Often regarded as the Holy Grail of skywatching, the northern lights are an exhibition of artificial light due to the atmospheric phenomena observed mainly in the high-latitude regions.
For years, I’ve been captivated by the mesmerizing display of dancing lights. Their beauty draws crowds of people, including myself, year after year. The way they cast a luminous greenish glow, sometimes tinged with a hint of crimson, towards the pole is simply breathtaking.
One of the most sought views is the streaks of light that can enchant the viewers can be found in Canada. In fact, many people there still believe that these lights are their ancestors’ spirits who have come back to spread light and celebrate life. It seems nostalgic! Isn’t it?
Okay if you have come to Canada to spend your vacation, I suggest you witness this beautiful wonder. Let me tell you the best places where you can get a chance to see this atmospheric marvel when going to aurora hunting.
You Must Know the Best Time to Spot These Lights
I love gazing at the dance of lights in the sky, even if the temperature is freezing. The majestic marvel is not only a treat for eyes, but also a lifetime experience.
Let me just sit aside, and capture this sky marvel,
I can see the sky painting and dressing up,
Something glittering up my soul,
Let me witness this symphony of lights,
And capture it in my heart forever.
Pragya
Although it happens all year round, the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights increases much more in the winter months, followed by clear nights, dark skies and clear skies. However, cloudy weather, cloudy skies, excessive light, pollution, or city lights hinder the aurora forecast.
The northern lights season is mainly considered the winter months from November to March, the best time to see the Aurora. So, if you are visiting Canada in winter, the chances of experiencing this beauty are higher.
Some Great Spots to See the Northern Lights in Canada
Although almost every Canadian city or province can give you a view of the northern lights, the following are some of the popular northern lights destinations.
1. Northwestern Territories
The Northwestern Territories of Canada is also known as the Northern Lights mecca. Here, the lights are typically visible almost every night of the year, indicating high solar activity in the area, which is the best site in Canada.
If you have no idea where can you see it better, contact the licenced tour operators there. This will not only help you with catching the perfect view of the northern lights but you can also easily find a better accomodation. I recommend you book a bus tour from Yellowknife to Great Slave Lake in the aurora season for a better experience.
A teepee community south of Yellowknife called Aurora Village offers the most suitable place to watch the performance while being comfortable. You must go there to have the best views. This location was built specifically for viewing the aurora and is furnished with roomy, wood-burning, heated teepees, fur-lined couches, and heated, reclinable viewing capsules.
2. Yukon
In Yukon, if anyone is looking for an adventurous journey, the one that comes to my mind is the Yukon’s Wild West. You can enjoy activities like dogsledding, fat biking, and roughing. And what about catching the northern lights there? Well, I would say from September to April, you can experience that too. Because in summer the night sky is not too dark, so you may not observe the lights properly.
Take pictures of the frequently explosive show or, even better, watch it in person to ensure you don’t miss anything. In the winter, Northern Tales offers a range of aurora packages and excursions, including ice fishing and dog sledding. Choose between a comfortable, insulated yurt or a warm First Nations-style teepee at the Aurora Center of Arctic Range Adventures.
3. Nunavut
Nunavut also is a great place to see the aurora because of its vast open tundra and northern location. For instance, there are just four hours of daylight in December. Locals enjoy the regular, rippling aurora displays throughout this time of year.
I would tell you a better way to enjoy there other than watching the northern lights. Consider travelling to a remote traditional Inuit community like Kimmirut, where you may go kayaking and observe icebergs. Alternately, go to Whale Cove, where you may go fishing after a night of aurora viewing and see beluga whales.
4. Newfoundland And Labrador
The most breathtaking choice in the summer months from early April is likely an exclusive journey to Torngat Mountains National Park on the Labrador Peninsula. The geology is unusual and stunning and you will love the breathtaking views. You can contact the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station to witness an unforgettable aurora show in a natural environment.
5. Alberta
Northern Alberta is home to the Geophysical Observatory at Athabasca University, which studies how the aurora affects the planet’s magnetic field. You should visit Banff National Park in the fall for the best observing sites.
I will tell you why it makes the perfect place to watch the aurora lights. The absence of light pollution and total darkness at night make Banff National Park the greatest site in Canada to view the northern lights. The months of mid-September to mid-May see the most auroral activity.
You can typically see the Rockies comfortably in the fall if camping and other popular Rockies activities like hiking and canoeing are included in the trip. Visit Aurora Watch to find out when there is a good chance of witnessing the aurora. Just ten minutes outside of town, at Lake Minnewanka, you may also see the aurora.
Additionally, Wood Buffalo National Park, where 3,000 wild bison roam freely, and Jasper National Park, which is renowned for its beautiful scenery, are the two biggest dark sky preserves in the world.
6. Ontario
If you are visiting Ontario in late August, September and October, you can see the Northern lights easily. I’ll tell you the best locations to see Aurora. You must go to Manitoulin Island, Cree Village Ecolodge, and Pukaskwa National Park. The most excellent place to watch a spectacular aurora show is outside a city with little ambient light. Although the aurora is more frequently visible in the Arctic Circle Region and further north, Ontario and other lower latitudes in Canada have regular displays of the spectacular sight of the northern lights.
7. Manitoba
Churchill promotes itself as “one of the top three spots on earth” for viewing the northern lights. Do you know Researchers from all over the world come to the hamlet of around 900 inhabitants, which is well-known for its polar bear population, to study the aurora?
So when should you go there? I must tell you that the peak season of aurora watching in Churchill is from February to March. The best way is to travel along established caribou trails during the day, and then spend the evening at Arctic Haven Wilderness Lodge, ideally situated to see the aurora.
You can also learn more about the northern lights and the finest photography techniques at Manitoba Museum.
Other than Canada, you can also experience this beautiful view in Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. As these are closer to Arctic region. Although almost in all seasons, these atmospheric miracles can be viewed in Canada and other countries in the Auroral Zone, winter is the best time to view the northern lights or aurora. In addition to most of the planets in the Solar System, auroras can also be seen on a few natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets. Have fun chasing the Aurora!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the Northern Lights last?
The majority of the time, they merely display briefly before gliding off and then coming back. If you’re lucky, a good display might continue for a few hours or longer, but it usually only lasts for around 15 to 30 minutes at a time.
Do the Northern Lights make noise?
The Northern Lights have been described as a soft rustling, clapping, or popping by listeners
What happens if you touch the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights is nothing more than glowing gases so you are merely “touching” gas, that too if you get close enough!
Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani
