ALASKA’S BASECAMP for adventure

Go beyond Fairbanks and explore other parts of Interior and Arctic Alaska. Pristine wilderness and majestic mountain ranges await all around us. With Fairbanks as your basecamp, head off in any direction for breathtaking vistas and magical winter adventures of a lifetime.

Arctic Alaska

Travel north to discover a landscape like no other. 195 road miles (315 Km) or 140 air miles (225 Km) from Fairbanks, you’ll cross the Arctic Circle at 66° north latitude—the invisible line that puts you in the company of Alaska pipeline workers and ice road truckers. Driving the Dalton Highway without a properly equipped vehicle and experienced driver is not recommended, especially in winter, but it’s easy to connect with a guide or tour company to fly or drive you to the Arctic Circle and beyond. Hike the snow-covered tundra, discover the treeless Arctic plain, cross the mighty Yukon River and spot a caribou, muskox or Arctic fox. Take a northern lights tour and scan the Arctic sky for aurora borealis.

Interior Alaska

Heading southeast from Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway you will find yourself surrounded by pristine wilderness. The area is dotted with lakes that are perfect for ice fishing, winter camping, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more. The Alaska Range in the distance offers an aweinspiring backdrop. Bold explorers can venture closer with a visit to the Castner Glacier ice cave or book a tour with an experienced guide to reach other amazing glaciers throughout Interior Alaska.

Denali

An easy two-hour drive or four-hour train ride south from Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses six million acres of pure Alaskan wilderness and is home to the tallest mountain in North America. Denali rises 20,310 feet into the sky and is a glorious sight to behold. Outfitters offer both road and air tours to the park and in mid-February the National Park Service plows a section of the park road, leading to a beautiful spot to view the grand mountain during clear weather. Visitors to the park in winter can borrow snowshoes from the Murie Science and Learning Center.

Hot Springs

Over one hundred years ago, gold miners and early pioneers stumbled upon a welcome find just 60 miles east of Fairbanks—a natural hot spring—the perfect place to soak their weary bodies. Today, you can enjoy the rejuvenating mineralrich springs to relax your body and warm your soul at the end of an adventure-filled day. Chena Hot Springs is the largest and most accessible hot spring in Alaska. Imagine yourself floating in warmth despite the crisp winter air around you, your hair freezing in wild and wonderful ways and the northern lights swirling above.

Don’t Miss It!

In February, celebrate winter in the park with fun, free events for all ages at Denali Winterfest.