Fall Foliage Road Trip for Peak Colors in Alaska
Autumn in Alaska is brief, but it is one of the most beautiful seasons in the state. Fall colors stretch from the alpine tundra to the forests, the mountains get their first dusting of snow, and the northern lights can be seen again. However, fall doesn’t come to all regions of the state at the same time. Since the state is so large, the northern regions can start seeing autumn colors as early as mid-August, while colors are changing in more southern regions of the state in mid-September to early October. Also, the higher the elevation, the earlier the colors change, meaning that the tundra and foliage changes in the mountains before lower elevations.
For those that want to maximize peak autumn colors in Alaska, it’s best to start north in mid to late August and make your way south as the leaves change. Plan your fall trip in Alaska around the below road trip itinerary that follows the foliage as it changes from north to south, taking you to some of the best places to see autumn colors in Alaska.
Fairbanks
Peak Fall Colors: mid/late August – early September
Start your trip in Fairbanks, where you can catch some of the first golden hues in Alaska’s Golden Heart City. The colors start changing in Fairbanks and the surrounding area from mid/late August to early September. Fairbanks is known for northern lights viewing in winter and the midnight sun in the summer, but fall is the sweet spot where you can enjoy summer activities like hiking, boating, and fishing while having the chance to see the aurora, all surrounded by the golden glow of fall colors. Head out to the Chena River State Recreation Area and the White Mountains National Recreation Area for the best sweeping views of autumn hues.
Stay cozy on the crisp fall evenings with a visit to the Chena Hot Springs Resort, a natural hot springs resort with on-site accommodations. If you time your trip right you can visit the Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival, which takes place in Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in late August, to celebrate the fall migration of thousands of sandhill cranes as they make their way south for winter.
Denali National Park
Peak Fall Colors: mid-August – early September
Next, head south to one of the most spectacular places to view fall colors in Alaska: Denali National Park. The entrance of the park is located just over 2 hours from Fairbanks on the Parks Highway. Fall colors in Denali National Park can be seen mid-August through early September, with higher elevations changing first. The vast tundra landscapes of the park glow in brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. One of the best ways to view the colors is on a bus tour that leads into the park, which run through mid-September. Most hotels near the park entrance close for the season around mid-September, as well. Give yourself at least two days to fully enjoy the fall colors around the park. Take a bus tour on one day, and then spend the other day hiking the many trails near the park entrance or in the Savage River area. Don’t miss a visit to the Denali Sled Dog Kennels, open daily through mid-September and then on weekends mid-September to mid-May.
Hatcher Pass
Peak Fall Colors: early – mid-September
Continue south along the Parks Highway towards Hatcher Pass. The drive takes 3 ½ to 4 hours but you’ll want to build in some extra time for scenic stops. Along the way, you’ll be treated to epic views of Denali on clear days, with plenty of pull-offs at the best viewing spots. You’ll pass by Denali State Park, located just southeast of Denali National Park, which also features several great hiking trails and sweeping views of Denali and the Alaska Range. The Curry and Kesugi Ridge Trails are great places to stretch your legs and take in the fall colors on the tundra. Take a detour to the town of Talkeetna for a stroll down the quirky main street to find some great food options and several shops.
When you reach the town of Willow, you’ll have a decision to make. You can turn left on Willow-Fishhook Road for a 30 mile drive to Hatcher Pass that takes you over Summit Pass. This road is graveled for part of the way and has some steep, narrow, and rough sections. Or, if this sounds like too much of an adventure, continue south on the Parks Highway until you reach Wasilla, and then take the Wasilla-Fishhook Road and Palmer-Fishhook Road to Hatcher Pass. This route is paved the entire way and is also very scenic once you start ascending into Hatcher Pass, so either route is a good option.
Hatcher Pass is a high alpine area surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Talkeetna Mountains. It’s also one of the best places to view fall colors in Alaska thanks to its dramatic setting and wide variety of options for hiking and exploring. Fall colors are best seen here from early to mid-September. Stop by Independence Mine State Historical Park to wander through a historic gold mine set in an alpine bowl – a great photo op for historic mine buildings set against a backdrop of fall colors. Hikes in the area range from easy to challenging, with Gold Cord Lake, Gold Mint, and Reed Lakes Trails all offering prime opportunities to view autumn colors. You can stay overnight at cabins near Independence Mine or head back down towards Palmer and Wasilla for a wide variety of cabins, yurts, hotels, BnBs, and glamping options.
Glenn Highway / Matanuska Glacier
Peak Fall Colors: early – mid-September
From Palmer/Wasilla you’ll head east along the Glenn Highway for one to two days of sightseeing. Mountains, rivers, and glaciers await on this scenic drive. Your final destination is Matanuska Glacier, located just over one hour east of Palmer. Here, you can take in stunning views of the glacier and fall colors from roadside pull-offs, or you can join a guided glacier trekking tour on the glacier itself. The colors along this stretch of road are vibrant thanks to the densely forested hillsides, with colors changing early to mid-September. You can easily make this a day trip from Palmer or you can spend the night near Matanuska Glacier at cabins, lodges, or glamping in the area.
Anchorage
Peak Fall Colors: mid – late September
The next stage of your journey takes you to Alaska’s largest city – Anchorage – located just under an hour south of Palmer. Spend a couple of days enjoying a wide variety of restaurants, museums, activities, and plenty of accommodation options, plus close access to hiking and walking trails that let you take in the glowing fall colors. Colors typically change in Anchorage in mid to late-September. Chugach State Park is located on the outskirts of Anchorage and is one of the best places to view fall colors in the area. With 16 trailheads and almost 300 miles of trails, you’ll find plenty of options for fall hiking here.
One of the most accessible options is the Glen Alps Trailhead, providing access to several trail options. Take a short walk on a paved path to an overlook with sprawling views of the city, Cook Inlet, and surrounding mountains, or surround yourself in autumn colors on one of the many trails that lead into the mountains including the steep Flattop Trail and the relatively flat Powerline Pass Trail. If you prefer to stay in town, spend the day enjoying the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail – a scenic muti-use paved trail that stretches 11 miles from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. You can bike, walk, or run; both bikes and e-bikes are available to rent downtown or at Kincaid Park. Take in the fall colors along the trail that features views of the Cook Inlet, mountains, downtown, and offers good chances of seeing moose. Remember to always respect wildlife and keep your distance.
Kenai Peninsula
Peak Fall Colors: mid – late September
You’ll continue your journey south from Anchorage along the Seward Highway, where fall colors are usually at their peak from mid to late-September. Your final destination today is Seward, about 2 ½ hours south of Anchorage. However, plan a full day for your drive to take in the many sights along the way. The Seward Highway heading south of Anchorage is perched between the coastline of the Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains. Keep an eye out for beluga whales in the water, Dall sheep in the mountains, and eagles flying overhead. There are plenty of pull-offs along the way for wildlife viewing and photo ops.
About 45 minutes south of Anchorage is the mountain town of Girdwood. Take a ride up the Alyeska Aerial Tram that whisks you up over 2,000 feet on Mt. Alyeska, offering an expansive vantage point overlooking the fall colors of the valley (and a great place to grab lunch, as well). Keep heading south and take a scenic detour into Portage Valley, where you’ll find some easy hiking trails including the Byron Glacier Trail and the Trail of Blue Ice, along with a one-hour boat tour that takes you out to the face of Portage Glacier.
The fall sights continue as you drive through the Kenai Peninsula, where the yellow leaves pop against the turquoise waters of Kenai Lake. Plan on spending a couple of nights in Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, where you’ll find plenty of dining, shopping, and accommodation options in town, along with spots to view fall colors. Take a hike at Exit Glacier, Mount Marathon, or Lost Lake to soak up the colors. Or, enjoy the changing season from the water on a day cruise into Resurrection Bay or Kenai Fjords National Park, which run through early to mid-October. Take advantage of the last chance to see humpback whales before they migrate to warmer waters for the winter.
When it’s time to head back home, you can either drive back up to Fairbanks to fly home (about an 8 ½ hour drive total) or drive back to Anchorage to fly home if you arranged a Fairbanks pick-up/Anchorage drop-off for your rental car.
Perks of Visiting Alaska in Fall
Beautiful autumn colors and chances of seeing the northern lights are just some of the perks of visiting Alaska in the fall. You’ll also typically find less crowds, cheaper prices, and more availability at hotels, activities, and restaurants. Most summer operators end their seasons mid-September through mid-October, so be sure to check with specific operators on their availability before planning your fall trip.
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