Overview

The Dalton Highway is a working industrial road that runs north from just outside Fairbanks toward the Arctic Ocean and offers a rare look at Interior and Arctic Alaska. This full-day winter tour follows nearly 200 miles of that highway to the Arctic Circle, with boreal forest, pipeline views, the Yukon River, and a timed return after dark for a focused northern lights search.

Highlights

• Travel the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle
• See the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and cross the Yukon River
• Boreal forest, tundra ridges, and big northern sky views
• Small group (max 7) with guaranteed window seats
• Modern AWD winter van with snacks, water, and hot drinks included
• Aurora search on the return using real-time space weather data (seasonal, conditions dependent)

Full Description

We begin by heading north from Fairbanks to join the Dalton Highway, then stop at an early pipeline viewpoint for photos and a simple overview of how the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and road were built across Interior Alaska. From there, we continue through boreal forest—spruce, wetlands, and low hills that stretch for hundreds of miles—on our way toward the Yukon River.

At the Yukon River, we pause for views, restrooms, and a chance to buy a hot meal at Yukon River Camp or enjoy your own food. The river is a major Interior waterway used for travel, freight, and subsistence, and it offers a clear sense of how people move through this part of Alaska. Continuing north, the road climbs into higher country with broader views; depending on conditions, we make one or two short scenic stops in areas such as Finger Mountain or nearby ridges to step out and look over the surrounding tundra and river systems.

At the Arctic Circle wayside, we stop for photos with the sign, warm drinks, and bathroom, marking your visit to 66°33′ north. There’s time to take in the setting before we turn south and begin the drive back toward Fairbanks.

Wildlife is always a possibility on this route. The forest and river corridors can hold moose, foxes, snowshoe hares, and a wide variety of birds. Nothing is guaranteed, but the highway passes through active habitat the entire way.

Throughout the day, your guide keeps the focus on what you’re seeing out the window and at each stop—how the forest and permafrost work, how the pipeline and road were built, and what daily life looks like in Alaska’s Interior. Snacks, water, and hot drinks are provided, and our all-wheel-drive touring van is fully winter-equipped for northern conditions. Tours are capped at seven guests to keep the experience comfortable, conversational, and focused on the landscape rather than the crowd.

On winter departures, we return under dark, open sky with minimal light pollution. Using real-time solar wind and aurora data via Starlink, your guide watches conditions and stops at safe pullouts when the forecast and sky look promising. Aurora viewing can’t be guaranteed, but this schedule is intentionally timed around prime northern lights hours.

What to Expect

• Full-day, mostly road-based sightseeing
• Mix of paved and maintained gravel roads
• Several short scenic/photo stops and bathroom breaks
• Industrial truck traffic and winter road conditions are part of the experience
• Short walks only (no strenuous hiking)
• Late-morning or midday departure, late-night return
• Aurora viewing depends on weather and solar activity; we use real-time data to guide the search but can’t promise a display