Aurora Borealis Lodge

Aurora Borealis Lodge is a backcountry alpine hut-style lodge set on Cleary Summit, about 20 miles north of Fairbanks. It serves as a base for northern-lights viewing, with evening tours running seasonally during the aurora season and overnight accommodations available at the lodge and in Logan’s Chalet.

For the Premier Aurora Tour, pickup is at 10:00pm from Fairbanks-area hotels, with lodge time from 10:30pm to 2:00am and return around 2:30am. The tour includes heated indoor lodge seating with self-serve hot beverages/snacks and indoor restrooms, with an option to step outside onto the lodge deck for viewing; the tour uses a two-adult minimum and tickets start at $115 per person (price varies by pickup location).

A self-drive Aurora Tour is also offered with the same core viewing schedule (10:30pm to 2:00am) and lodge access; reservations are required due to limited capacity. Winter driving notes include that during the winter season (October to April), an AWD/4WD vehicle is required, and standard Alamo/Enterprise/National rentals are restricted north of Fox (other rental companies are fine). Prices start at $45 per person, with a minimum 2 adults per vehicle ($90).

The tour season runs August 20 through early April, with black out/sold-out dates and sold-out behavior applying to the self-drive option as well. The lodge is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Cancellation policies include a 10% non-refundable deposit to confirm reservations, free cancellation minus the deposit up to 31 days prior to arrival, and charges for cancellations within 10 days of check-in; tour-page cancellations can also include a $5/person cancellation fee depending on timing.