Spring is a wonderful time to visit Anchorage. Increasing daylight means more time for both late-winter and early-summer activities, migratory animals return, and babies are born, and cultural events take over the spotlight before peak season.
Spring Weather and Daylight
After March 20, Anchorage experiences more hours of daylight than anywhere else in the other 49 states. The true midnight sun is still a couple of months off, but until the end of April, night skies are dark enough that northern lights viewing is still on the itinerary.
By early May, however, the sun won't dip below the horizon until nearly 11 p.m.
Outdoor Activities
Temperatures rise, but there’s still plenty of picturesque snow on the mountain tops, perfect for winter activities without the winter chill. Downhill and cross-country skiing is usually possible through April and sometimes beyond. At the end of April, Alyeska Resort hosts its annual Spring Carnival and Slush Cup, a wet and wild farewell to ski season involving over-the-top costumes and attempts to skim across a pool of water.
Hiking season begins as soon as the snow starts to melt, and is in full swing by mid-May as the days grow longer and the trails dry out. Mountain trails at lower elevations are the first to reveal themselves, and Anchorage’s extensive multiuse trail system is always available no matter the season.
Gray Whale Watch Tours & Glacier Cruises
Gray whales are the first migratory whale species to return in the spring, and whale watching cruises begin in mid-March. Several tour companies offer four-hour tours departing from Seward to see these whales as they head toward their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Blackstone Bay glacier cruises from Whittier are another spring option, with scheduled tours starting in March.
Moose and Bears in Spring
Nearly 1,500 moose make their home in Anchorage, and you'll be arriving just before this season's calves do. Keep a sharp eye out and you may see one just traveling around town. For a closer look at a moose and other Alaska animals, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and the Alaska Zoo are the places to find musk ox, caribou, wood bison, lynx, foxes and many other Arctic and sub-Arctic animal species.
Flightseeing
Circle Denali, land on a glacier or just get a new perspective on the landscape. Lake Hood is the world’s busiest float plane base, and in the winter, many of those planes fly on skis. Tours via helicopter and wheeled planes are available any time of year.
Springing Into Culture
Anchorage museums and cultural centers always merit a stop. The Anchorage Museum is home to a stunning Alaska Native art collection and a permanent Alaska history exhibit, as well as rotating exhibits about life in the north, and Alaska art and culture. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center, guests can tour village sites or stroll the Hall of Cultures, learning about Alaska's vibrant heritage and living Indigenous cultures. And there are more – other Anchorage museums showcase everything from military history to aviation to Lithuanian heritage in the Great Land.
Alaska Native Games
The NYO Games test endurance, agility, strength and speed in events drawn from traditional Alaska Native life. The competition is open to Alaska students from all backgrounds, and every spring they gather in Anchorage to showcase their athleticism and skill. Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to cheer on the athletes in events like the seal hop, the two-foot high kick and the one-hand reach.
Learn more about spring activities and adventures in Anchorage on VAX VacationAccess.
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