Alaska Fall Colors Photography Workshop

Few places on earth rival Alaska in scale, drama, and photographic opportunity — and autumn here is nothing short of spectacular. By September, the landscapes transform into a painter’s palette: birch and aspen blaze gold, tundra glows crimson, and the first snows begin to dust the high peaks. This journey is designed to follow that fleeting transition, beginning in Alaska’s northern interior and tracking the season south — through tundra valleys, glacier country, coastal fjords, and ultimately into the shadow of Denali itself.
And while the landscapes are the heart of this adventure, the skies may surprise us too. Alaska’s “aurora belt” extends across much of our route, so on clear nights we’ll always be ready — camera in hand — should the northern lights appear.

Chasing Color Through the Alaska Range

Our adventure begins in Fairbanks, but we don’t linger. From the interior we set off, heading south along the historic Richardson Highway into the Alaska Range. Here, glaciers spill from jagged peaks into valleys carpeted in fiery tundra. This remote stretch near Delta Junction is one of Alaska’s hidden gems — wild, wide open, and utterly dazzling in autumn. Few visitors make it this far, leaving us alone with the colors and the mountains.

From Mountains to the Sea: Valdez & Prince William Sound

The road from the Alaska Range to the coast is one of the most dramatic drives in North America. We’ll wind past Worthington Glacier, photograph waterfalls plunging down Thompson Pass, and follow the Lowe River as it cuts through the sheer walls of Keystone Canyon. Our destination is Valdez, a small coastal town framed by towering peaks.
From here, we take to the water on a boat tour into Prince William Sound. Surrounded by fjords, tidewater glaciers, and autumn-colored hillsides, we’ll photograph the juxtaposition of fall color and blue ice. Marine wildlife is often part of the story too: sea otters, seals, and even whales may enter our frames.

Glacier Country: Matanuska Valley & Beyond

Leaving the coast, we head inland along the Glenn Highway, a ribbon of road considered one of the most scenic in Alaska. The centerpiece here is the Matanuska Glacier — a 27-mile-long river of ice surrounded by ridgelines brushed with fall color.

One of the highlights of the workshop is a helicopter flight into this region. Conditions permitting, we’ll lift off for a scenic flight, land high on a ridgeline overlooking glaciers and peaks, and spend time shooting from this extraordinary vantage point before flying back. It’s an unforgettable way to see and photograph Alaska’s wild heart.

On the ground, the Matanuska Valley offers its own treasures: beautiful autumn views of the Chugach Mountains, winding mountain passes like Hatcher Pass glowing with red tundra, and roadside overlooks that showcase Alaska at its finest.

Ice & Color: Knik Glacier Lagoon

Further west, we’ll embark on a private excursion along the Knik River to reach the glacier lagoon. Here, floating icebergs drift against a backdrop of autumn forest and mountains. Remote and relatively unknown, this lagoon provides a quieter and more intimate perspective on Alaska’s ice, with colors and textures that shift by the hour.

Denali from the Air & Talkeetna in Autumn

We finish in Talkeetna, a historic frontier town with deep roots in Alaska’s gold and mountaineering history. September paints the forests around Talkeetna in golden hues, and if the skies are kind, we’ll photograph Denali towering above the fall landscape.

Our grand finale is a flightseeing tour of Denali. From the air, North America’s tallest peak rises nearly 20,000 feet, surrounded by glaciers and rugged spires. Photographing Denali from this perspective is an experience few ever forget — the perfect way to conclude our journey.

Aurora & Aerials: The Extra Dimensions of This Trip

Throughout our travels, the skies remain part of the story. Alaska sits beneath some of the best aurora-viewing latitudes on earth, and while the northern lights can never be guaranteed, the possibility exists across nearly every night of this trip. With clear skies and a good forecast, we’ll be ready to capture the dancing green ribbons over forests, tundra, or even glaciers.

This itinerary is also especially drone-friendly. Wide valleys, open tundra, expansive mountains, and coastal fjords all provide ideal settings for aerial photography. While the workshop is not drone-specific, participants who bring drones will find countless opportunities to elevate their images — both literally and creatively.

The Experience

This is the ultimate Alaska fall colors adventure: a journey that follows the season as it sweeps south, layering landscapes of forest, tundra, glacier, coast, and mountain into one seamless story. Along the way, we’ll balance roadside classics with exclusive experiences — a private boat tour in Prince William Sound, a helicopter landing in glacier country, a private excursion to the Knik Glacier Lagoon, and a flight around Denali.
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With expert guidance, a small group, and days packed with both light and color, you’ll return home not just with memory cards full of photographs, but with the rare experience of having witnessed Alaska’s autumn in all its wild, fleeting brilliance.