9-Day Alaska Road Trip in October (Part 2): Seward, Northern Lights & Kenai Fjords
After five days exploring Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and Hatcher Pass, our nine-day Alaska road trip continued south toward Seward and the Kenai Peninsula.
The first half of our journey had already given us autumn colors, moose encounters, mountain scenery, and our first snowfall. The second half turned out to be just as memorable, with glaciers, marine wildlife, plenty of rain, and the most spectacular northern lights I've ever photographed.
In this second part of our Alaska road trip, I'll share our favorite photography experiences around Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Kenai Lake, along with a few practical considerations for visiting Alaska in October.
If you missed the first half of our adventure, read 9-Day Alaska Road Trip in October (Part 1): Talkeetna, Denali & Hatcher Pass.
Day 6: Palmer to Seward
The Drive to Seward
After exploring Hatcher Pass, we continued south from Palmer toward Seward, a small coastal town surrounded by mountains and the waters of Resurrection Bay.
The Seward Highway is one of Alaska's most scenic drives, with dramatic mountains, waterways, and countless opportunities for roadside photography. Although the drive itself takes only a few hours, we spent much of the day exploring and photographing along the way, including stops at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Valley, and Tern Lake.
It was exactly the kind of road trip I love, where getting to the destination is just as rewarding as the destination itself.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
One of our major stops along the Seward Highway was the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit sanctuary providing care and spacious habitats for orphaned and injured Alaskan wildlife. This is also a great place to enjoy the surrounding landscape.
It's a wonderful opportunity to observe and photograph animals such as brown bears, moose, muskoxen, and wood bison at relatively close range.
After photographing so many moose in Denali, there was still one iconic Alaskan animal we hadn't encountered - a brown bear. Apparently, we had to pay over $100 for four admission tickets just to photograph one! 😄 At least our money went toward wildlife conservation, and I finally got my bear photos.
I never thought I’d use the word “cute” to describe a bear, but this one really was. He posed perfectly for me as if he was eager to be photographed.
Portage Valley Recreation Area
Portage Valley was easily one of my favorite discoveries along the Seward Highway. Surrounded by towering mountains, hanging glaciers, streams, and wetlands, the area offers an incredible variety of landscapes within a relatively short drive. It's also home to several scenic walking trails and roadside viewpoints, making it particularly appealing to photographers.
I would have loved to spend much more time exploring and photographing this beautiful valley. Unfortunately, with so many stops planned and Seward still ahead of us, we couldn't linger as long as I wanted. It's definitely somewhere I'd prioritize on a return trip.
Tern Lake — Two Visits, Two Different Moods
Near Moose Pass, we stopped at Tern Lake, a scenic mountain lake near the junction of the Seward and Sterling Highways. Surrounded by forested slopes and rugged peaks, it's a convenient roadside photography stop with beautiful reflections when conditions cooperate. The surrounding wetlands also attract a variety of wildlife and birds.
We enjoyed the scenery enough to stop again two days later on our return journey from Seward to Anchorage. The weather had changed completely, giving the same lake a different atmosphere and photographic mood (see below the sunny and rainy versions). I came away with two very different sets of images from the same location - another reminder of why I love revisiting photo spots whenever possible.
Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
Despite spending much of the day exploring stops along the Seward Highway, we still managed to squeeze in an evening hike at Exit Glacier, our first stop in Seward after checking in our 4th Airbnb.
Exit Glacier offers a different perspective from the mountain and forest scenery we'd experienced earlier in our trip. Here, you can observe a glacier and the surrounding landscape shaped by its retreat.
For photographers, it's worth taking time to explore the wider setting rather than focusing only on the glacier itself. The surrounding mountains and changing vegetation help tell the story of this landscape.
Similar to the Gold Cord Lake hike at Hatcher Pass, we ran out of time again before I could identify an ideal vantage point to photograph the landscape. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the place without the crowd - we may have only seen 5 people along the hike.
We did a few quick recon for my potential northern lights photography at night but quickly decided to simply go back as everyone was tired and wanted to sleep, except me.
Photographing the Northern Lights in Seward
I hadn't planned our Alaska trip around the northern lights. In fact, we intentionally skipped Fairbanks, and once we arrived in Alaska, the weather forecast made our chances look almost nonexistent.
Rain was predicted nearly every day, except for our first night in Seward. And that happened to coincide with a night of high solar activity.
Despite the recon effort, I headed out alone and decided to take a chance at a nearby park - just 3 minutes walk from our Airbnb. I set up two cameras on two tripods along the Seward waterfront, hoping to capture at least a glimpse of the aurora.
My expectations were low.
There was light pollution from the harbor and a small airport to the north. I hadn't seen many impressive northern lights photographs taken from Seward, and clouds were already starting to roll in.
I told myself this would be a low-effort evening. If I captured anything at all, I'd consider myself lucky.
Four hours later, I was still standing in the dark.
The northern lights kept getting stronger. High tide forced me to reposition my tripods and interrupted my timelapse twice. But I couldn't bring myself to leave.
Then, at one point, the entire sky lit up with dancing green light.
I honestly couldn't believe my eyes.
I've photographed the northern lights in Iceland, Norway, Finland, and even our own backyard in Washington. Just a few months earlier, I'd also photographed the southern lights in New Zealand.
But this was the first time I'd stood beneath a sky completely covered in green and purple. Not only I could see lights dancing in the north, but also east, where I could get a better composition with less light pollution.
I couldn't stop screaming with joy.
After days of rain, a long travel day, and almost no expectations, I had just witnessed the most extraordinary aurora display of my photography journey.
I must have been “super” lucky again.
Photo Tip
Seward isn't necessarily the first place in Alaska people think of for northern lights photography, especially compared to Fairbanks. Coastal cloud cover and light pollution can make conditions challenging. But my experience was a reminder that a clear weather window and strong aurora activity can sometimes create an incredible opportunity in an unexpected location.
If you're photographing along the waterfront, also pay attention to the tide. I learned firsthand how quickly rising water can interrupt a timelapse - or force you to move your entire setup.
Day 7: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise
The following day, we explored Kenai Fjords National Park from the water.
A wildlife and glacier cruise is one of the best ways to experience the coastal side of the park, where mountains rise above deep fjords and glaciers meet the sea.
We joined one of the final cruises of the season, making the experience especially memorable after several days of unpredictable October weather.
Over the course of the trip, we saw glaciers, dramatic coastal landscapes, and several kinds of wildlife.
Fiords, Glaciers, Marine Animals
One of my most challenging photography subjects was a group of small, incredibly fast marine mammals.
I had to do some research afterward just to figure out exactly what I'd photographed: Dall's porpoises!
Much smaller than orcas, these porpoises move so quickly through the water that capturing them in a photograph is far easier said than done.
Marine wildlife photography is always unpredictable. Unlike photographing a mountain or landscape, you have little control over when or where your subject appears - or how long it stays visible.
This was actually the first wildlife cruise I'd taken without spotting a single whale, so I was a little disappointed. But considering it was one of the last cruises of the season, we were fortunate to have good weather again.
Beyond the marine wildlife, the spectacular fjords, glaciers, and rugged coastal landscapes made the journey worthwhile. Even without whales, I'd absolutely recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Seward.
Logistic tip
Boat tours in Kenai Fjords are highly seasonal, with far fewer departures available in October. If you're planning a similar trip, check cruise schedules before booking your accommodation, and allow some flexibility for weather-related changes.
Days 8-9: Seward to Anchorage
Kenai Lake
After leaving Seward, we began making our way back toward Anchorage, with a stop at Kenai Lake along the way.
The lake is surrounded by mountains and is one of the scenic highlights of the Kenai Peninsula. Its shoreline offers opportunities for landscape photography, especially when changing weather creates interesting light across the water and surrounding slopes.
We also spotted our first, and only, rainbow of the entire Alaska trip.
Considering how much rain we'd experienced over nine days, that seemed almost ironic!
Kenai Lake was a fitting final landscape stop before returning to the city, fulfilling the request of our boys at a trampoline park.
A Family-Friendly Finish in Anchorage
On our final day in Anchorage, after checking out of our Airbnb, we stopped at Point Woronzof Overlook, a scenic coastal viewpoint near the airport known for its views over Cook Inlet and airplanes flying overhead.
Despite the rain, Orion and I ventured onto the shoreline, where colorful graffiti covered the rocks and a large concrete water tower. I couldn't stop taking photos while my boy watched each passing airplane in awe.
Overcast conditions are actually quite easy to photograph in terms of camera settings. The bigger challenge is often the lack of color and contrast. Here, the graffiti provided exactly what the gloomy weather was missing - a splash of color against the gray sky and shoreline.
It turned out to be a surprisingly fun final photography stop before our second visit to Fly Trampoline Park in South Anchorage!
Logistic Tip
Is Seward Worth Visiting in October? Absolutely, provided you're prepared for limited seasonal services and unpredictable weather.
October is well beyond the peak summer travel season in Alaska. Some cruises have already stopped operating, access to certain trails may be affected by snow, and rain can disrupt outdoor plans.
We booked 4-hr Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay Half-Day Wildlife Cruise with Major Marine Tours. You need to arrive 1 hr before the boat departure. So budget your time accordingly.
There are advantages in October. We enjoyed quieter locations, photographed a remarkable variety of landscapes, and witnessed a northern lights display that exceeded anything I'd hoped for.
Final Thoughts: Nine Days of Alaska in October
When I planned this trip, I knew October would be a gamble.
We weren't chasing peak fall colors, summer wildlife tours, or guaranteed northern lights. We simply wanted to explore Alaska as a family during our kids’ fall break, enjoy some hikes, and document whatever the season brought us.
And what a variety we experienced.
From the autumn scenery of Talkeetna to moose in Denali, snowy mountains in Hatcher Pass, glaciers and marine wildlife in Kenai Fjords, and that unforgettable night beneath the northern lights in Seward, each part of the journey offered something completely different.
The weather didn't always cooperate. But sometimes, the conditions I least expected turned into the photographs I'll remember forever.
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Explore Alaska in October with our 9-day family road trip through Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and Hatcher Pass. Discover Scenic photography stops, wildlife encounters, fall colors, and snowy mountain landscapes, along with personal stories and practical travel tips.