Hatcher Pass
Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska · 3,830 ft
Typical peak
Sep 7 – Sep 15
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Works at both ends of the day
Tundra turns red and orange across open alpine bowls above the Little Susitna River, with the road switchbacking through the color. Nothing grows tall at this elevation, so the ridgelines stack cleanly behind each other.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Take Palmer-Fishhook Road north from the Glenn Highway near Palmer about 18 miles to the summit parking area, where the gravel section toward Willow begins.
What turns here
- dwarf birch
- willow
- bearberry
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 11Typical color progression for Hatcher Pass. No change from Aug 4 to Aug 21. First color from Aug 21 to Aug 30. Approaching peak from Aug 30 to Sep 7. Peak from Sep 7 to Sep 15. Past peak from Sep 15 to Sep 25. Bare from Sep 25 to Oct 9.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Aug 21.
This season so far
First frost
Aug 31
39 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
28°F / 21°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Hatcher Pass on September 11, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:27 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ENE · 79° | 7:12 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 58 min of low, warm light | 8:11 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:53 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 58 min before sunset | 7:35 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 281° | 8:33 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 9:19 PM |
Times in America/Anchorage · day length 13h 21m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises ENE, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.