Alaska - The Land of the Midnight Sun

June in the Interior of Alaska can be a fickle beast for photographers. The breathtaking landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and unique natural phenomena of the midnight sun offer endless opportunities for stunning shots. The almost never-ending light lingers far into the night and into the earliest hours of the morning, with the best light being around those times. The weather can be stunning or offer a dreary alternative. On this latest trip with BCJ, we had lady luck on our side, and Alaska lived up to the hype of the land of the midnight sun! 

Summer in Alaska is a spectacle of nature's grandest show. The midnight sun paints the sky with prolonged golden hues, casting a magical light that stretches the golden hour into what feels like an eternity, having said that, it comes at some wild hours of the day! Wildlife is out and about, and we were fortunate enough to see moose, caribou, a chorus of bird species, and an abundance of Marine life on our Prince William Sound boat tour, all making the wilderness their stage. The land itself bursts into bloom, with wildflowers adding splashes of color to a variety of scenes. The weather was our friend, with mild temperatures, making it a joy to explore and capture the outdoors.

Our journey kicked off in Fairbanks, the heart of Alaska’s Interior. This vibrant city is the perfect launchpad for our adventure. The Chena River meanders through Fairbanks, offering picturesque scenes of local life and serene waterscapes. We visited Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge which was alive with the hustle and bustle of migratory birds, including the magnificent Sand Hill Crane.

From Fairbanks, we headed towards Denali National Park. No trip to Alaska would be complete without visiting this Park. Standing tall and majestic, Denali, North America’s highest peak, rising to a staggering 20,310ft above sea level, commands the horizon and provides a dramatic, yet almost surreal backdrop. Catching a clear view of Denali is a rare and exhilarating experience, as the mountain often plays hide and seek behind the clouds. June, however, increases one’s chances of witnessing its full glory and we were fortunate enough to have clear views of the mountain our entire stay in the area. This afforded us with exceptional photography opportunities from a variety of perspectives, and the “Great One” certainly seemed to steal the show on this trip!

While in the Park, we were provided with panoramic vistas of the park’s colorful valleys and rugged mountains, with Denali being the centerpiece.  We had numerous wildlife sightings, including Caribou and Dahl Sheep albeit from a distance, but we were able to capture a few images along the way.

Driving south on the Parks Highway from Fairbanks is more than just a road trip—it’s a journey through some of Alaska’s most picturesque landscapes. The highway winds through stunning mountain views, dense forests, and vast river valleys, each turn offering a new photographic opportunity. Frequent pullouts and rest areas provided perfect spots to set up our cameras and capture the pristine beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

As we continued our drive south on the Parks Highway, we took a slight detour to reach Talkeetna, a quaint and charming town that feels like stepping back in time. Talkeetna serves as a gateway to Denali and is known for its vibrant arts scene, historic buildings, and friendly locals. The rustic architecture and picturesque setting of Talkeetna provided endless photographic opportunities. The town’s unique blend of wilderness and culture made it a delightful stop on our journey. We stayed just outside of town at a beautiful lodge, with amazing views of Denali and the Alaskan Range.

While at Talkeetna we also had an evening flight, for yet another perspective of Denali as well as views of Ruth Glacier and the impressive mountains of the Alaskan Range surrounding Denali. This flight also had us landing on a glacier, where we could exit the plane and take in the magnificent views. The flight certainly seemed to be a big highlight of the trip, and some truly amazing photo opportunities presented themselves during the flight. 

From Talkeetna, we headed back onto the Parks Highway and then towards the Glenn Highway. A quick detour from Palmer had us headed to Hatcher Pass, a hidden gem brimming with lush valleys, rugged peaks, and echoes of Alaska’s gold rush history. The Independence Mine State Historical Park, with its abandoned buildings and mining relics, offered a fascinating glimpse into the past. The surrounding landscapes, adorned with wildflowers and mountain streams, provide a serene and stunning look for our images. 

This section of Glenn Highway unveils the heart of Alaska’s scenic splendor. The route treats one to breathtaking views of the Chugach and Talkeetna mountains. The Matanuska Glacier, easily accessible from the highway, invited us to capture its icy blue tones and intricate patterns up close, a testament to the raw beauty of Alaska’s glaciers. We photographed the beautiful colors of the chromatic peaks of Sheep Mountain along this stretch of road as well. We continued on the Glenn Highway and stopped for classic shots of the Wrangell Mountain Range far in the distance. 

Continuing our journey, a side trip to Valdez and Prince William Sound unveiled some of Alaska’s most breathtaking coastal scenery. Nestled amidst towering mountains and cascading waterfalls, Valdez is a photographer’s paradise. The deep fjords and icy waters of Prince William Sound teem with marine life, including sea otters, seals, sea lions and porpoises, to name just a few of the species we observed. Not to mention the countless water birds we witnessed, including the guest’s favorite, the Tufted Puffin.  All these sightings offered endless opportunities for captivating wildlife photography. 

Once we left Valdez, we headed North again, with our eyes set on the central/eastern portion of the Alaskan Range. We drove up passes and stopped at lakes and mountain streams, running fast and high from the unusually warm weather we were experiencing, both lined with brilliant  

wildflowers. We were able to photograph the Alaskan Range with the Tanana River in a dreamy like light for our final night, such an appropriate end to such an incredible Alaskan Interior experience. 

A photography tour of the Interior of Alaska around the Summer Solstice is an experience like no other. The combination of stunning landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and the unique phenomenon of the midnight sun provides endless opportunities for breathtaking images. And of course, like so many of the trips that BCJ offers, lasting friendships and great memories were created along with some nice images to boot. A truly remarkable experience of the last, great frontier!