Where to Go from Fairbanks Alaska · Aurora Borealis Notifications

The most popular and well known locations are Cleary Summit and Chena Lakes. Cleary can get crowded, as some tour busses park there and leave them running with the lights on. Car drivers routinely block the parking area and even face the wrong direction! There are also overgrown bushes and trees now blocking most of the view. Be polite and turn off your headlights as soon as possible. Honestly, you do not need to go to Cleary Summit unless the aurora is very weak and low. The vantage point lets you see for miles to the north, northeast, which makes Cleary a great place to go when the aurora is low. Here is a tip, skip Cleary Summit, and drive past just a little bit. There is another parking area on the right, off the Steese Highway. Sometimes it is not plowed so use caution.

Chena Lakes is big and there is plenty of places to park, despite the new gate occasionally blocking access to a portion of the public park. Get out and look before driving in some areas to test how deep the snow is. New streetlights have destroyed several views at the Recreation area, but some areas are still excellent.