Of all the seasons in Alaska, fall takes the cake for most beautiful and best time of year. Snowfall is SO close you can smell it. During fall in Alaska, the leaves are turning, the wildlife activity is ramping up as creatures prepare for the long cold winter, even festivals and events are at an all time high around the state.
Alaska may be known for its incredible summers, impressive cruises, or beautiful winters, but fall in Alaska is often overlooked and quite possibly the best time of year to explore the state. It’s early enough that you still have time to plan a lovely trip for this autumn, just check out the list and enjoy your Alaskan fall!
- Tour the true Inside Passage
Richard Ricciardi | Flickr Take a trip down the Alaska Marine Highway, thousands of miles of water ways that travel through the Inside Passage. Serious whale watching can take place all season long, but it’s really good during fall in Alaska.
- Ride the Alaskan Railroad
Ross Fowler | Flickr If you’ve never traveled the Alaskan Railroad, than you’re really missing out - especially during the fall. Thousands of miles of wildlife and scenery are at your finger tips that you wouldn’t be able to see via road trip. If you’ve often thought of taking a trip on the train through Alaska, fall is the time to do it! With trips like this, autumn in Alaska is truly magical.
- Oktoberfest
Jeremy Keith | Flickr Alaska has a pretty impressive Oktoberfest with celebrations all around the state. Who can say no to a good beer and fun times? After all, Alaskans are great brewers and fall brings them all together to share their craft.
- Dalton Highway
Bureau of Land Management | Flickr Want to take a fall road trip you’ll never forget? Drive the stunningly scenic Dalton Highway. Spend a few days watching the colors turn and the wildlife come alive. Autumn is when to visit Alaska!
- Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
Jason Mrachina | Flickr Be American this fall and go see the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines.
- Alaska State Fair
Cecil Sanders | Flickr The Alaska State Fair offers tons of entertainment for the whole family. It really makes fall the season what it is, with yummy fair food, rodeos and concerts, you really can’t have a bad day at the Alaska State Fair. With the Alaska State Fair in your corner, this really is the best season in Alaska!
- Northern Lights
Moyan Brenn | Flickr The Northern Lights are very active during the fall, and getting a glimpse of the aurora borealis is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Fall in Alaska offers so many different natural wonders!
Is fall in Alaska your favorite season? What’s your favorite part? If autumn isn’t your favorite season, what is? Let us know in the comments!
Richard Ricciardi | Flickr
Take a trip down the Alaska Marine Highway, thousands of miles of water ways that travel through the Inside Passage. Serious whale watching can take place all season long, but it’s really good during fall in Alaska.
Ross Fowler | Flickr
If you’ve never traveled the Alaskan Railroad, than you’re really missing out - especially during the fall. Thousands of miles of wildlife and scenery are at your finger tips that you wouldn’t be able to see via road trip. If you’ve often thought of taking a trip on the train through Alaska, fall is the time to do it! With trips like this, autumn in Alaska is truly magical.
Jeremy Keith | Flickr
Alaska has a pretty impressive Oktoberfest with celebrations all around the state. Who can say no to a good beer and fun times? After all, Alaskans are great brewers and fall brings them all together to share their craft.
Bureau of Land Management | Flickr
Want to take a fall road trip you’ll never forget? Drive the stunningly scenic Dalton Highway. Spend a few days watching the colors turn and the wildlife come alive. Autumn is when to visit Alaska!
Jason Mrachina | Flickr
Be American this fall and go see the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines.
Cecil Sanders | Flickr
The Alaska State Fair offers tons of entertainment for the whole family. It really makes fall the season what it is, with yummy fair food, rodeos and concerts, you really can’t have a bad day at the Alaska State Fair. With the Alaska State Fair in your corner, this really is the best season in Alaska!
Moyan Brenn | Flickr
The Northern Lights are very active during the fall, and getting a glimpse of the aurora borealis is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Fall in Alaska offers so many different natural wonders!
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Address: Alaska, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Fall In Alaska August 12, 2020 Megan McDonald What months are fall in Alaska? Fall arrives earlier in Alaska than most states in the lower 48. Due to our northern latitude, fall really starts arriving in late August. Depending on where you are in the state, and the recent temperatures, you can start to expect cold, crisp nights and show of colorful leaves by the end of the month of August. September will have fall in full swing, and by October most of the leaves have fallen. Sometimes we even get snow in October! Winter truly doesn’t seem to set in until November, so if we’re lucky, we may have an extended fall that lasts all the way up to Thanksgiving. But this truly does depend on where in the state you are. Northern Alaska will experience fall much earlier, and southern Alaska will experience it later, and never get quite as cold as the rest of the state. Is fall a good time to visit Alaska? A huge resounding yes! With the colorful spray of leaves changing color, and the start of higher activity from the northern lights, fall is a magical time to visit the Last Frontier. The animals are starting to get ready to hibernate and the weather will be perfect for bonfires and flannel. This is a great transitional season for most Alaskans as they begin to hunker down for the long winter. It’s not too cold yet, and the crispness of the air is invigorating. It’s a great time to go camping and hiking, and those that love hunting will appreciate what the season brings.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Fall In Alaska
August 12, 2020
Megan McDonald
What months are fall in Alaska? Fall arrives earlier in Alaska than most states in the lower 48. Due to our northern latitude, fall really starts arriving in late August. Depending on where you are in the state, and the recent temperatures, you can start to expect cold, crisp nights and show of colorful leaves by the end of the month of August. September will have fall in full swing, and by October most of the leaves have fallen. Sometimes we even get snow in October! Winter truly doesn’t seem to set in until November, so if we’re lucky, we may have an extended fall that lasts all the way up to Thanksgiving. But this truly does depend on where in the state you are. Northern Alaska will experience fall much earlier, and southern Alaska will experience it later, and never get quite as cold as the rest of the state. Is fall a good time to visit Alaska? A huge resounding yes! With the colorful spray of leaves changing color, and the start of higher activity from the northern lights, fall is a magical time to visit the Last Frontier. The animals are starting to get ready to hibernate and the weather will be perfect for bonfires and flannel. This is a great transitional season for most Alaskans as they begin to hunker down for the long winter. It’s not too cold yet, and the crispness of the air is invigorating. It’s a great time to go camping and hiking, and those that love hunting will appreciate what the season brings.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Fall arrives earlier in Alaska than most states in the lower 48. Due to our northern latitude, fall really starts arriving in late August. Depending on where you are in the state, and the recent temperatures, you can start to expect cold, crisp nights and show of colorful leaves by the end of the month of August. September will have fall in full swing, and by October most of the leaves have fallen. Sometimes we even get snow in October! Winter truly doesn’t seem to set in until November, so if we’re lucky, we may have an extended fall that lasts all the way up to Thanksgiving. But this truly does depend on where in the state you are. Northern Alaska will experience fall much earlier, and southern Alaska will experience it later, and never get quite as cold as the rest of the state.
Is fall a good time to visit Alaska?
A huge resounding yes! With the colorful spray of leaves changing color, and the start of higher activity from the northern lights, fall is a magical time to visit the Last Frontier. The animals are starting to get ready to hibernate and the weather will be perfect for bonfires and flannel. This is a great transitional season for most Alaskans as they begin to hunker down for the long winter. It’s not too cold yet, and the crispness of the air is invigorating. It’s a great time to go camping and hiking, and those that love hunting will appreciate what the season brings.
