photo318 Loc: South Indiana

Hoping there are members who would be able to provide some informed views on viewing Northern Lights from Fairbanks Alaska area in February. Internet searches have been marginal in benefit. Specifically.

a) Has anyone Stayed at the Aurora Borealis Lodge (aka Cleary Summit Lodge) and is it a good winter site for viewing/photography?

b) If you have stayed elsewhere in Fairbanks area that was an excellent location for northern lights photography would love to hear your guidance.

c) If you have been to multiple locations for Northern lights are there others I should be considering.

thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

ricardo00

To see the aurora, one needs primarily two things, high aurora activity and clear skies. Not sure how flexible you are in terms of going, but if you can schedule within a two week period, you can check the aurora activity and weather conditions about two weeks out. We did this on a trip to Yellowknife (and inland location which is less likely to have clouds), and could see the aurora as our plane was landing (it was already dark). Rented the car at the airport and drove out of the city and had phenomenal luck watching the aurora all night. The next few days were a bust.
You can look at the aurora forecaster and see the activity for the next two weeks:
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast

Good luck!

rskoba Loc: Honolulu, Hawaii

We've been to the Lodge twice. It's an outstanding location for aurora viewing. Got lucky the first time and got great shots. Were whitewashed on the second visit by the clouds-Not under the Lodge's control.
We stayed in Fairbanks both times and took advantage of the Lodge's pickup service. We would have needed a 4WD vehicle if we had stayed at the Lodge. Staying in Fairbanks put us closer to daytime activities and restaurants.

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

We made this trip in 2021 and stayed at Chena Hot Springs, some 50 miles NE of Fairbanks. Excellent!
https://chenahotsprings.com/aurora-borealis/

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

Been to Fairbanks for the Aurora probably 6 or 7 times. We always stayed in Fairbanks and drove up to Cleary Summit to view the Aurora at that lodge a couple of times. Another good place close to the lodge is Ski Land. They used to allow viewers, for a small fee, to use their small building to come in and out of to get warm. They also had hot drinks and snacks. Even if they don't do that anymore, it is worth it to drive the very short distance to there and use their large parking area to watch the sky.

In Fairbanks I would highly recommend taking a couple of night tours with The Aurora Chasers. Ronn and Marketa are the greatest couple and the most knowledgeable people I know about the aurora. It isn't cheap but they use a variety of apps to know the best locations to go to each night. They use a great van equipped with computer monitor for useful videos explaining the aurora, how to photograph the night sky, etc.

You MUST have a vehicle or building to go in and out of to stay warm, it is often 30-40 degrees F below zero in February. Make sure you read up on how to take your camera gear in and out of the cold (another topic).

Yes Chena Hot Springs Resort is also a good place. Would recommend staying there a night or two. Check out their website as they take you up to the top of a scenic hill to watch the aurora and they have a teepee to get warm and have hot drinks. They have a good restaurant and of course the hot springs!

My other highly recommended place to go is Yellowknife NWT Canada. We have been there 3 times. There are also tours you can take there or drive yourself from town. DO NOT go there without going to Aurora Village! Very cool place to watch the Aurora, look up there website.

Too much to get into for this short reply but perhaps my favorite places are Iceland and the Lofoten Islands. Easy to do on your own or numerous day or longer tours for the Aurora.

Have a great time, we are approaching the peak of the solar cycle!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Most anywhere outside of town! It is DARK sky country, if there is no moon. Have you/did you factor in the moonlight? We went in early February, 2017. The things to really watch out for are: If you have it, allow lots of time (as in at least 2 weeks). As we drove up, and as we were traveling there, I kept up with the weather conditions in Fairbanks, it was "Socked-IN", and -50F! When we got to Anchorage, the weather changed, and I then made reservations for Fairbanks, and Coldfoot, AK. We visited Chena Hot Springs 1 day. It is really a neat place. We saw some photos of the aurora made by a young man of the aurora that he made while staying there. Beautiful! We took a tour bus to Coldfoot, staying there for 5 nights, and saw the aurora every night. Also made a 'tour' trip to Wiseman one night (just 10 miles further up the road, really better setting than Coldfoot), (note: the truckers restaurant at Coldfoot is quite good). A couple of Chinese ladies rented a car and drove themselves to Coldfoot, wish I had done that! We also took a tour while there, up and over the Brooks Range, it is gorgeous, particularly with alpine-glow pink snow!
Around Fairbanks, just on the north side of town is an excellent area for viewing the aurora, a little hilly area used for mining gold.
Chena is an hour and 10 minute drive northeast of Fairbanks.
If you have never been to AK in the winter. -35F it is difficult for us 'warm weather' folks to even breath! You feel your lungs will 'freeze' with each breath! -20F is tolerable for short periods. Lots of layering arctic level clothes (level 4), and most importantly, HOT HANDS IN YOUR SHOES! And pockets!
You may want to visit the Santa Claus House at North Pole, Alaska. They have a small zoo, Christmas ornaments galore, and very large(!) and interesting ice sculptures outside! North Pole is about 10-15 miles down the road from Fairbanks. The Arctic Circle is 200 miles north of Fairbanks, also.
When out and about in Fairbanks, take your camera with you! One evening, there was a moose in the snow covered hotel parking lot.
Several postings I made of the aurora and that area:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-546992-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-548319-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-548088-1.html
hhttps://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-547500-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-547898-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-547322-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-547202-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-485909-1.html

And some from the winter ALCAN Hwy.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-485541-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-485541-1.html

A interesting observation was the CELL PHONE video of the aurora I saw was excellent! (Wasn't my video...) So, yes you can 'catch' it with a cell! Just don't stop recording at 10 seconds...