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 makes 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 its 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 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 its 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 the 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 its way out and fall is around the corner. Of course, this
means that you’re going to start 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 those 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 its 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
its 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!