Landscapes

Landscape photos: mountains, glaciers, lakes, and more

Autumn in Denali National Park
Mountains south of the Park Road in Denali National Park and Preserve. "Rivers" of yellow wind through the red foliage and "lakes" of green spruce dot the hillsides. I have yet to find a place that I would prefer to be in autumn, even though the season here is incredibly short. The splendid colors only hang around for about a week before the deciduous leaves fall, followed shortly by the snow.
denali national park autumn fall september foliage red landscape alaska portfolio yellow green spruce overcast mountain rocky
From 2012-09-02
New stream
On the Black Rapids Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. Eventually the slushy blue streaks in the snow from a few days before this gave way to water channels in the ice beneath the surface. Sometimes they find old channels from previous years, sometimes they don't. In the summer of 2014 we spent two weeks camped on the glacier and had to cross many of these streams. It was still early in the melt season which meant that there weren't any moulins yet to drain the water for the surface. This meant that to get across the glacier we had to jump over many of these streams, a handful of which were quite wide. My knees would often be swollen and sore at the end of the day. I was always more comfortable jumping to my dominant, right leg, but when I didn't mix it up I paid for it later. I started jumping all the small streams to my left leg, and only to my right if there were consequences for missing a jump.
ice spring black rapids glacier alaska range snow mountains alaska eastern alaska range
From 2014-06-15
Peak Sunrise
The pastels turn fiery as the Sun nears the horizon. Taken on the Alaska Dog Musher's Association trail system on the Creamer's Field Migratory Bird Refuge. It's sunrises like these that keep me going in the dark winter here.
sunrise and sunset fairbanks alaska snow limited 50
From Sunrise from the trails | 2014-11-12
Reflections
Across the Richardson Highway from the Donnelly Creek Campground. Possibly the calmest weather I've ever seen in this part of the Alaska Range. Wind is often funneled through Isabel Pass from the south, so it's not often I see flat water here.
reflection pond lake boreal forest taiga delta range mountains summer eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-30
Planetary Twilight
Jupiter and Venus shining bright after sunset as twilight takes over on a cold, cold night on Murphy Dome. The "blue hour" lasts a very long time in the interior of Alaska for most of the fall, winter, and spring.
murphy dome alaska fairbanks interior evening night sky winter snow jupiter venus stars
From 2012-03-10
Sunset at Donnelly
Pastel colors in the sky over the Alaska Range
alaska range clouds pink soft colors spring sunset taiga
From 2015-05-30
Always so many streams
There were quite a few large streams to cross on the Black Rapids Glacier this year with absolutely no englacial drainage to help reduce the water at the surface. At least they are pretty to look at. The channel here was quite a bit deeper and wider than it looked and this little island of ice with the precariously balanced boulder proved to be a useful crossing point.
channel moraine black rapids glacier stream water alaska range mountains alaska
From 2014-06-20
The Asgard Tor
The moon hangs over the Asgard Tor, one of the many granite spires at Granite Tors. Approximately 7 miles from the trailhead located on Chena Hot Springs Road. blogpost: Finally made it to Granite Tors
backpacking granite tors hiking interior spring alaska
From 2014-05-10
Ice-covered
A lot of snow falls up here covering the mountains of the Trinity Basin of the Alaska Range in ice. This is part of the small remaining accumulation area of the Black Rapids Glacier. I'm amazed at how such a conglomeration of ice and snow can take the appearance of simply being draped over the mountains. Best in panorama sizes 1:2
trinity basin fall glacier black rapids alaska range alaska portfolio flying photo of the day
From 2012-08-29
Changing seasons
A month earlier this landscape was vibrant green. Over the course of a single day I could witness the tundra reddening. Slowly, the bright scenery becomes muted by orange, red, and gold shining through the remaining spruce, willow and alder leaves, and grasses. The clouds and rain are held back by the Alaska Range, although the wind still howls through with occasional 60 mph gusts. The hills are beautiful and I just want to sit and watch the brush blow in the wind.
tundra open red donnelly sky autumn landscape pond alaska taiga blue green photo of the day
From 2013-09-03
Sometimes everything disappears
Even short-lived whiteout conditions on mountains and glaciers are incredibly disorienting. Everything becomes, simply, void. When fog comes in with snow there are times you can't see your own feet. It's best not to even try to travel at all when possible.
clouds fog glacier mountains snow
From 2014-08-30
Polychrome View
The shuttle buses in Denali National Park stop constantly for wildlife, this is one of the few stops that is made purely for the view. Braded rivers, kettle ponds, and glacial erratics dot the valley. This was one of the only days I've been there that the glaciers were visible.
polychrome alaska alaska range denali national park braided river mountains summer
From 2015-07-24
Ballaine Reflection After Sunset
Silhouetted boreal forest and reflection at Ballaine Lake - Fairbanks, Alaska
sunset twilight reflection silhouette sky pastel boreal forest fairbanks alaska
From 2014-08-21
The Road Home
Rocky moraine on the Black Rapids Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. You'd barely know there was 8 inches of fresh snow just a few days before. June 2014.
black rapids glacier eastern alaska range glacier ice moraine mountains snow summer
From 2014-06-20
Sunrise Trail
The sunrise and a bit of fog made for a cool effect down the straight, spruce lined trails. This is out on the trail system at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
uaf fairbanks trails alaska university of alaska nature boreal taiga autumn morning portfolio trail yellow green light photo of the day landscape
From 2013-09-20
Alpenglow
Alpenglow disappears slowly on a peak in the Alaska Range. Incredible pastels filled the sky and glance a few of the higher ridges and peaks during the "blue hour".
alpenglow sunset twilight glacier mountains alaska range alaska
From 2013-04-27
Shand Light
Mt. Shand (12,660 feet, 3859 meters) in the Alaska Range - beautiful in the sunlight!
alaska alaska range hayes range mountain mt. shand rock snow sunlight wall
From 2012-08-29
Spruce Ballroom
Snow-clad spruce trees at sunrise. Sunrises have to be one of my favorite things about Fairbanks, next to the aurora, and the mountain range to our south. Our sparse boreal forests give nice open views of the sky too. I love seeing those subtle arctic blues behind the brilliant colors. Almost every morning in the winter is wonderful!
alaska fairbanks snow sunrise and sunset winter
From 2015-01-18
McGinnis Peak
McGinnis Peak in the eastern Alaska Range. The glacier and icefalls at it's southern base flow into the Black Rapids Glacier. Scattered across the surface are numerous large rocks, some part of moraines, some deposited during large falls or landslides.
alaska eastern alaska range glacier mcginnis peak mountain
From 2014-09-03
Canwell Glacier Dusting
Summer is over. The Sun rises over the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range on August 31, 2014. I had such a headache as I hiked out from my campsite in the Rainbow Basin because I forgot to bring my coffee. I managed to take a few photos as I sprinted down the icy trail to get on the road and hit up the IGA in Delta. Never forget coffee again, Lee. Never again. blogpost: Camping in the Rainbow Basin
canwell delta mountains glacier alaska range eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-31
Jagged
Jagged peaks in the Rainbow Basin shortly before sunset - Eastern Alaska Range blogpost: Camping in the Rainbow Basin
eastern alaska range peaks rainbow basin snow summer
From 2014-08-30
on the ridge
After a bit of slipping and sliding on the alpine trail I found myself on the totally snow-free, rocky ridge. This was the view from the direction I came, with Denali on the horizon. Denali National Park
alpine trail denali mt. mckinley hiking central alaska range denali national park interior spring alaska range alaska
From 2014-03-30
Mountains, glaciers, and moraines
Evening light hitting peaks in the Alaska Range.
Black Rapids Glacier
black rapids glacier alaska glacier
From 2014-06-19
Magic
Lot's of snow filling the sky as the Sun rose over the mountains to the north, the very top of the fireweed in bloom, everything covered in fresh dust. At the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range. blogpost: Camping in the Rainbow Basin
canwell delta mountains glacier alaska range eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-31
Granite Tors
Walking across the tussock-filled tundra, every once in a while we would kick up a flock of swallows. This was taken as we were walking back to our campsite after wandering around the ridge for a while. What a wonderful way to end a long day of hiking! The Granite Tors is a really awesome place; a 15 mile loop trail that is accessed from Chena Hot Springs Road.
backpacking granite tors hiking interior spring alaska
From 2014-05-10
McCallum Peak
McCallum Peak with Institute Peak lurking in the background with some perfect evening light - Eastern Alaska Range
canwell delta summer snow mountains glacier ice alaska range alaska eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-30
September - The view from US Creek Road
Taken during a late autumn drive into the White Mountains of the Alaska Interior for a dayhike. The White Mountain Recreation Area is incredibly remote, but littered with trails for hiking, snow machining, and skiing. Bordered by the Steese and Elliot Highways the rest of the 1 million acre rec area must be accessed by a handful of mining roads and by trail.
recreation area us creek road autumn fall white mountains interior mountains alaska blue sky
From 2012-09-23
Wildflower Stream
We stumbled on this really beautiful stream up above the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range. It's too bad that it turned out to not get us where we wanted to go, but it was a nice distraction.
red rock canyon waterfall cascade rocky canwell glacier water stream creek mountains alaska hiking dayhike alaska range
From Dayhike on the Canwell Glacier | 2014-07-23
Water-filled potholes
Cauldron-like depressions called potholes are scattered around the upper reaches of the Black Rapids Glacier. They often fill with water over the summer, eventually draining on the surface or subglacially. They are left-over remnants of crevasses that formed during the 1936-1937 surge of Black Rapids. During the surge the glacier terminus advanced by about 3 miles and earned the nickname the "galloping glacier". Taken June 13, 2014.
glacier alaska range ice water blue mountains black rapids potholes pond lake snow
From 2014-06-13
Moonlight
Oh, thanks for the snow!
alaska boreal forest fairbanks moon night night sky snow taiga
From New snow - Beautiful night | 2014-12-02
The view from my campsite
This was were I holed up for the night, hoping for aurora, but getting a lot more in the way of winter weather instead. I'll say that I sure wasn't expecting stumble on such a wonderful spot to stay the night. In the Alaska Range - near the Canwell Glacier
canwell alaska alaska range delta mountains evening light glacier peaks eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-30
Canwell terminus
How many seasons can you count in this photo?

This is the terminus of the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range - east of the Richardson Highway. Taken August 31, 2014.
canwell delta mountains glacier alaska range eastern alaska range
From 2014-08-31
View from the Thoro Ridge
Denali National Park has one of the most varied landscapes of anywhere I've ever been. Scenery changes drastically and quickly almost anywhere you go in the park. You can walk out of a thick boreal forest to find yourself in desert tundra or follow braided rivers onto glaciers and high mountains. This is the view to the north and east from the Thoro Ridge, a bit west of the Alpine Trail near the Eielson Visitor Center.
eielson alpine trail denali national park mountains alaska summer
From 2014-07-21
Nome Creek
Nome Creek in the White Mountains of Alaska
alaska white mountains fall autumn nome creek trails dayhike hike interior
From 2012-09-23
August - Mt. Shand
The south face of Mt. Shand (12,660 feet, 3859 meters) in the Alaska Range. That's about a mile of vertical, exposed rock.
mountain mt. shand fall landscape glacier black rapids alaska range alaska
From 2012-08-29
Loket
Flying over the Loket tributary to the Black Rapids Glacier in the Alaska Range in the Turbine Otter. This was the location of our campsite for a week in April 2013. It was quite a bit colder and windier than the previous year - like 60mph winds at -20 degrees F cold.
black rapids glacier alaska ak mountains glacier field work flying aerial portfolio photo of the day
From 2013-04-21
Savage Autumn
Fall colors along the Savage River in Denali National Park and Preserve.
denali national park autumn fall september foliage red landscape alaska central alaska range
From 2011-09-05
September
Overlook on US Creek Road, White Mountains, AK.
alaska white mountains fall autumn nome creek trails dayhike hike interior portfolio yellow red brown landscape
From 2012-09-23
Black Rapids
Surface of the Black Rapids Glacier covered in 6 inches of fresh snow from the night before. The weather was gorgeous, but it looked like it could turn at any moment.
black rapids glacier eastern alaska range snow weather sky glacier
From 2014-09-03
Reflection
The Hills along Chena Hot Springs Road outside of Fairbanks, Alaska after most of the leaves have already fallen.
pond chena hot springs road autumn fall lake fairbanks reflection alaska
From Water reflections and moose on Chena Hot Springs Road | 2014-09-19
June - Ice and Water
Surface stream near a moraine on the Black Rapids Glacier in the Alaska Range.
rocks moraine black rapids glacier overcast stream water alaska range blue alaska
From 2014-06-24
Valley glacier tucked away above the Loket Tributary. It's located close to our GPS base station. It was tough trying to figure out what the weather was going to do.
black rapids glacier alaska ak mountains glacier field work flying aerial portfolio
From 2012-08-28
Moby Dick
Moby Dick in the Alaska Range - Hayes region
black rapids glacier alaska ak mountains glacier field work portfolio winter snow ice
From 2013-04-26
Refilling the Channel
Water flows from the surface of the Black Rapids Glacier into a channel along a medial moraine. A few meters upstream a large moulin was draining the bulk of the water that had originally carved this passage that was a little bit over my head.
sunset glacier black rapids mountains alaska range alaska
From 2013-06-30
Alaska Range
Tall cumulus clouds can create such dramatic contrast against steep mountainsides. The lighting is so dynamic as the shadows crawl over the landscape, the glaciers, moraines, and icefalls - every second the scene changes.

Looking at the south wall of McGinnis Peak from across the Black Rapids Glacier.
eastern alaska range black rapids glacier mcginnis peak clouds landscape light alaska range mountains summer alaska
From 2013-07-01
Not enough snow in the Alaska Range
The peaks to the west of the Jarvis Glacier and behind the Lodge at Black Rapids to the east of the Richardson Highway. It's a pretty dismal winter for snow, but a beautiful, very windy day for hiking.
black rapids mountains delta range alaska range eastern alaska range
From 2014-02-22
Glacier Basin
Mountains covered in ice and a dusting of fresh snow in the Trinity Basin, high up in the Alaska Range.
trinity basin ice glacier black rapids mountains snow alaska range alaska aerial flying
From 2012-08-29
Just Another
Just another peak in the Alaska Range. Beautiful evening light, but unfortunately it was one storm after another. We get a little bit of blue sky for an afternoon and then the clouds move in over the mountains to the south.
alaska range mountains black rapids glacier alaska snow ice peak storm light
From 2014-06-19

Lee Petersen Photography

Travel, Adventures, and Life in Alaska

Landscapes

Follow