14 things only Alaskan locals know (but you should too)

26.03.2024 - 06:37 / lonelyplanet.com

Alaska is bigger, colder and more remote than any other state in the US. 

Pure, raw, unforgiving and humongous in scale, it is a place that calls to those with wanderlust and a strong sense of independence. There are thrilling adventures to be had here, but also pitfalls to be avoided. Take precautions, but don’t let the wilderness spook you. 

Few other places in the US allow you to scale an unclimbed mountain, walk where – quite possibly – no human foot has trodden before, or sally forth into a national park that gets fewer annual visitors than the International Space Station. Here are some tips on how to plan (and survive!) a trip to the great north of America.

Alaska's summer season is relatively short (May to September), and places to stay fill up quickly. Book accommodation at least two months in advance, especially in smaller towns where choices are limited. The same goes for campgrounds – you won't be the only one looking for a pitch in peak season.

Other big-ticket items can also get overbooked. That multi-day kayaking trip you were keen on? The fly-in, bear-spotting excursion you’ve been dreaming about since Christmas? Book ‘em up before May to avoid disappointment. 

In high summer, it barely gets dark in Alaska, particularly in the far north. If you’re a sensitive sleeper, bring an eye mask. Hotel rooms have curtains, but tents don’t. 

A large proportion of Alaska is off the road network, so a rental car isn't always an advantage. Ferries connect the far-flung towns of the Alaska panhandle, Prince William Sound and the Alaska Peninsula, while bush planes are the only way to reach the remote, road-less expanses of the north and west. 

The Alaska Railroad will get you to the gates of the state’s two most popular national parks: Denali and Kenai Fjords and once you get to the parks, busses will get you around. We can't recommend the railroad enough. If you're curious how to plan on the train check out Sarah Stocking's article on how to plan it. There are even buses that do a relatively good job linking Anchorage and Fairbanks to places as far apart as Wrangell-St Elias National Park, Tok, Chicken and Deadhorse on the Arctic Ocean.

Stay in Alaska for at least a week to get a taster in destination, but 10-14 days will give you a proper overview of the state. That’s enough time to take the Alaska Marine Highway from Bellingham, WA, to Skagway – one of the state’s great road trips – or to ride the rails from Fairbanks to Seward.

Indigenous people – who prefer to be called Alaska Natives – comprise around 16% of Alaska’s population. Many live in 229 federally recognized villages, and their culture varies widely. Key communities include the Inupiat in the Arctic, the Athabascans in the Interior, the Aleutians