visiting alaska in late September and early October
 

Hi Guys,

I got holidays during 25 Sep - 6 October this year (2014) and want to spend time in Alaska. I saw some web say the northern night light can already be seen during this time. Is that right? Will that be clear? Moreover, how's the view in Alaska during this time? Will yellow leaves still stay on trees? I know Denali would be closed, is there any other activities to do? I take this trip mainly for enjoying the view. Would anyone give suggestions? Thanks! :)

Sure, if the aurora are visible, it's plenty dark enough at that time so see them. By "visible" I mean (a) the aurora are active; (b) you're somewhere where it gets dark enough (no city lights) to see them, and of course (c) there isn't cloud cover. The farther north the longer the nights, also - usually - the drier the air, so a lower chance of clouds. It's colder, too; probably below freezing in Fairbanks, for example.

In terms of autumn color, it's pretty late but far from impossible; it really depends on the year. Even if the leaves on the trees are gone (and mainly it's yellow/birch, and not the multiple colors of New England, for example - http://gardyloo.us/akmirrorlake800.jpg or http://gardyloo.us/sept08%20059as.JPG , both taken in mid-September, but different years) the tundra and low growth can still be very colorful, with reds and purples. My favorite area for this is along Turnagain Arm south/east of Anchorage, starting with Potter Marsh, just at the edge of the city, and extending down to Moose Flats at the mouth of Portage Valley, around an hour from the city. With the tundra and berry bushes in fall color, hopefully some trees still with leaves, and the mountains with a coat of "termination dust" on the peaks (early snow) it doesn't even matter if the weather's sunny, it's still gorgeous.

A few days around Anchorage for the fall color, then a couple of nights around Fairbanks (or Chena) for the aurora - a good fall outing.

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking about staying in Fairbanks for 4 days, and stay one or two days in Denali to check if it's still open and take a walk. And another week in the South, like Holmer to see the eagles and Seward to watch glacier. What do you think of this plan? I'm driving alone. How long it will take to drive from seward to fairbanks? Probably staying in Denali area will be a good choice for both view and rest? Thanks.