10 Photos That Prove There's Nowhere More Beautiful In The World Than Alaska In The Winter
By Megan McDonald|Published December 18, 2019
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
Alaska in the winter is a moving experience. While most people run to get out of the cold, Alaskans know that some of the greatest beauty this state has to offer is during our winter season. From crisp, cold, bluebird days, to snow-capped mountain peaks, this state has an incredible amount to see and enjoy during our darkest months.
Alaska actually has wildly differing winter temperatures all over the state. You can enjoy milder, wetter weather in southeast Alaska, or head into the interior and enjoy freezing cold temperatures.
Temperatures can fluctuate from forty or fifty degrees above zero to seventy degrees or more below freezing in the Arctic Circle.
The green, spruce tree filled coastline is dotted with warm and inviting towns and villages. Even in the winter there's a warmth and cheerfulness in Southeast.
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The interior can be sparsely vegetated, with sharp peaks and low, glacial carved valleys.
The sky is just as important as the mountains in these winter tableaus, with sunrises and sunsets bathing the mountains in rosy pinks. On the coldest days the air is crisp and clear, and you can see for miles in any direction.
All throughout the state you can find gorgeous and awe inspiring mountain peaks covered in snow.
Snow storms can come quick and furious, and avalanches abound after heavy snowfall and warm temperatures. Even with these dangers, the mountains hold an arresting amount of beauty.
Skip the car and the icy roadways, and relax on the Alaska Railroad, with backcountry views and wildlife you won't be able to see any other way. Traveling along a narrow passageway through the center of Alaska is an adventure all unto itself!
There's probably very little in this world as magical as the aurora borealis.
The northern lights dance across our sky without a pattern. Like a silk scarf in the wind, the lights flow from one direction to another, changing shapes, and even colors.
Winter in Alaska can be thrilling and risky, as well as playful and fun.
Skating through ice caves, snowshoeing up mountains, and ice skating backcountry rivers all afford beautiful views and exciting adventure. There are so many ways to play in the snow here in our state, and Alaskans enjoy them all!
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Our largest and most impressive giant, Denali, stands out more days in the winter than in the summer.
The cold and low humidity afford incredible sightings of the impressive mountain. The winter days are the perfect time as locals to find a pilot to take you sightseeing. The white scenery beneath you will be breathtaking as you see the state in a whole new way.
Wherever you go, and however you enjoy the winters, Alaska will provide something for you to love.
The short days are packed full of life, and the long nights are the best time to practice hygge. Alaskans are a unique breed, able to flourish at what feels like the edge of the world, surrounded by a rare and wonderful beauty!
Have you been to Alaska in the winter? Do you live here all year? What is your favorite part of the coldest season in this state? Let us know in the comments below!