Alaska enjoys a short summer period when, in many areas, the ice and snow recede making the beauty of this breathtaking landscape accessible to visitors.
Due to such a northerly location, the state remains largely in the grip of winter until the end of May. July and August are the warmest months, and whilst they tend to be more prone to sand flies and mosquitoes, these are also the months when the salmon runs start, attracting bears down from the mountain sides to the rivers.
Bear viewing is at its best between July and late September. By the end of September the short summer is over and winter returns to claim its icy grip.