Top 25 Best Photography Spots in Alaska

The state of Alaska is a photographer’s paradise. This beautiful state features a wide variety of photogenic attractions, such as glaciers, waterfalls, and mountains, in addition to its abundant wildlife. Find the perfect scene for your next photo with the guidance of these Best Photography Spots in Alaska and tips on how to capture it in its best light. Here are some of the locations in Alaska that you shouldn’t miss if you’re going to be there anytime soon.

BEST GEAR TO PHOTOGRAPH ALASKA

Make sure to bring some extra gear with you on your next trip. The holy trinity of wide-angle lenses that can also be used for telephoto will help you capture every moment in perfect clarity and detail. You might want one lens that’s 24mm or 70mm, depending on how far away from the subject you want to take the picture. But no matter which type you choose, these camera extensions come into play, so make sure they’re attached correctly before you take any pictures. 

We always suggest using tripods when shooting outside because the ground is often rough and things like rocks are more likely to fall on your camera.

HERE IS THE LIST OF THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS IN ALASKA:

1. Portage Pass

A mirrored symmetrical image of the Portage Glacier Lake Chugach Mountains. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

A mirrored symmetrical image of the Portage Glacier Lake Chugach Mountains. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

A lot of people go to Alaska’s Portage Pass in the summer and fall to take pictures. Portage is known for its views of mountains and glaciers, and wildlife one of the best photo spots in Alaska. It is a family-friendly trail, which begins 90 minutes south of Anchorage at the far end of the Whittier Tunnel. The short walk from the parking area to Portage Pass takes you over two small tidal mudflats along the sandy beach, through dense rainforest and open meadows, and up a steep trail to the pass, where you can stop to look around or pull out your camera. 

Portage Pass is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. On a clear day, this is also a great place to watch the sun rise or set over mountains that are often covered in clouds. Along the road that leads out of the Portage Glacier Recreation Area, there are several good places to stop on either side of Portage Creek.

2. Skolai Pass, Wrangell St. Elias National Park

View of the Wrangells. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

View of the Wrangells. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Skolai Pass is a great place to go for long hikes in the wilderness or short day hikes in the far wilderness. Here, you can see grassy hillsides, alpine valleys, wildflowers, tundra, river bars, the Russell Glacier, and upper Skolai Lake, one of the best photo spots in Alaska.

This scenic trail connects McCarthy Road to the road that leads to the Teklanika River Campground. It starts out on gravel and goes through more than a dozen creeks before reaching a large meadow where you are free to roam. The pass is one of the best photography spots in Alaska because it has such beautiful views of a lot of different kinds of animals, like moose, caribou, and others, living in the past.

3 Northern Lights in Fairbanks

Full Moon and active colorful aurora over Fairbanks Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Full Moon and active colorful aurora over Fairbanks Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Seeing the northern lights is probably the one thing you will remember for the rest of your life. Fairbanks is one of the best photography spots in Alaska for the Northern Lights or known as the aurora borealis. It’s hard to find the right words to describe the bright threads of light that wove through the night sky. The best month to see the Northern Lights is from around September to March. Bring a tripod, a lot of clothes, and hand warmers, and get ready to be amazed. This place is really cool! One of the best photo spots in Alaska.

4. The Iditarod

A musher departs from Fairbanks during. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

A musher departs from Fairbanks during. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a long-distance race for sled dogs that takes place every year at the start of March, one of the best photo spots in Alaska. The Iditarod is another name for it that is used more often.

No matter how good a photographer you are or how new you are, the Iditarod Trail is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. Even though the conditions aren’t always easy, it’s worth it to see the beautiful scenery and exciting moments that make this competition stand out from others. This race has everything a photographer could want to capture on film, from beautiful views to exciting action shots of mushers and their dogs in the snow.

5. Chugach Mountains from Flattop (Anchorage)

Mesmerizing shot of the Frozen pond in Chugach State Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Mesmerizing shot of the Frozen pond in Chugach State Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

The hiking trail on Flattop of Chugach Mountains is a popular destination for tourists as well as locals, and for good reason: the view from the summit is broad, taking in the entirety of the Anchorage Bowl as well as Cook Inlet. This is without a doubt one of the best photography spots in Alaska. An excellent location for trekking and climbing, with glaciers in the immediate area and stunning views in every direction. The path to the top is rocky and steep, but there are a number of loop trails below that are great for people who are just starting out or have physical problems.

6. Byers Lake

Byers Lake in Denali State Park Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Byers Lake in Denali State Park Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Byers Lake is a small lake in Denali State Park in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough of Alaska, 28 miles north of Talkeetna. This is one of four paths that lead to Kesugi Ridge. From the campground at Byers Lake in Denali State Park, this easy walk is a great way to spend a few hours. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. On the north side of the lake, you can walk through spruce and birch trees, and from the east side, you can see the Alaska Range and Denali.

7. Wonder Lake in Denali National Park

Wonder Lake in Denali National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Wonder Lake in Denali National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Take a picture of the Alaska Range mountains reflected in the still water of Wonder Lake in Denali National Park. This is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. Try it when a summer sunset’s warm light is present. Not only is the light much better for photos at that time, but it’s also often the only time you can see Denali in the summer since clouds often hide it. Also, there’s nothing like standing out on the tundra in the late evening to enjoy the peace and quiet of the wild. To get to this view, you’ll need to take a shuttle or camper bus from Denali National Park all the way to the 85-mile mark on Park Road. And you should book a campsite at Wonder Lake so you can spend more time exploring the area, one of the best photo spots in Alaska.

8. Barrow

Sunrise winter barrow alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Sunrise winter barrow alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

There is no better place than Barrow, Alaska, to see the midnight sun. It is known as one of the best photography spots in Alaska because it has a lot of bays, rivers, and tundra landscapes. The remains of an old whaling station on the shore of Barrow Bay, where you might see beluga whales, are one of the interesting things in the area itself.

During the summer, the sun never goes down. From the second week of May until the first week of August, which is almost three months, it just moves in a circle around the sky. And from the beginning of November to the middle of February, the sun never rises above the horizon. But if you don’t mind the cold and darkness, you can watch the northern lights dance in the sky over the frozen sea ice of the Chukchi Sea.

9. Hatcher Pass, Independence Mine

Hatcher Pass Mine. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Hatcher Pass Mine. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

As you get closer to Hatcher Pass, you’ll want to stop every thousand feet or so to take in all the beautiful natural features. This short hike leads to Alaska’s best view. This mountain range is the second largest in North America. The climb only takes 30 minutes, but what you see will stay with you for the rest of your life. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska because it has everything you need for a fun day outside such as exercise, exhilaration, and fresh air. There are also beautiful glaciers and flowering meadows everywhere you look.

10. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Caribous in Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Caribous in Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Alaska is full of wildlife. But the place is also very big. Wild animals go where they want, which is usually far away from us. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a great way to solve this problem, and for many people, it will be their only chance to see the state’s big game animals in their natural habitat.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a place where people can see up close more than 100 animals that have been saved. This is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. It gives you many chances to get up close and personal with our amazing wildlife, such as the chance to feed and play with the animals and daily demonstrations that teach you about wild animals and their habitats.

11. Seward Highway from Anchorage to Seward

Driving from Anchorage to Seward Alaska on Highway 9. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Driving from Anchorage to Seward Alaska on Highway 9. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Seward Highway is a winding road in Alaska that goes from Anchorage to Seward. There are three designations to its credit for the 127-mile Seward Highway: the USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, the Alaska Scenic Byway, and the All-American Road. And this highway is a photographer’s dream to drive on. From the top of the road, you can see waterfalls, glaciers, and mountains with snow on top. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. The best time to go is at the beginning of summer when there aren’t as many people there and the weather is nice.

12. Sitka Totem Park

Totem poles displayed in the Sitka National Historical. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Totem poles displayed in the Sitka National Historical. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Several ornately carved totems line a path by the water like silent sentries. They attract people into the forest where they live. Spruce needles that have fallen on the path keep people from making noise as they walk. Other than the occasional bird call, the park is filled with sacred tranquility. This park has beautiful views of Mount Edgecumbe and Mount Ballyhoo and has some of the most famous totem poles. It’s a quiet place where you can find one of the best photography spots in Alaska.

13. Homer Spit

Homer Spit in Kachemack Bay surrounded by glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Homer Spit in Kachemack Bay surrounded by glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

If you go to the end of the Homer Spit, you might feel like you’re on a ship instead of on land. Homer Spit is not an easy place to find in Alaska. It is off the beaten path and just out of reach of the most popular tourist spots. It requires careful planning and a willingness to drive the extra miles along the Kenai Peninsula, a beautiful stretch of coast. But if you are willing to go the extra mile, Homer Spit is a great place to take pictures.

Homer Spit is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. It is also one of the most prized destinations for scenic kayaking and fishing. The spit is at the southernmost tip of the Kenai Peninsula, which makes it very easy to get to. It also has a very diverse ecosystem that is home to many different kinds of animals and offers great fishing.

14. Glenn Highway

Alaska road sign on Glenn Highway. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Alaska road sign on Glenn Highway. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Photographers can take pictures of Alaska’s unique landscapes along the Glenn Highway as it goes up the Matanuska Valley. The 135-mile Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Glennallen has been named a National Scenic Byway. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. Along the way, you can see the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains, the Wrangell St. Elias Range, the Matanuska Glacier, and the Matanuska River as it winds through the valley. At Tahneta Pass, the land opens up into an endless stretch of spruce forests, and on a clear day, you can see for more than 100 miles. There are many pullouts, rest stops, campgrounds, and lodges along the way where you can stop and look at wildflowers, wildlife, hidden lakes, and other scenic sights.

14. Exit Glacier

Hike in Exit glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Hike in Exit glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

The Exit Glacier which is just a few miles from Seward is one of the best places to take pictures in Alaska. It has miles of icebergs surrounded by rough mountains and valleys that will make for some amazing photos.

Exit Glacier gives you a rare chance to see a glacier close up. You can walk on the gravel bar just below the glacier, and an easy hiking trail gets you very close to the ice. If you go all the way to the top on the harder four-mile trail, you’ll reach the edge of the huge Harding Ice Field.

16. Eagle River Nature Center

Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Eagle River Nature Center is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. It’s a great place for landscape photographers, people who like nature, and people who like to be outside. One of the entrances to Alaska’s largest state park, Chugach, is only a 40-minute drive from downtown Anchorage. When you turn onto Eagle River Road to start the 12-mile drive into the Eagle River Valley, you’ll see many views of the mountains that were shaped by glaciers. You may also see wildlife, such as beavers and salmon, which you can see from special viewing decks.

17. Blackstone Glacier

A kayaker paddles amoung ice burgs in Blackstone Bay. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

A kayaker paddles amoung ice burgs in Blackstone Bay. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Even though Blackstone Glacier is just one of many icy streams that flow from the Chugach Mountains into Prince William Sound, it has its own unique beauty.

Blackstone Glacier is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. It is also one of the most beautiful glaciers in the state. The best time to go is in the summer when the glacier isn’t covered in snow and you can enjoy its beauty without worrying about getting buried. This glacier is something that nature lovers and photographers will only get to do once in their lives.

18. Brooks Falls

Grizzly bear fishing in Brooks Falls Katmai National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Grizzly bear fishing in Brooks Falls Katmai National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park is one of the most famous places in the world to see active grizzly bears eating salmon and taking pictures of them. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. The best time to see bears at the falls is in July when the annual Sockeye (Red) Salmon run happens. However, bears are in the area from the middle of spring to the middle of fall. And it’s easy to get to this huge park, which is about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. Air taxis can take you there for a day trip or to stay overnight at a campground or lodge.

19. Aialik Bay (from Seward)

Aialik bay in Kenai Fjords national park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Aialik bay in Kenai Fjords national park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

It would be hard to find a more beautiful place in Alaska than Aialik Bay. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska because it has everything this great country has to offer which includes the mountains, glaciers, a beautiful coastline, and wildlife. The bay is in the middle of Kenai Fjords National Park. You can get there by taking a nice cruise along the coast, where you can see sea otters, humpback and orca whales, puffin rookeries, and sea lion haulouts. Aialik Bay is also a great place to go for a day trip or to start a multi-day sea kayak trip.

20. Ruth Glacier (via Skiplane)

Ruth Glacier in Alaska United States. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Ruth Glacier in Alaska United States. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

The Ruth Glacier is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. It is a huge glacial corridor with 5,000-foot-high granite walls on either side. At the north end, it opens up into the impressive Ruth Amphitheater, a huge open field of snow and ice surrounded by even bigger peaks like Mt. Dan Beard, Mt. Huntington, and the steep south face of 20,320-foot Denali, which towers over it. The only way to see Ruth is by plane, and the best way to do it is with a guided air taxi from Talkeetna. Most of the flights will land on the glacier and let you wander around this peculiar snowscape.

21. Gates of the Arctic National Park

Beautiful scenery of hills under cloudy sky in the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Beautiful scenery of hills under cloudy sky in the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Gates of the Arctic National Park is an American National Park that serves to protect parts of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. It is the second least visited National Park in the U.S., but not because it doesn’t have beautiful scenery or interesting animals. In fact, Gates of the Arctic is beautiful, and wild, and is one of the best photography spots in Alaska for its dramatic landscapes in all of North America, just like its neighbor to the east, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It’s easy to get lost in such huge landscapes, but with a little work, you can take photos that are truly stunning.

22. Valdez Glacier Lake

Valdez Glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Valdez Glacier. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Valdez Glacier Lake is covered in icebergs in the summer, but its appearance changes throughout the year. No matter when you go, it is still one of the best photography spots in Alaska. You can paddleboard or kayak all the way up to the glacier!

The area around Valdez Glacier Lake has something for everyone, whether you like to camp, hike, or take pictures. Mountains, glaciers, and ice fields make up most of the scenery. There are also a lot of hiking trails that show off the best of this rough terrain.

23. Eklutna Lake

The amazing Eklutna Lake near Anchorage Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

The amazing Eklutna Lake near Anchorage Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Even though it’s only about an hour’s drive from Anchorage, Eklutna Lake feels like an oasis in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness because it’s in the Chugach Mountains. Eklutna Lake has a great view of the mountains around it. It is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. Its beauty comes from the mountains and forests that are all around it. There is a place to launch boats, docks, and picnic benches on the lake itself. Anchorage has built a number of hiking trails that can be reached from this area.

24. Turnagain Arm

Tree reflections in the Turnagain Arm. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Tree reflections in the Turnagain Arm. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Turnagain Arm is a waterway that goes into the northwest region of the Gulf of Alaska. At the north end of Cook Inlet, it is one of two narrow arms. The other is Knik Arm. Turnagain has extreme weather and big changes in the tides.

As you leave Anchorage and head for the Kenai Peninsula, the beautiful Turnagain Arm is the first thing you see. The midnight sun is a big part of why it is one of the best photography spots in Alaska. During the long summer days, there are a lot of golden hours. During whale season, you can see whales at Beluga Point along the Turnagain Arm.

25. Virgin Creek Falls

Virgin Creek Falls in Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Virgin Creek Falls in Alaska. Photo Spot in Alaska. Best Photography Spots in Alaska.

Virgin Creek Falls is one of the best photography spots in Alaska, and it’s also not too hard to get there. These beautiful falls are in the back of a Girdwood neighborhood. To get there, you have to walk for 5–10 minutes through one of the most beautiful forests. Big tree roots are all over the ground, so watch where you step. The best part of to shoot was the place where it took place. It’s impossible not to feel like you’ve been transported to another world when you look at the steep canyon walls, the different layers of rock, and the thick, green moss that covers every surface. The waterfalls themselves are hidden inside the narrow canyon, so you have to be creative to get pictures that show how impressive they are.

THESE ARE THE LIST OF THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS IN ALASKA

The state of Alaska is a wonderful place to visit, especially if one is interested in photography. The photo opportunities are limitless here, and the natural beauty of Alaska is unlike anything else in the world. With all of the different places to visit and sights to see, one can be sure that no trip to Alaska will ever be boring or bland. I hope this photo guide list has been helpful!