Wondering What to Do in Alaska This Winter? Here Are 11 Ideas!
Winter in Alaska is nothing short of magical. The snow transforms the state into a playground for adventure, swapping Alaska’s lush summer greens for a winter palette of fresh whites and icy blues.. As locals, we’ve come to cherish these crisp, snowy days and the unique experiences they bring. In this post, we’re sharing some of our absolute favorite ways to embrace Alaska’s winter magic—activities we love and think you will, too!
The winter season offers us a time to explore Alaska with fewer crowds. And the snowy landscape provides activities that are radically different from our summertime fun. I love that Alaska gives us the opportunity to enjoy its beauty year round. Lakes for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Mountains for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Homer is our summer kayak destination and our winter relaxation spot. You get the picture. Read through our winter bucket list and see if there is anything you can add to your own Alaska Winter Bucket List.
Our Alaska Winter Bucket List
Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Train
This train ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in Alaska. The grownups are looking forward to a road trip with someone else driving. And the kids are ready to count how many moose they will see from the train. Of course, we are all looking forward to seeing the Northern Lights. Finger’s crossed for a clear night!
Get more information about the Alaska Railroad’s Winter Trains.
Ice skating on a frozen lake
There is nothing else like ice skating on a frozen lake. Here in Wasilla, we are lucky enough to have the City of Wasilla keep a portion of Wasilla Lake clear for skating. We’ll enjoy some family fun under the twinkling lights strung over the lake, and then we’ll head home for some hot cocoa by the fire!
There are many other lakes throughout Alaska that are perfect for ice skating. Skate on a cleared lake or skate on wild ice in rivers, lakes and ponds throughout Alaska. Some popular wild ice spots are Eklutna Lake, Potter Marsh and Nancy Lakes Recreation Area. Be sure to assess the thickness of the ice whenever you skate on wild ice. Be safe out there!
Alyeska Nordic Spa
This one is for the adults only. Imagine soaking in a hot tub in the shadow of the Chugach Mountains with a gentle snow falling on your shoulders. Alyeska Nordic Spa in Girdwood features a variety of saunas, steam rooms, and outdoor pools. To make a full weekend out of it, we’ll make reservations at one of the amazing restaurants in Girdwood and we will stay the night at the Alyeska Resort.
Ski at Skeetawk Hatcher Pass
This winter, we plan to introduce the younger members of the family to skiing. We will head to Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass. We are looking forward to exploring the 30 acres of trails this winter. Our oldest is joining the ski club at school and trying to decide between skis or snowboarding. The youngest are excited to learn what downhill is all about. Get more information about where else to downhill and cross-country ski in Alaska.
Winter Road trip to Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs and North Pole
We’ve been to Chena Hot Springs in the summer, but winter there is a completely different experience! I can’t wait to soak in the natural hot springs in the evening, hopefully with the Northern Lights dancing overhead.
Chena Hot Springs is a natural hot springs resort located just outside of Fairbanks. Visitors can get a day pass to the hot springs or stay overnight at the resort.
Our next stop on this winter road trip will be North Pole, Alaska, just 20 minutes from Fairbanks. The town, with a population of 2200, prides itself on being the home of Santa Claus. Visitors can visit Santa Claus House year round to shop for Christmas items and visit Santa and his reindeer. We’ll be bringing our Christmas Cards for family and friends so we can mail them with a North Pole postmark.
Fairbanks will be our hub for other activities including ice fishing, a sled dog trail ride and a snowmachine tour.
Willow Winter Carnival
Another first for us this winter will be the Willow Winter Carnival in February. For more than 50 years, Willow has put on this two-day event featuring one of the state’s biggest winter fireworks shows, Iditarod qualifying sled dog races, homesteading competitions, talent contests, foot and ski races, entertainment, kids games, a cribbage tournament, and plenty of food.
Stay at Land’s End Resort in Homer
For this one, we like to sneak away for a quiet weekend without the kids.
It can be hard to find an available room at the Land’s End Resort during the summer. Its location at the very end of the Homer Spit draws visitors from around the world. But during the winter months, the locals get to call the place their own.
I like to bring a few good books and spend the weekend wrapped in a blanket in front of the window overlooking Kachemak Bay. Maybe this year, we’ll head down during the Winter King Salmon Tournament or Homer Winter Carnival (guess we’ll bring the kids for this one).
Either way, as much as we love Homer during the summer, it’s worth the drive to experience Homer in all its winter glory.
Iditarod Start in Willow
This is a bucket list item that we first did last year and now we are hooked! There is no other experience like it. Standing on a frozen lake along the trail with several hundred other people watching the teams released one by one to start their race across interior Alaska.
The Iditarod has a ceremonial start in Anchorage which gives many people a chance to see the teams up close. The following day, the race has its official start about 70 miles north in Willow, Alaska. From Willow, the teams race almost 1000 miles through the interior of Alaska along trails and frozen rivers until they end in Nome 8 to 10 days later.
The race is inspired by an historic event in 1925 when the town of Nome experienced a diphtheria epidemic. With no other means of getting needed medicine to Nome, teams of sled dogs and humans were tasked with getting medicine to Nome’s sick and dying children.
Matanuska Glacier winter tour
This is another adventure we have done several times during the summer, but never during the winter. While the summer tour is high on our favorites list, the winter tour offers a chance to see parts of the glacier that are not accessible in the summer.
Glacier Tours on the Matanuska offers experienced guides who know how to navigate the changing environment on the glacier. This is absolutely one of those times when booking a guided tour is not only recommended, but required.
Winter Sled dog tour
Summer tourists usually include a sled dog tour in their Alaska itinerary and we’ve visited several kennels around the state. Summertime means big crowds and your “sled” will be on wheels.
Last winter, we experienced a more classic dog sled experience, riding in a sled, gliding across the snow through a wintery landscape. Tour activities vary widely and are available throughout the state. We chose Snowhook Adventure Guides in Willow and highly recommend them. We spent some time getting to know our dog team while they were getting harnessed. The sled ride was about 45 minutes through snow-covered forests, across frozen lakes and up and down snowy hills. We ended our day cuddling a few puppies. Definitely a bucket list adventure! Snowhook even has cold-weather gear available so you’ll stay warm and toasty during your ride.
Fur Rondy
Fur Rendezvous, or Fur Rondy as the locals call it, is an 88-year tradition in Anchorage. This 10-day celebration of life in Alaska takes place in Anchorage in late February/early March every year. Activities include a carnival, snow sculpture contest, fat tire bike ride, music, sled dog races, snowshoe softball tournament, parade and outhouse races.
We try to attend Fur Rondy every year and this year will be no different. Our kids especially love the carnival. The snow sculpture contest is my favorite.
So there it is. Our Alaska winter bucket list. If you are a local, we hope this list will inspire you to get outside this winter and try some of these adventures. If you live in the lower 48, or anywhere else in the world, why not consider a trip to Alaska in the winter.
