Aurora viewing and Museum of the North
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the Interior's main city, with long summer days, cold winters and a strong aurora-viewing season.
Alaska region guide · Draft
Fairbanks & the Interior
Boreal forests, broad river valleys and dramatic seasonal contrasts define Alaska's Interior. Fairbanks is a hub for aurora viewing, Chena River trips and road journeys east toward Delta Junction and Tok or north toward the Yukon.
- Gateway towns
- Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok
- Nearest major airport
- Fairbanks International (FAI)
- Best months
- June–August; late August–March for aurora
- Getting there
- Scheduled flights, Parks/Richardson/Alaska highways and Alaska Railroad; remote Yukon communities by air or boat.
Overview
Boreal forests, broad river valleys and dramatic seasonal contrasts define Alaska's Interior. Fairbanks is a hub for aurora viewing, Chena River trips and road journeys east toward Delta Junction and Tok or north toward the Yukon.
Local guides
Inside Fairbanks & the Interior
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the Interior's main city, with long summer days, cold winters and a strong aurora-viewing season.
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Road follows the river east of Fairbanks into boreal forest, granite tors and a developed hot-springs resort.
Delta Junction & Tok
Delta Junction and Tok connect the Richardson and Alaska highways, with broad river valleys beneath the eastern Alaska Range.
Yukon River
Alaska's great northern river links remote communities across the Interior; most stretches are reached by air or boat rather than road.
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Highlights
Boreal forests, broad river valleys and dramatic seasonal contrasts define Alaska's Interior. Fairbanks is a hub for aurora viewing, Chena River trips and road journeys east toward Delta Junction and Tok or north toward the Yukon.
Hot springs and aurora nights
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Road follows the river east of Fairbanks into boreal forest, granite tors and a developed hot-springs resort.
Delta agricultural heritage and highway history
Delta Junction & Tok
Delta Junction and Tok connect the Richardson and Alaska highways, with broad river valleys beneath the eastern Alaska Range.
River travel and community cultural history
Yukon River
Alaska's great northern river links remote communities across the Interior; most stretches are reached by air or boat rather than road.
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Mountains
Explore mountains across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
White Mountains north of town
Fairbanks
Conditions range from valley walks to technical alpine terrain. Match the route to your experience and obtain local advice.
Chena uplands
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Conditions range from valley walks to technical alpine terrain. Match the route to your experience and obtain local advice.
Eastern Alaska Range
Delta Junction & Tok
Conditions range from valley walks to technical alpine terrain. Match the route to your experience and obtain local advice.
Yukon uplands
Yukon River
Conditions range from valley walks to technical alpine terrain. Match the route to your experience and obtain local advice.
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State & National Parks
Explore state & national parks across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Chena River State Recreation Site
Fairbanks
Check the land manager's current visitor information before arranging travel.
Type: state park
Land manager: Alaska State Parks
Permits: Confirm reservations, commercial operator permissions and backcountry requirements with the land manager.
Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Check the land manager's current visitor information before arranging travel.
Type: state park
Land manager: Alaska State Parks
Permits: Confirm reservations, commercial operator permissions and backcountry requirements with the land manager.
Quartz Lake State Recreation Area
Delta Junction & Tok
Check the land manager's current visitor information before arranging travel.
Type: state park
Land manager: Alaska State Parks
Permits: Confirm reservations, commercial operator permissions and backcountry requirements with the land manager.
Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
Yukon River
Check the land manager's current visitor information before arranging travel.
Type: preserve
Land manager: National Park Service
Permits: Confirm reservations, commercial operator permissions and backcountry requirements with the land manager.
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Hiking
Explore hiking across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Creamer's Field nature trails
Fairbanks
Carry navigation, rain layers and bear-safety equipment; confirm current trail or route conditions.
Difficulty: Easy
Length: Variable loops
Access: Fly to FAI; Parks, Richardson or Alaska Highway connections; railroad.
Angel Rocks Trail
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Carry navigation, rain layers and bear-safety equipment; confirm current trail or route conditions.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: About 3.5 mi loop
Access: Chena Hot Springs Road from Fairbanks; check winter driving conditions.
Quartz Lake trails
Delta Junction & Tok
Carry navigation, rain layers and bear-safety equipment; confirm current trail or route conditions.
Difficulty: Easy
Length: Variable loops
Access: Richardson and Alaska highways; road-linked to Fairbanks and Canada.
Remote riverbank and upland routes
Yukon River
Carry navigation, rain layers and bear-safety equipment; confirm current trail or route conditions.
Difficulty: Expert
Length: No standard trail length
Access: Dalton Highway Yukon crossing or flights to river communities.
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Fishing
Explore fishing across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Chena River
Fairbanks
Use current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders; listed species are not a guarantee of an open fishery.
Arctic grayling
Chena River
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Use current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders; listed species are not a guarantee of an open fishery.
Arctic grayling
Quartz Lake
Delta Junction & Tok
Use current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders; listed species are not a guarantee of an open fishery.
Rainbow trout · Arctic char
Yukon tributaries where open
Yukon River
Use current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders; listed species are not a guarantee of an open fishery.
Arctic grayling · Northern pike
Current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders
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Hunting
Explore hunting across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Licenses and land access
Fairbanks
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: 20B
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Licenses and land access
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: 20B
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Licenses and land access
Delta Junction & Tok
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: 20D / 12
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Licenses and land access
Yukon River
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: Multiple units; verify exact drainage
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Seasons, permits and land restrictions change. Check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations before planning a hunt.
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Four-Wheel Drive & Backroads
Explore four-wheel drive & backroads across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Roads and vehicle access
Fairbanks
Steese and Elliott highways; winter conditions can be severe.
Conditions: Verify seasonal openings, washouts and land permissions.
Vehicle: Check rental exclusions; do not enter uncertain water crossings.
Roads and vehicle access
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Road; designated motorized trails have separate rules.
Conditions: Verify seasonal openings, washouts and land permissions.
Vehicle: Check rental exclusions; do not enter uncertain water crossings.
Roads and vehicle access
Delta Junction & Tok
Alaska Highway and gravel side roads; check land access.
Conditions: Verify seasonal openings, washouts and land permissions.
Vehicle: Check rental exclusions; do not enter uncertain water crossings.
Roads and vehicle access
Yukon River
Road access is limited to specific crossings and communities.
Conditions: Verify seasonal openings, washouts and land permissions.
Vehicle: Check rental exclusions; do not enter uncertain water crossings.
Content coming soon
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Rafting & Paddling
Explore rafting & paddling across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Chena River urban floats; check flows and cold-water safety
Fairbanks
Chena River urban floats; check flows and cold-water safety
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
Chena River paddling; logjams and variable flows
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Chena River paddling; logjams and variable flows
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
Tanana basin trips with local guidance; large swift channels
Delta Junction & Tok
Tanana basin trips with local guidance; large swift channels
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
Yukon River expeditions; long distances, swift water and remote resupply
Yukon River
Yukon River expeditions; long distances, swift water and remote resupply
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
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Wildlife
Explore wildlife across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Sandhill cranes, migratory waterfowl and moose
Fairbanks
Use binoculars and keep appropriate distance; bears may be encountered away from viewing sites.
Moose and beavers
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Use binoculars and keep appropriate distance; bears may be encountered away from viewing sites.
Moose, bison around Delta and migratory birds
Delta Junction & Tok
Use binoculars and keep appropriate distance; bears may be encountered away from viewing sites.
Moose, bears and peregrine falcons
Yukon River
Use binoculars and keep appropriate distance; bears may be encountered away from viewing sites.
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Camping
Explore camping across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Chena River State Recreation Site campground
Fairbanks
Facilities and seasons vary; pack out waste and store food securely away from wildlife.
State campgrounds and reservable public-use cabins
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Facilities and seasons vary; pack out waste and store food securely away from wildlife.
Quartz Lake campground
Delta Junction & Tok
Facilities and seasons vary; pack out waste and store food securely away from wildlife.
Remote river camps; respect village and private lands
Yukon River
Facilities and seasons vary; pack out waste and store food securely away from wildlife.
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Other Activities
Explore other activities across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Aurora viewing and Museum of the North
Fairbanks
Confirm availability directly, and respect community guidance and access permissions.
Hot springs and aurora nights
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Confirm availability directly, and respect community guidance and access permissions.
Delta agricultural heritage and highway history
Delta Junction & Tok
Confirm availability directly, and respect community guidance and access permissions.
River travel and community cultural history
Yukon River
Confirm availability directly, and respect community guidance and access permissions.
Content coming soon
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Access & Logistics
Explore access & logistics across Fairbanks & the Interior. Local access, conditions and permissions vary.
Getting there and around
Fairbanks
Fly to FAI; Parks, Richardson or Alaska Highway connections; railroad.
Getting there and around
Chena River & Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Road from Fairbanks; check winter driving conditions.
Getting there and around
Delta Junction & Tok
Richardson and Alaska highways; road-linked to Fairbanks and Canada.
Getting there and around
Yukon River
Dalton Highway Yukon crossing or flights to river communities.
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Gallery
In pictures
