The 17 Most Amazing Reflecting Pools In Alaska That Will Give You A Magical Dose Of Eye Candy

The magical natural phenomenon that happens when an object (such as a mountain) reflects effortlessly off of a smooth surface (such as a lake) is called a specular reflection. As the surrounding light bounces off an object onto a smooth surface, the light will then reflect at the exact same angle as it hits the surface. Alaska is known for having some of the most magnificent reflections that happen in the middle of even the most raw and rugged isolated wilderness areas. Check out a handful of our favorite spots to soak in all of the incredible eye-candy to be had.

Tern Lake, which is located where the Seward Highway intersects with the Sterling Highway, is number one on our list because it’s probably the most popular reflecting pool in the Last Frontier.

Flickr - chuck t

Flickr - praphulm In fact, the reflections at Tern Lake are so good that we just HAD to share a perspective from both the summer and winter seasons.

But then again, anyone who has ever experienced the place actually named ‘Reflection Pond’ in Denali National Park might just prove to us that this special spot is the most epic that Alaska has to offer.

Flickr - Denali National Park and Preserve

Flickr - Roderick Eime Even the wildlife can’t get enough of the stunning reflections inside Denali.

The more easily accessible Wonder Lake located at Mile Marker 85 inside Denali National Park gives us all the reflection pond feels that we need to fall madly in love with Alaska.

Flickr - Sathish J

Catch the stunning reflection pool sights into Cook Inlet on the Turnagain Arm and you’ll be positively amazed.

Flickr - Aaron Hockley

Catch a reflection off of Mount Douglas in the distance the next time you head to Alaska’s state capital city of Juneau.

Flickr - Joseph

College Fjord Glacier has an uncanny ability to create a reflecting pool right into the surrounding waters of Prince William Sound.

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In fact, from Valdez to Cordova, just about everywhere you look in Prince William Sound turns into a magical reflecting paradise when the light shines just right.

Flickr - Jeremy Keith

Whittier is another sweet spot for catching a good reflection into the shores of Prince William Sound off of the giant snow-capped mountains.

Flickr - NOAA’s National Ocean Service

West of Barrow towards the Dempster Highway to Inuvik in Canada offers stunning reflecting pools all along the way.

Flickr - Murray Foubister

First proclaimed a national monument in 1978, it’s hard to compete with the reflecting pool that Lake Clark creates in southcentral Alaska.

Flickr - Caitlin Marr

You’ll have to pull to the side of the road and take a photo once you see how breathtaking the reflection pool is at Summit Lake off of the Sterling Highway in Moose Pass.

Flickr - Mike Chellini

Head down the Old Denali Highways during the summertime and feel your heart explode as you witness the alpenglow paint the mountainsides orange, and then watch as the magical sights reflect into surrounding pools below.

Flickr - J McDowell

The wildly remote and perfectly pristine waters in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve offer daily reflection displays that visitors from all around the world can’t stop raving about.

Flickr - ~Arles

Spring Creek Estuary overlooking the shores of Resurrection Bay and accessible by visiting the town of Seward offers a brilliant reflection pool that will fill your heart with joy.

Flickr - Dan Logan

Located off the Seward Highway at Mile Marker 9 is the ability to check out a stunning reflection at Upper Trail Lake in Moose Pass.

Flickr - praphulm

The 368 mile long Richardson Highway connecting Valdez to Fairbanks just requires a brief look out of the window and you’re sure to catch one of the many reflecting pools along the way.

Flickr - Jeffrey L. Cohen

The area known as ‘Hope Point’ between the valleys surrounding the towns of Hope and Sunrise on the Kenai Peninsula offer reflection magic on a clear day.

Flickr - Travis

For even more great stuff, here are 7 wonders of the world that are located right here in the Last Frontier.