SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience - Free Photography & More

As our home base, Fairbanks is one of the best locations in the world for Northern Lights viewing — located directly under the Aurora Oval. Each night, our SkyChase™ tour departs from Fairbanks and uses the Lights-for-Life™ Formula to determine the optimal location outside the city for clear skies and strong activity.

Murphy Dome is one of the highest accessible points in the Fairbanks area and occasionally used on clear-sky nights for its panoramic views and low light pollution. It’s a prime example of the remote high-elevation locations our team accesses while chasing the Aurora.

While not our final destination, North Pole, Alaska is located along our route and adds charm to the adventure. Guests love passing Santa Claus House and seeing this quirky, festive town en route to darker skies.

Chena Hot Springs region is often considered when skies to the east are favorable. These peaceful, forested areas offer a quiet backdrop for Northern Lights viewing with excellent visibility when cloud trends push us in that direction.

When conditions are right, it offers excellent visibility and sweeping skies, especially during high activity nights.

While not a nightly destination, Denali National Park is visible on rare clear-sky nights from certain elevated viewpoints. Guests occasionally glimpse the Alaska Range from afar, especially during strong Aurora activity. This region highlights the vast scope of Alaska’s night sky and our commitment to chasing the most breathtaking views whenever possible.

This historical stop marks the first major gold discovery in Alaska and is located along one of the routes we sometimes take while chasing clear skies. Though we typically pass by, it showcases our access to remote, scenic locations far from city lights. It’s a meaningful part of the Alaskan landscape and history.

The Chena area is one of many regions we travel toward when skies are favorable. It offers forested backdrops, river reflections, and lower light pollution — making it a frequent route on strong Aurora nights. This region represents one of many weather-based destination options included in our flexible SkyChase™ route strategy.

One of many high-elevation stops that we utilize on clear-sky nights for its vast visibility and iconic Alaska scenery. Our flexible route often includes this point or others nearby when it offers cloud-free conditions and great Aurora potential. We use dozens of pre-approved locations in all directions based on real-time sky data.

The Two Rivers and Pleasant Valley region is often considered when skies to the east are favorable. These peaceful, forested areas offer a quiet backdrop for Northern Lights viewing with excellent visibility when cloud trends push us in that direction.

Ester Dome is a frequent direction for clear-sky nights. Its elevation, low light pollution, and distance from city glow make it a strong candidate in our flexible SkyChase™ route system.

On nights with clearing trends to the west, we may head toward the Nenana Hills region, exploring lesser-known sites that deliver expansive skies and beautiful terrain far from city lights.