UFOs, Ghosts, and Cryptids: Paranormal Alaska
Just a short drive north from Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier offers more than stunning icy vistas—it’s a place where locals have reported strange lights and unexplained phenomena, adding a mysterious aura to the already otherworldly landscape. The glacier itself is the largest valley glacier in Alaska accessible by car, with guided hikes along its blue-tinged ice crevasses and towering seracs that allow visitors to explore a frozen world. The eerie quiet and the shifting sounds of the glacier’s subtle movements lend themselves to whispered tales of UFO sightings above the ice, making a daytime trek here feel like stepping onto another planet. The best time to visit is during late spring or early summer when the ice formations are most visible, and the lengthening daylight hours coax faint glowing orbs to appear after dusk.
Just south of Fairbanks, the Chena Hot Springs resort is famed not only for its soothing geothermal waters but also for its proximity to strange lights in the sky. The resort sits about an hour’s drive northeast of Fairbanks, surrounded by boreal forest and open tundra where visitors often glimpse unexplained aerial phenomena. After soaking in the mineral-rich pools, guests can keep watch for mysterious orbs and beams of light that sometimes dance above the treetops, purported by some to be UFOs. A visit here is best in the winter months when the long nights provide ample darkness, and the aurora borealis adds a natural light show that can sometimes blur the lines between earthly and extraterrestrial.
Anchorage’s Alaska Aviation Museum, located on Lake Hood Seaplane Base, offers an unexpected connection to paranormal history through its exhibits on the legendary bush pilots who flew in Alaska’s wild frontier. Among the stories shared are accounts of ghostly apparitions seen near the airfield and mysterious radio transmissions picked up during long flights over the rugged terrain. The museum features restored vintage aircraft and interactive displays that immerse visitors in the perilous and often eerie world of early Alaskan aviation. Visiting in the shoulder seasons—spring or fall—allows for clearer skies and quieter grounds, enhancing the contemplative atmosphere where history and legend intermingle.
In the small town of Hyder, about a three-hour drive southeast of Juneau near the Canadian border, ghost stories weave through the remnants of its once-thriving mining past. The town’s historic cemetery and dilapidated buildings tell tales of miners who met untimely ends and reportedly still haunt the surrounding forested hills. Visitors can hike the nearby Salmon Glacier Trail, a rugged route that rewards hardy adventurers with breathtaking views of cascading ice and roaring salmon runs. Hyder’s remote location and misty weather create an unsettling but captivating backdrop for those intrigued by spectral folklore. Late summer is ideal here, when salmon spawning adds life to the eerie setting, contrasting with the chilling ghost stories.
The Alaska State Troopers Museum in Anchorage holds a surprising trove of artifacts and accounts related to unexplained disappearances and mysterious deaths in the vast Alaskan wilderness. Located about five minutes from downtown Anchorage, the museum provides insight into the challenges of law enforcement amid the state’s rugged terrain and extreme weather. Exhibits include case files and recovered items linked to cold cases, some believed to involve supernatural elements or cryptid sightings. Visitors gain a grounded perspective on how folklore and real-life investigations blend. The museum is best visited on clear days when the city’s stunning mountain backdrop adds to the somber yet fascinating ambiance.
About 30 minutes north of Anchorage, the Eklutna Lake area carries a spiritual significance linked to the Dena’ina Athabascan people, whose legends tell of mysterious creatures lurking in the deep waters. The Eklutna Trail, a moderate 11-mile loop circling the lake, offers hikers forested paths, stunning views of the Chugach Mountains, and quiet spots where the folklore of lake monsters feels almost tangible. Kayakers and anglers also frequent the lake, sometimes recounting strange encounters on misty mornings. The best time to visit is during early fall, when autumn colors ripple across the landscape and the crisp air sharpens the senses, perfect for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the unknown.
In the southeastern town of Sitka, the Sitka National Historical Park preserves the legacy of the Tlingit people alongside Russian colonial history, but it also serves as a backdrop for eerie stories of spirit encounters and cryptid sightings. Situated about 250 miles south of Juneau on Baranof Island, the park’s rainforest trails wind past totem poles and ancient gravesites where visitors have reported sudden chills and fleeting shadows. The park’s lush, mossy old-growth forest creates an intimate environment where the natural and supernatural seem to merge. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon heightens the experience, as the mist and shifting light play tricks on the eyes and spark the imagination.
Finally, the Nome area on the Seward Peninsula, 540 miles northwest of Anchorage, is rich with stories of strange beasts prowling the tundra, including the elusive “Tornit,” a legendary cryptid said to be a massive, wolf-like creature. Nome’s history as a gold rush town and its isolation make it a hotspot for tall tales and chilling legends. While visiting, travelers can explore the Nome Historic District and nearby coastal trails that look out over the Bering Sea, combining rugged natural beauty with a sense of frontier mystery. The late spring and summer months are the most accommodating for outdoor exploration, with nearly 24-hour daylight allowing for extended twilight hours, perfect for spotting something unexplainable in the distance.
Alaska’s vast wilderness and layered histories provide a perfect stage for encounters with the unexplained. From icy glaciers to warm springs, from ancient forests to storm-swept coasts, each place offers a unique doorway into the uncanny, inviting visitors to experience the state’s rich blend of natural wonder and eerie folklore firsthand.