Alaska Is Home To One Of The Most Remote Dark Sky Reserves In The World
By Megan McDonald|Published October 05, 2022
×
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.
The Last Frontier is one of the darkest states in America, so when it comes to choosing an epic remote dark sky reserve in Alaska, you have plenty of choices. Our favorite? The Arctic National Park and Preserve. This vast wilderness above the Arctic Circle won’t just give you a star show — if it’s dark enough for stars, it’s dark enough for the aurora borealis, too.
The majority of the state of Alaska is uninhabited wilderness.
The rest is glorious, empty landscape, which means it comes in at an impressive Bortle Level 1. Bortle Levels are levels that measure the night sky’s darkness, and help stargazers find the best places to camp out.
Advertisement
And that means Gates of the Arctic National Park ranks up there as one of the very best stargazing spots in the state.
This "Premier Wilderness" has nothing but a gorgeous landscape. Its 8.4 million acres are free of any kind of light pollution. It has no roads, buildings, or towns within its borders.
The dark mountains, clear skies, and cold, dry weather provide excellent stargazing opportunities. Although the weather is frequently cold during the best options to stargaze, it’s worth bundling up and getting out there in the winter.
Definitely the wintertime! Beyond the fact that we are blessed with the midnight sun all summer long, the winter skies provide a dry climate perfect for viewing the stars — and the aurora borealis.
The best time to stargaze is after 8pm, but the best time to catch the aurora is after midnight.
Your best bet? Find an outdoor outfit that can keep you warm and cozy in the outdoor winter temperatures in the Arctic Circle. Tours like the Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour or the Alaska Wildlife Guides can take you on the most epic Northern Lights and stargazing tours.
If you have a chance to get up above the Arctic Circle for some serious stargazing, don’t hesitate.
The areas in the Brooks Mountain Range are fantastic, especially when the night sky is lit up. You won’t forget a star gazing or aurora hunting trip to the north!
Have you ever visited this remote dark sky reserve in Alaska? Did you love it? Were you able to see the aurora borealis, too? Let us know in the comments below!
Love the Arctic? Check out why the Arctic Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is America’s Serengeti and is truly something to marvel over.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
