to face the cold to partake in their passions. As we’ve already established there are numerous winter activities that bring people to Alaska, with these including skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. Beyond those widely loved and popular activities, another reason you’ll see people coming to Alaska during the winter would be for a chance to see the northern lights. The northern lights are most visible during the winter months, which means that those that are looking to catch a glimpse of the natural phenomenon should aim for around this time.
Though there are things to do all year round, those that are looking to visit Alaska during it’s peak months should schedule their trip in June or July. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that you can often get discounts when visiting Alaska in the months of April and September, and that the peak visiting month is July? Comment down below!