Alaska in Movies and TV: Famous Filming Locations You Can Visit
Just north of Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier offers a breathtaking backdrop that has drawn filmmakers for decades. About two hours northeast of the city, this expansive ice field stretches over 27 miles, making it Alaska’s largest glacier accessible by car. Visitors can hike guided trails onto the glacier itself, where the deep blue ice crevasses and shimmering crests create a surreal setting often featured in adventure and survival films. The glacier’s raw, otherworldly landscape was notably used in scenes from movies like “Into the Wild,” capturing the isolation and majesty that define Alaska’s wilderness. The best time to visit is late summer, when meltwater pools add to the glacier’s striking visual palette but the ice remains stable enough for exploration.
Heading southeast from Juneau, the Tongass National Forest is a verdant stage for countless nature documentaries and films. Roughly a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Juneau leads you to the famed Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, where the icy expanse contrasts dramatically with dense temperate rainforests. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center offers interpretive exhibits that enhance understanding of the glacier’s rapid changes, a theme that resonates in recent films exploring climate and environment. Trails like the 3.5-mile West Glacier Loop provide immersive views of waterfalls, wildlife, and the glacier’s face, making it a tactile experience for visitors inspired by the cinematic wilderness. Spring and early summer bring lush greenery and prolific bird activity, heightening the magic of this filming location.
Further north, the remote town of Nome on the Seward Peninsula embodies the rugged frontier spirit that has captivated storytellers. About a two-hour flight west from Anchorage, Nome’s vast tundra and sweeping coastline served as the setting for the classic film “Balto,” which followed the legendary 1925 serum run. Visitors can explore the historic downtown area, where period architecture and museums like the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum preserve tales of gold rush days and Iditarod history. The nearby Bering Sea shore offers dramatic photo ops, especially during the winter dog sled races that underpin much of the storytelling legacy here. Fall, when the tundra turns golden and the northern lights begin to shimmer overhead, is a particularly evocative time to walk in the footsteps of Alaska’s most famous cinematic legends.
Southeast of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula’s Homer Spit is a unique location featured in documentaries and travel shows highlighting Alaska’s coastal culture. About a 3.5-hour drive south, this narrow finger of land jutting into Kachemak Bay provides a perfect mix of ocean vistas and maritime activity. The Homer Spit offers opportunities to watch sea otters, bald eagles, and fishing boats in action, scenes often captured in films exploring Alaskan livelihoods and the relationship between people and sea. The nearby Homer Harbor bustles with life and local character, while the adjacent beaches invite peaceful strolls under expansive skies. Summer reveals the area’s vibrant colors and extended daylight, ideal for soaking in the sweeping scenery that filmmakers prize.
In the far north, the Arctic town of Barrow (Utqiaġvik) represents a distinct cultural and visual landscape featured in documentaries about indigenous life and Arctic survival. Located about 700 miles north of Anchorage, this is the northernmost city in the United States. Visitors can learn about Iñupiat traditions and Arctic ecology at the Iñupiat Heritage Center, which hosts exhibits on local history and art connected to storytelling through film and media. The surreal polar night and midnight sun cycles here create a dramatic atmosphere that filmmakers have used to convey themes of endurance and isolation. Winter visits allow travelers a rare chance to witness the northern lights dancing over an icy tundra, an experience impossible to replicate elsewhere in the country.
Near Seward, the Exit Glacier within Kenai Fjords National Park is another cinematic natural wonder, approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive south from Anchorage. The glacier’s accessibility and dramatic retreat have made it a focal point for films about climate change and wilderness exploration. The Harding Icefield Trail, a challenging 8.2-mile round trip, rewards hikers with panoramic views of the glacier and fjord systems below. Interpretive signage along the trail explains the glacier’s history and ongoing transformation, linking the visual storytelling seen on screen to tangible environmental shifts. Late spring through early fall is best for hiking when the trail is fully clear of snow, offering safe passage and lush alpine flora.
In downtown Anchorage itself, the Alaska Native Heritage Center provides a cultural counterpoint to the state’s natural filming sites. This living museum celebrates indigenous culture through performances, exhibits, and recreated village sites representing the state’s diverse native groups. The center’s emphasis on storytelling traditions connects visitors to the rich human narratives that have inspired films exploring Alaska’s social and historical fabric. It offers workshops and demonstrations, allowing travelers to engage directly with crafts, dance, and languages that feature prominently in documentaries and dramatic works alike. Late summer through early fall is ideal for visiting, when outdoor performances and festivals enliven the campus.
Finally, the historic gold rush town of Skagway, about a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Juneau, provides a cinematic glimpse into Alaska’s fevered past. Its well-preserved wooden sidewalks and storefronts serve as the authentic backdrop for films and series set during the Klondike Gold Rush. Walking the town’s Broadway Avenue feels like stepping onto a movie set, with attractions like the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway showcasing the engineering feats that shaped the region. The nearby Chilkoot Trail offers a challenging trek over 33 miles of rugged terrain, retracing the arduous route stamped in countless stories of adventure and hardship. Summer and early fall bring milder weather and longer daylight, perfect for exploring this living monument to Alaska’s legendary frontier era.
Together, these locations offer travelers a chance to step directly into the scenes that have brought Alaska’s wild beauty and complex stories to the silver screen. Whether tracing glacier-carved landscapes, historic towns, or indigenous heritage sites, each place reveals a unique facet of the state’s cinematic identity and invites visitors to experience the real-life settings behind the films and shows they love.