The Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train is running now through mid-May, offering weekend journeys between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops including Wasilla and Talkeetna. In February and March 2025, midweek departures will be available for added flexibility, allowing passengers even more opportunities to explore Alaska’s snowy landscapes.
Onboard, passengers can enjoy views from large viewing windows, narration of stories behind the passing sights and sit-down dining for purchase. Travelers can also pair a train ride with various add-on winter adventures from trekking on the Matanuska Glacier to flightseeing over Denali National Park and Preserve and beyond. New for the 2024-25 season, passengers can visit Borealis Basecamp without having to stay overnight. At the remote boutique lodge, located on 100 acres of boreal forest, guests can experience a half dozen tours including dog sledding along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, snowmobile rides, reindeer encounters or a sunset snow coach experience with views of Denali.
Alaska Railroad packages combine scenic rail journeys with winter adventures and accommodations. The customizable packages range from quick weekend getaways to multi-day trips. Winter packages available for the 2024-25 season include "Winter Escape," "Talkeetna Getaway," "Denali in a Day" and "Arctic Circle Adventure." The "Arctic Circle Adventure" is now available with the choice of rail travel either north to Fairbanks or south to Anchorage.
With the winter’s shorter daylight hours, travelers have the possibility of witnessing the Northern Lights at many of the destinations along the route. This season is expected to offer prime Northern Lights viewing with increased solar activity creating more intense displays. Whether traveling north to Fairbanks or south to Anchorage, the Aurora Winter Train visits some of the best aurora-viewing destinations in the United States.
As the oldest route on the Alaska Railroad, the Aurora Winter Train continues to attract more travelers each year. Ridership has steadily increased over the years, with a 15 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This winter season follows a record-breaking winter last year, which saw a nearly 13 percent increase in ridership. In March 2024 alone, over 4,700 passengers traveled the route, making it the most successful winter season yet.
For more information, visit www.alaskarailroad.com.
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