Aurora Borealis Real-Time Tracker | Explore Fairbanks Alaska

Aurora Tracker

The Aurora Tracker correlates three individual streams of data in order to predict northern lights viewing opportunities for six locations in the Fairbanks region. Switch between viewing locations, different days and various times of day to check your viewing chances. Check back often as this data changes frequently.

Data streams include:

Aurora forecast data from the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Weather forecast data for specific northern lights viewing locations
Amount of daylight hours

Can I see the Aurora right now?

Aurora Season: August 21-April 21

Check back frequently to see how up-to-the-minute, real-time aurora viewing opportunities change based on current aurora activity, weather and daylight.

When can I see the Midnight Sun?

Midnight Sun Season: April 22-August 20

Change the date on the calendar to see how the amount of daylight hours changes throughout the year.

Click on place names to see how chances of seeing the aurora borealis differs based on location.

Click on place names to see how the chances of seeing the midnight sun differ based on location.

More Info About Midnight sun

Aurora Tracker Map

Aurora Viewing Locations near Fairbanks, Alaska

Aurora Tracker Locations

Fairbanks

You can see the northern lights from anywhere in Fairbanks. A favorite in-town location, Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is 2,200-acre/8.9 km and is located 2 miles/3 km from Downtown Fairbanks. Creamer's offers wide open fields and wooded trails easily accessible on a well-maintained, paved road.

Cleary Summit

Cleary Summit has an elevation of 2,233 ft/680 m and is located 20 miles/32 km from Fairbanks. It is a popular viewing area with multiple pull-outs. It is accessible but there are some very sharp turns and major elevation changes and in snowy conditions, an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Chena River State Recreation Area

The Chena River State Recreation Area is accessed via Chena Hot Springs Road which starts 4 miles/6 km from Fairbanks and traverses 58 miles/93 km ending at Chena Hot Springs Resort. The area is generally accessible for 2-wheel drive vehicles but all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended especially in snowy conditions. Visitors should exercise caution as cell service can be spotty and moose are often in the area.

North Pole

Chena Lake Recreation Area is a 2,000-acre/8 km² park located 17 miles/27 km from Fairbanks, just outside of the city of North Pole. The area offers lakes and trails easily accessible via well-maintained paved and gravel and dirt roads. In fall, the lake creates the opportunity to see and photograph beautiful reflective auroras.

Murphy Dome

Murphy Dome is the highest point close to Fairbanks at 2,877 ft/877 m and is located 25 miles/40 km from Fairbanks. You will find an accessible high viewpoint but there are some sharp turns as well as major elevation changes and in snowy conditions, an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Coldfoot

260 miles/418 km from Fairbanks via the Elliott and Dalton highways, Coldfoot is a tiny wilderness community. It is recommended visitors access Coldfoot via tours as the area is remote, cell service is spotty, the road can be rough, and there are very few services along the way. People often access Coldfoot by air. The road is primarily gravel and most car rental companies prohibit traveling the Dalton Highway.

General Aurora Viewing Information

Consider taking a tour and get an experts point of view.
Get more information about these locations on our blog.
Be resolute and patient as the aurora can be unpredictable.
Turn off headlights to minimize light pollution when parked at viewpoints.
In snowy conditions, all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended.

Experience the Aurora Borealis in a Variety of Ways

There are many local locations to see the northern lights. Drive on your own or with a tour to nearby vantage points including North Pole, Cleary Summit, Murphy Dome, Chena River State Recreation Area or up the Dalton Highway all the way to Coldfoot and beyond for excellent aurora viewing opportunities.
Arrange a tour to view them from a heated “aurorium” cabin, yurt, dome or lodge, on an overnight sled dog expedition, by snowcat tour, while ice-fishing, on a snowmobile adventure or on a flight above the Arctic Circle.
Multiple tours will show you how to take photographs of the northern lights or will take your portrait while the aurora dances in the background.
Although the light show will be more vibrant a few miles out of town where it is darker the aurora borealis is visible in and around town too. Many accommodations offer wake-up calls when the northern lights are out. Just ask front desk personnel at the time of booking or check-in.

Aurora Webcam & Videos

Webcam at Poker Flat Research Range

View the sky north of Fairbanks through UAF Geophysical Institute’s all-sky webcam. More
Aurora Season in Interior Alaska

Fairbanks’ location is ideal for northern lights viewing.
Aurora Timelapse over Fairbanks

Timelapse of the aurora borealis near Murphy Dome in the Goldstream Valley.

Explore More Northern Lights

Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights

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Science of the Aurora

Learn the what, when, where and why behind of the northern lights. More

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