Visiting Fairbanks in Winter: Northern Lights, Dog Sledding & Hot Springs
Visiting Alaska in the winter is a truly unique experience, and one I thoroughly enjoyed — not despite the extremes, but because of them! Imagine being surrounded by intense cold while cozily wrapped in layers of warm clothes, soaking in the stillness of nature where even the slightest sound is swallowed by a blanket of snow, watching the Northern Lights dance above your head at night, or seeing the low, golden sun create a soft, magical light throughout the day. There are many things that make Alaska in winter magical — if you come prepared.
Fairbanks is a frigid place in winter, as the area has an extreme continental climate. This shouldn’t deter you from visiting, though, as with the extremes also come unique experiences: soaking in hot springs while being surrounded by snow and ice, dog sledding through a winter wonderland, and experiencing extraordinarily long and super magical sunrises and sunsets at these high latitudes. In this article, I’ll share everything I learned from my trip to Fairbanks during the cold season, my favorite activities (mostly outdoors!) that you should not miss, and all the essentials you need to know before heading into this icy adventure.
Settle in, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever you need to get cozy, and let’s get started!
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Table of Contents
What Not To Miss Around Fairbanks in Winter
See The Northern Lights
Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, because it lies under the Auroral Oval, a region around the magnetic pole where auroras are most frequent. The best chances to see the auroras are typically between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., according to the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska. They also provide an Aurora Forecast, which you can check here.
A note regarding the auroras: Pictures of the Northern Lights are typically taken with longer exposure times (for example, the first picture below was exposed for 25 seconds, and the second, featuring the cabin, for 15 seconds). This allows the camera to gather more light than the human eye can perceive. As a result, the images often appear more vivid than what you actually see. If the aurora activity is strong, you will absolutely see the lights dancing above your head, and it is truly magical — just don’t expect them to be as colorful as the photographs typically show!
Green, red, and purple aurora borealis lighting up snow-covered trees, right at our vacation rental.
Northern Lights Photo Tour
If you’re looking for someone to guide you through the experience, someone who knows the most beautiful spots to witness this spectacle if it appears and how to photograph it, the tour below may be just right for you.
Stay At A Cozy Log Cabin
Imagine a landscape blanketed in snow, the air crisp and frigid, and tree branches heavy with the weight of winter’s white coat. Absolute silence surrounds you, the snow muting not just colors but even the travel of sound. Your steps on the little stairs make a soft creak and scrunch as snow crunches underfoot and wood contracts in the cold. Eyelashes freeze, and while you’re wrapped snugly in a wool sweater and a big winter jacket, stepping inside the cabin and being enveloped by warm wooden beams makes you feel like you’ve walked straight into a fairytale.
Staying in a cozy log cabin surrounded by nature and silence is, in my view, absolutely magical. You can watch the Northern Lights away from roads and city lights, curl up by the window, and wait as the sky puts on its dance. When the aurora begins to shimmer, you can step outside for a more immersive experience, but there’s no need to spend hours in the freezing cold, which is a big consideration at such northern latitudes!
Even without the Northern Lights, the cabin’s location is a dream: strap on your snowshoes and venture out right from the doorstep into pristine winter landscapes.
Below is the cabin we rented, and we were SO thrilled with it! It was the coziest log cabin in the middle of the woods. We could snowshoe straight from the spot, go dogsledding (more on that below), and every night we watched the sky from the windows, hoping for the aurora to appear — and she did! We didn’t need to brave the frigid temperatures to enjoy them, though, despite the cold, we couldn’t resist stepping outside each time the lights intensified, then returning inside to warm up. The cabin can host up to five people and it is perfect for one or two couples or a family of three or four (we stayed there with four people). Highly, highly recommended!
Booking Details Linked Below (Click On Any Of The Pictures)
Chena Hot Springs
Imagine sitting in a giant hot tub steaming like a fumarole into the crisp, frigid air, making it hard to see far as the steam glides over the water surface. Your body feels on the verge of overheating, while your hair is slowly freezing solid.
That’s the best way I can describe visiting Chena Hot Springs in winter. It’s a unique experience to feel the extreme contrast between the warm to hot water and the frigid air around your head.
The most fun part? Getting into the water. Since the pools are outside, you have to walk in your bathing suit through temperatures down to –30 °F. Part of the way leads through the so-called “ice tunnel”, which is protected from the elements. After exiting it, there’s a short path through the open, freezing air. It’s not as bad as it sounds — once you’re in the hot springs, you may even enjoy the refreshing air, and your body barely notices the chill.
Another fun activity is letting your hair freeze into crazy styles. At those temperatures, it won’t take long, and it’s surprisingly entertaining!
How to Visit Chena Hot Springs
Buy a Day Pass: Online or Onsite.
Book a Tour from Fairbanks: Includes transportation, Aurora Ice Museum, and Northern Lights viewing.
If you’d like to skip the hassle of driving on icy roads and combine soaking in the hot springs with a guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum and the surrounding area, the tour below may be perfect for you:
Dog Sledding
Another unique experience you absolutely should not miss is dog sledding. Racing through a snow-blanketed forest, bundled up like a Christmas present, is an incredibly magical experience.
The dogs are both adorable and fascinatingly hardworking. Watching them so focused on pulling the sled through the snow, yet so joyful in their movement, is amazing. It is a raw, fun, and close-to-nature adventure, and easily one of our favorite experiences in Alaska.
I highly recommend dog sledding. Alaska is one of the best places in the world to try it. There are many skilled mushers who are happy to introduce you to their world and share this unforgettable experience.
Which Dog Sledding Tour To Choose
We booked the tour directly through our vacation rental. The owners not only have an incredibly cute cabin, but they are also experienced mushers who will pick you up directly from the cabin with their amazing dogs. It was an amazing experience with them — both the dog sledding as well as staying at their cabin — and I can’t recommend them enough! Note: The tour is not included in the cabin rental price and must be booked separately after reserving the cabin. Be sure to check with them beforehand if this is your main reason for booking the place.
Excellent Options Around Fairbanks (Independent of Your Rental)
If you stay elsewhere or the owners’ tour is not available during your visit, there are several excellent dog sledding options in the Fairbanks area:
Running Reindeer Ranch
If you love reindeer as much as I do, then you should go visit the Running Reindeer Ranch, which is family-owned and operated and was born out of their daughter’s wish for a furry addition to the family many years ago. While reindeer are domesticated animals from Eurasia, they are close relatives of American wild caribou (and technically even the same species!), which live in the vast wilderness of Alaska, so they are perfectly adapted to life in the cold.
Reindeer vs. Caribou
Though reindeer and caribou are the same species (Rangifer tarandus), they differ in domestication, genetics, and ecology.
Domestication & Behavior
Reindeer are often domesticated or semi-domesticated and herded by humans, especially in Eurasia. Caribou remain wild, migrating long distances across North America.
Genetic Differences
Genetic studies reveal limited gene flow between domestic reindeer and wild caribou in Alaska, creating distinct populations with unique adaptations.
Migration & Habitat
Caribou undertake long seasonal migrations across tundra and boreal forests, while reindeer herds typically have shorter, human-influenced movements.
Physical Traits
Both sexes of reindeer and caribou grow antlers, but reindeer are typically stockier with lighter coats, whereas caribou show seasonal coat changes suited to wild habitats.
Ecological Role
Caribou: Maintain healthy Arctic ecosystems, supporting predators, scavengers, and Indigenous traditions.
Reindeer: Contribute to vegetation cycling, nutrient enrichment, and biodiversity in managed grazing areas.
More Interesting Facts
- Reindeer are the only deer species where both males and females grow antlers.
- Caribou can travel up to 3,000 miles annually during migrations.
- Domestic reindeer have been herded by humans for thousands of years for meat, milk, hides, and transport.
- Climate change and habitat loss are major threats to wild caribou populations.
It was such a pleasure to see the reindeer running around the beautiful birch forest on the ranch. Each reindeer was properly introduced at the beginning of the walk, and it was lovely to see how each of them has its own character. The walk through the forest with the reindeer freely roaming around us was such a winter wonderland experience, and seeing them interact, play, and feed was amazing.
If you’re wondering how close you’ll get to the reindeer, that depends on the individual! Some of the reindeer are not shy around people — you can even pet them, or they’ll patiently pose for pictures with you — while others are wilder and prefer to keep their distance. After the forest walk, you can warm up with hot cocoa and homemade cookies, which is part of the experience.
You can check out more details and book your visit on their official website.
Reindeer Munching in the Snowy Birch Forest.
Know Before You Go
Extreme Temperatures
Fairbanks can be a VERY cold place in winter and temperatures may even drop below –30 °F (as we experienced at the end of November/beginning of December). The average temperature in Fairbanks in December is around -0.3°F (-17.9°C). SourceGear & How to Dress
Functional Layers: Base layers, wool sweaters, and thick insulated jackets will keep you warm. Layer your gloves (thin gloves + thick mittens) and consider hand warmers.
Footwear: Invest in winter boots rated for extreme cold. Hands and feet are most susceptible.
Head: A warm hat, neck gaiter (more effective than a regular scarf in my view!), and balaclava for extreme cold are essential.
Handwarmers: Rechargeable hand warmers helped me so much in keeping my hands toasty: I put them in my mittens and I never had cold hands despite frigid temperatures and a tendency to have cold hands.
Microspikes: Absolutely essential for icy paths. Easy to put on over boots and provide excellent traction on packed snow or ice.
Snowshoes: Crucial for deep snow or unbroken trails. We used them both in Denali and on the trails around our Fairbanks vacation rental.
Limited Daylight
Short Days, But Long Twilight: Winter days are short, but dusk and dawn last long due to Alaska’s northern latitude. After sunset, civil and nautical twilight provide extended light. Don’t be discouraged by early sunsets.
All-Day Glow: The low sun creates soft, golden light, which is great for photography and just enjoying an all-day long magical atmosphere.
Plan Ahead: Check sunrise, sunset, and twilight times for your location and time of visit, and plan accordingly.
Road Conditions, Driving Tips & Car Rental
Slippery Roads: Roads can be extremely slippery in winter, and sudden movements can make you lose control very quickly. We witnessed several cars in ditches and one instance where another vehicle slid across our lane into deep snow. Expect black ice and compacted snow, even in cities and on major highways. Drive slowly and avoid sudden braking or steering.
Stay Focused: Because roads are slippery, it is crucial to stay 100% focused to drive as smoothly as possible and anticipate upcoming hazards.
Don’t Follow Local Speeds: Locals often have studded tires; most rental cars do not. Let them pass.
Rental Cars: Ideally, choose all-wheel drive. Fairbanks gets so cold that you'll need a car with a block heater and plug (which was provided to us without asking, but check with the car rental if you'd like to be sure). The small battery drains quickly in extreme cold, so plug it in overnight and whenever possible. Shorter periods unplugged usually work fine, but it is crucial to plug it in overnight. Check below to compare rates for the best features and price:
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