I am going to Anchorage and Fairbanks in October 2-6 in hopes to see the wales, fishing salmon, and most important see the northern lights. Would I be able to accomplish my goals (desires)? or should I pick another time to go? I am already disappointed because there will be no trains running at that time, and I wanted to take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Can I drive then?

Sure - just drive the highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Where are you planning to go whalewatching? And salmon fishing (brrr, may be brisk)? I'd say for those you will want to head the other direction, toward Kenai.

thanks for your reply sludick. what do you suggest i should do there this time of the year? how about the the land of the aurora borealis or northern Lights, will I see them?

I am going to Anchorage and Fairbanks in October 2-6 in hopes to see the wales, fishing salmon, and most important see the northern lights. Would I be able to accomplish my goals (desires)? or should I pick another time to go? I am already disappointed because there will be no trains running at that time, and I wanted to take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Can I drive then?



- You won't be able to fish salmon (they won't be around).
- The train schedule between Anchorage and Fairbanks is drastically reduced once our summer is over. You will be able to drive a car; but you should be prepared to possibly encounter winter conditions (especially at higher elevations).
- Whales... You are very close to the time of year that the whales migrate south. Add to that the fact that most (if not all) commercial whaling tours will be shut down (you'd have to search "whales" and "Seward" or "Whittier" to possibly find an operator still offering tours).

If the purpose of your trip is to do what is on your "wish list", it's not the best time of year to come visit us up here. Also for the length of time you are coming; I think it's to short of a duration to include the Kenai (Seward or Whittier - for fishing & whales) and Fairbanks. They are just too far apart (you'd spend too much of your trip in transit).

Write back if you've further questions.
Good luck.

Pick again.

When the salmon are running (i.e., swimming upstream to spawn and die), then they can be fished. When they are not, the rivers won't have them. They don't run in autumn.

Fairbanks may be as cold as a Dakota in January.

You need to go late spring or summer, not early autumn.

While October is early autumn, that can mean deep snow or below freezing in AK. Also, you might not be prepared for the shorter days at that time of year. Tourists usually try to hit AK between Memorial Day and August 1.

I see that the snow started falling on Friday at the start of the Labor Day holiday in Northern Alaska - winter storm warning in Fairbanks, up to 14" in Denali. Hopefully you have picked a better time to make your trip to Alaska and not this October.