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April 6, 2015Anchorage Ted Stevens Spotting Guide
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- last modified on February 11, 2020
Anchorage “Ted Stevens international airport” (ANC/PANC) is the biggest and main airport in Alaska (USA). It’s probably the heaven for cargo planes lovers but many companies operate regular passengers flights there. The airport is open around the clock but depending on the season, the light is only available during 3 or 4 hours. In summer, you can see many movements with “Everts Air” DC-6 and DC-9 freighters because of the salmon deliveries. ANC is a hub for various cargo companies, like UPS, FedEX, Korean Air Cargo, Cathay Pacific cargo, NAC Northern Air Cargo… This means that you will see many MD-11F, B747-400F and B747-8F at Ted Stevens international airport.
The usual passenger flights are operated by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Air Canada, Icelandair and some others. The regional traffic is operated by small planes like Beech 1900D, DHC8-100 and Cessna C-208 Grand Caravan. FedEx also operates C-208 and ATR-42 for the regional mail delivery ! ANC is one of the only location where you can see rare aircraft like B737-200F (NAC), civilian C-130 Hercules (Lynden), DC-9F and DC-6F (Everts Air) operating many flights every day. The airport has 3 runways but not a lot of official spots.
Stored aircraft and ramps: we have marked some parked aircraft on the map, so please have a look on it for the exact location and what you can photograph. Furthermore you can try to get access on the ramps from Ryan Air, Ross Aviation, Everest, TransNorthern… just ask! Sometimes they let you in, sometimes not. Depends on the mood of the boss.
Wildfile around the airport: Always keep in mind that bears and elks/moose share exact the same aera where you doing your pictures from so be prepared. Never leave food lying around. Sit in the car with the doors closed, to eat. A bear can smell your sandwich 800m away and will not hesitate to come and ask you for a piece (or the same sandwich, with the risks involved). Listen if there is suspicious noises behind you. And take an overpowered mosquito spray because there are real monsters.
Last but not least don´t forget to visit the nearby Lake Hood, the worlds most busiest seaplane base.
Written by Remo Garone and Stefan Bratner (Updated 2019 by Martin Rogosz)
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| Photo Locations | |
| Weather | |
| Visitor Rating How was your trip? Rate this airport! |
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 07L/25R | 3’231m (10’600ft) Asphalt |
| 07R/25L | 3’780m (12’400ft) Asphalt / Concrete |
| 15/33 | 3’531m (11’584ft) Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| North Terminal | International flights |
| South Terminal (Concourse A,B,C) | Domestic flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | A ladder is not absolutely necessary but 3 steps could help to avoid the top of the fences on your photos. |
| Car/Public Transport | A car is absolutely necessary for any location, if you don’t have a car it can be expensive with the taxi or dangerous because of savage animals in the area. |
| Restrooms | If a moose or a brown bear comes out of a wood, it’s better to have a car parked near you to refugee inside (at least). There are many restaurants and shops nearby every spotting location offering aplenty supply of food and drinks. Only the wood, to share with the bears! |
| Drinks/Food | Many snacks and restaurant at the airport and in the hotel’s area. |
| Hotels | There are many hotels around the airport. I have experienced the “Puffin Inn” and will give you information only about what i know ! I was completely satisfied by the “Puffin Inn” at Spenard road but it’s better to avoid the breakfast there. For the breakfast, better go to the 24h restaurant at “Village Inn” (see the map)Near the hotel you will find a gas station and a small restaurant called “Today’s Pizza”, where you can find fine pizzas and fabulous noodles with cream and chicken that I recommend. At the same location you will find a gas station and a “Subway” shop to buy drinks and picnic for the day. |
| Season | In winter it is almost all the time night. In June, the night never falls completely. It is day from 04:00 to about 23:00 so a lot of time for planespotting! Here you can find a great tool to see sunrise and sunset. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 07L/25R | Landing and departures are operated on runway 7L. 25R almost never be in use. |
| 07R/25L | Landing and departures are operated on runway 7R. 25L almost never be in use. |
| 15/33 | Used in all directions depending on the wind direction. |
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Spot #1 – South Airpark |
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| WHERE | This spot is near the runway 07/25L and R. From the airport you have to take “West international airport road” and turn right at “Jewel Lake road”. Then drive approximately 2 miles and you will cross “Raspberry road”. Turn right again and drive 1,5 miles than you will see special hangars on the right. Turn right at the second road just in front of the hangars and drive to the end of the street. Park your car exactly at the on the left side of the road and climb up the hill. You are on an elevated mound and overlook the perimeter fence so no ladder is needed. |
| WHAT | In summer, the heat-haze could be a huge problem but you can (when there is no heat-haze) make pictures on landing and taxiing aircraft on rwy 07R. Landings, and even touch down on 07L, all aircraft that are on taxi to the 33, 07L or 07R and these who are going to the terminal. |
| TIME | Over there you have to go from late September to late October and late March to early May. In winter it is all the night time and during summer, watch out on the heat-haze. From 09:00 to about 14h or 16h depending on season. |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. During summer, watch out for heat-haze. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50mm to 400mm |
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Spot #2 – Woronzof Park |
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| WHERE | This is PANCs most popular spotting position. From the airport, take “Postmark road” to the end, then turn left on “Point Woronzof road”. This road parking even on a cliff with a beautiful view of the entrance of “Knik Arm” . It “Point Woronzof Park”. There is a big curve to the left up to the park entrance. You feel to be out of civilization, with a gate in front of you and a private road along the airport fence. Ignore the small path to the right and even if you are wondering while passing this portal, someone will shoot you, take this path anyway. Drive a few hundred meters and you will see a mound with a clearing on the right. You have arrived in paradise spotting. There are plenty of possibilites to take photos in different angels. So just walk around to find your prefered position. |
| WHAT | This spot is located along the tracks 15/33. From there, you miss everything that happens on 07/25 except what goes on the taxiway to the cargo. But there are a lot of movement at this spot. If 33 is in service there are only take off because everything is put in 07L or 07R for arrivals. If 15 is in service, all of the traffic will arrive and departure on this runway so you will get everything. |
| TIME | This place is good from 14:00 until 23:00 in summer and from 15 to about 20 hours in the fall or early spring |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. There soem rules to be observed at this location. 1) Spotters are tolerated but the grid is closed to 23h and the Police does not have to come to dislodge us! Therefore leaving the scene later at 22:59 2) NEVER park your car on the side of the perimeter fence. Park the car right at the foot of the small hill where you stay because it is absolutely forbidden to park on mesh side |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm |
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Spot #3 – Fuel Tanks |
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| WHERE | Use the same direction as described above for spot #2. Enter the gate and always drive parallel to the runway. After a few minutes you can see the tanks in the far distance. The road makes a right turn into the West End Rd. There you can see some yellow orange things standing at the corner. These are quite huge barriers made of concrete. So they are stable. Standing on these you can look of the fence as the fence there is below you due to a waterhole. As there is a gate with no security only cameras sometimes cars come in and out. So never block their way and park on the right side so you are away from the fence and the gate. |
| WHAT | Its a good position for photographing action for runway 33, arrivals and departures as well as taxiway victor wich is very close. 07 arrivals may possible but can exit earlier. |
| TIME | This place is good from 15:00 until 23:00 in summer and from 16 to about 20 hours in the fall or early spring |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. If the gate is open you should try to stay away from the gate or stay on the barriers. No fast moving here and never try to get close to the gate to avoid they think you may be a terrorist. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200mm |
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Spot #4 – Northern Cargo Hill |
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| WHERE | Use the same direction as for spot #2, the Woronzof Park. When you have reached the approach of RWY14 park your car on the shoulder. Than cross the street and take the small path between the perimeter fence to your right and the forrest to your left. After 300-400m into you have reached your elevated position. You can stay at the main road too and make photos from there if you don´t wanna walk. There is a small hill where you can climb up to shot over the fence for rotating heavies on RWY33. |
| WHAT | Perfect place if RWY15 is active for departures and arrivals. Heavy departures on RWY33 are possible too. Some planes that rolling to/from the cargo ramps, but usually backlit. |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon. |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. Don´t stay to close to the forrest to avoid a meeting with the wild animals. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400mm |
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Spot #5 – Kincaid Park – 07 arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot is everything else than easy to reach on not the best place if you don´t wanna meet some wild animals. Your trip starts at the Kincaid Park, a popular place for locals to relax, go running or hiking. From spot #1 continue westwards along the Rasperry Rd for a few kilometers until the end. You will reach some kind of sport complex with a huge parking lot. Now you have to walk for at least 20-25 minutes like its drawn on the map. Walk the way down to the northernmost sport field and turn 2 second way right into the forrest for just a few meters than is the next intersection, take the way slightly left. Than you have to walk a while until the next intersection, there turn right and follow the way. Last meters to the flat area a bit diffiult to find, have always a look to the arriving aircrafts watch on the right side of the path if you can see a hill, if yes walk up this hill and you are on a flat area directly at the treshold of 07R. If you are not sure how to get there contact a local spotter in advance for guidance. The Gate to Kincaid Park will open at 09:00h in the morning. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on RWY 07L/R only. |
| TIME | From 09:00 to about 14:00h or 16:00h (Summer) depending on season. |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. Respect the wildlife rules as stated on the beginning of the guide. Be careful of bears and elks/moose, especially when elks/moose have offspring. +++If you are not familiar with the enviroment, stay away from this location or ask a local spotter to escort you.+++ |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm |
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Spot #6 – Woronzof Rd – RWY15/33 and Airport Overview |
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| WHERE | This is PANCs most popular spotting position. From the airport, take “Postmark road” to the end, then turn left on “Point Woronzof road”. This road parking even on a cliff with a beautiful view of the entrance of “Knik Arm” . It “Point Woronzof Park”. There is a big curve to the left up to the park entrance. You feel to be out of civilization, with a gate in front of you and a private road along the airport fence. Ignore the small path to the right and even if you are wondering while passing this portal, someone will shoot you, take this path anyway. Drive 700 meters and you will see on top of a hill a antenna on left side, next to the antenna is a parking and viewing area. |
| WHAT | Everything on Runway 15/33 and paralel Taxiways |
| TIME | This place is good from 15:00 until 23:00 in summer and from 16 to about 20 hours in the fall or early spring |
| MISC. | Parking is no problem here. Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. Respect the wildlife rules as stated on the beginning of the guide. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending where the aircraft is: 50-350mm |
27 Comments
A novice question, what is the best budget cam for plane spotting?
Which runway is most commonly in use (percentage)?eg. 20% 07L/07R and 80% 15/33.
Cheers
I think its normally (if light winds) 07’s for arrivals and runway 33 for departures. (regional aircraft will sometimes depart on runway 07 due to shorter taxi). The coast Inn would be a decent spot to catch 07 departures in the afternoon.
Any recent experiences with Spot 5, Good or Bad?
When you have the perfect location then it can be a wonerful spot as you have some mountains in the back and planes are relatively close (for heat haze).
But the spot is hard to find and hard to get there. I was not able to find it even after a 30min walk. Also you should be equipped with a weapon or a bear spray.
Thanks Stefan.
No problem finding spotter 5. Would take 20-25 min walking from parking lot. Use Google Maps.
As mentioned, people use this park for hiking, running, bicycling etc, so it is absolutely safe to walk. Had no problems with wild animals. Bringing weapon or bear spray is an aboslute overreaction. Respect the animals, if encountered, if not, have fun!
Planning to visit ANC in the end of April just before closure of rwy 15/33. Are everyday the same or are for example weekends slower than weekdays regarding traffic and specially cargo?
Hello guys, can someone who is very familiar with ANC spotting tell me, whether my planned visit at the beginning of May 2019 is totally useless because of planned closure of RWY 15/33, or is it still worth to come ? This would be my first Alaska visit as I have waited for someone to come with me and when I finally book the trip, this sad thing (closure of RWY 15/33) happens :-((( There are the best spotting locations around 15/33, but is spotting around 7R/25L and 7L/25R OK enough to pay for the trip ? I am combining it with SEA and of course I plan to visit Fairbanks, Wasilla, Kenai and Palmer. Thank you in advance for your opinions.
Hi Peter, I am not familiar with ANC but during summer the light conditions on the east/west runways are not optimal for the spots we have in our guide.
I don´t know if there is a location for 07L/R (which are the common arrival rwys) on the north side, which would be suitable for mornings and evenings.
Hard to tell but on this site https://www.anc15-33.com/ they don´t say its totally closed so still a chance to get some traffic on 15/33.
-Julian
I’ve lived in Anchorage since 1967. Regarding hotels, there are a number of hotels along Spenard Road, near Lake Hood. The Lakefront Hotel (a Millenium hotel) is on the lake. If you have very specific questions, try asking on the Alaska Aviators Resource FB page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/482306041959043/
Just returned from ANC I would recommend staying at the millennium Lakefront hotel, great for seaplanes in summertime and depending on time of day! Morning light would be very good from here! Evening into sun! But most seaplanes approach over the hotel!
Runway 15/33 partially closed no landings on 33 or 15 while I was there a lot of B737 MD80 size departures on 33! No heavy departures at all! All heavies used east runways for both takeoff and landings.
Hello friends.
I’ll be on USA on first week of december and I really would like to spotting at ANC. But I think it will be on the winter.
If possible on the winter, whats the best time to spotting?
Hi Fernando, I refer to our infos under “season”. This should answer your question. You have just 6 hours of light when the sun comes out…
-Julian
Hi Julian. Thaks a lot. I was meaning even in the winter and with 6 hours with the sun light, if it was possible take some photos. It will be cold and snowing probably.
Thanks again. I will be alone on this journey. So, I hope to find someone there lol.
You should concentrate on the 07/25 runways as the sun moves very fast. Nort/South makes no sense.
-Julian
Hey,
I just noticed that there is a wrong ICAO code in the description and therefore maybe in the search engine. The code is not KANC but it’s PANC. I guess it’s a typo.
Maybe you can correct that?
Greetings 🙂
Thank for the info Stefan. Its fixed now.
-Julian
Great info here – was looking for Hotel recommendations – is there any that have a decent view of the approach / departures so we can chill out with a beer and still see the traffic ?
Hi Meikle, for ANC airport there is no hotel as both arrivals and departures are going in/out over the water. What I recommend is to take a hotel at the lakefront to watch the seaplanes. There are a few on the eastside of the lake.
-Julian
Hey Tom,
I would also think about renting a car and then driving around and looking for a nice spot you can enjoy the evening. There are so many spots where you can enjoy that a car would make sense.
Otherwise Lakefront should be a good start. But if you like to take photos you will need at minimum a bike/motorcycle or better a car.
Have fun 🙂
The overall map for PANC is set to KPHL
Hi Tyler!
Thanks for this information, we’ll change the map as soon as possible!
Regards,
Severin (Spotterguides.net-Team)
Hi all. Does anybody know where I can get a full log of the participants in northern edge at elmendorf afb for 2017 thanks in advance. Andy O
Hello guys, I would like to know a little about Elmendorf AFB, the air base from Anchorage.
Is there any spotting point there? Is it ok for spotting?
Thanks
Elmensdorf is a pain. No way to really get close, tons of patrols around that will chase you, it’s close to impossible.
Hey Isac,
I tried it myself and ended up at a patrol gate with armed soldiers. They where friendly that was nice and gave a me a big plan for the whole airbase with all streets and details on the airport and facilities. They also said to me that there maybe sometimes a kind of “tours” or shows where you can enter the field .But no idea when exactly and who to contact.
As Alex already said it’s nearly impossible. You often see the big planes landing at AFB when standing in the town or spotting at ANC. But sadly no way to capture army planes.
The best way to shoot an army plane is to go to ANC and search around spot 1. As marked on the map there is sometimes a KC-130 parked and also sometimes other military stuff. This year I had a C130 and last year the KC-130. I also saw a C17 and bizjets standing there. On S Airport RD (lookg on the maps) you can see also a parked C130 next to the hangars. You can park in front and take pictures as you want.