Besides Alaska and Iceland, where can you see the Northern Lights?

Besides Alaska and Iceland, where can you see the Northern Lights?

There is a special kind of magic that occurs when the night sky stops being a static backdrop and starts to dance. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is the ultimate bucket-list experience. Who would want to miss a celestial performance of shimmering greens, purples, and reds that has inspired loads of myths and legends? If you’re planning a trip to witness this marvelous phenomenon, here are the 10 best places on the planet to see the show.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is often called the "Aurora Capital of the United States," and for good reason. It sits directly under the Auroral Oval, a ring-shaped zone where auroral activity is most concentrated. Unlike coastal Alaskan towns, Fairbanks is inland. This means it is shielded from the moist maritime air that often causes cloud cover, resulting in much clearer skies.

You can view the lights while soaking in the Chena Hot Springs or from a heated "aurorium." We recommend you stay at least three nights; you’ll have a 90% chance of seeing the lights. The University of Alaska Fairbanks even provides its own highly accurate aurora forecast.

Hvolsvöllur Valley, Iceland

Iceland’s dramatic landscapes of basalt columns, waterfalls, and black sand beaches provide the most cinematic canvas for the lights. To escape Reykjavik's light pollution, you’ll need to head into the Hvolsvöllur Valley, about 1.5 hours southeast.

Unlike the capital, Hvolsvöllur follows a "dark sky" policy in many of its boutique hotels and lodges. Furthermore, because it is far from the coast, the sky is generally clearer and less cloudy. The best time to visit is from September to April.

Boundary Waters & Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Northern Minnesota, particularly within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park, offers prime viewing for the Aurora Borealis. Especially during cold winter nights or autumn months, the aurora reflects off the thousands of still lakes, effectively doubling the light show.

Because these are International Dark Sky Parks, the lack of light pollution is startling. On a clear night, this area offers vast, dark, and open skies, making it a top spot for aurora viewing.

Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

While many tourists head to the more commercialized Yellowknife, Whitehorse offers a more rugged wilderness experience. Once you leave the small city center, the light pollution here is almost non-existent.

The Yukon provides a vast, mountainous backdrop. Seeing the green ribbons pass through the jagged peaks of the Coast Mountains is a transformative experience. Must-Do: Visit the Takhini Hot Pools. There is nothing quite like watching the aurora while your hair freezes into white sculptures!

Isle Royale & Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, Michigan

The Keweenaw Peninsula is a little secret among Midwest stargazers, where Lake Superior acts as a giant dark sink, absorbing any stray light. If you head to Brockway Mountain Drive, you’ll find the highest point in the area, which provides an unobstructed 180-degree view of the northern horizon.

Isle Royale National Park, on the other hand, is extremely remote and free from light pollution, making it a top-tier, but harder-to-reach, spot for aurora viewing. Overall, the best viewing opportunities in Michigan are in the fall and spring, with peak times usually around midnight.

Tromsø, Norway

Known as the "Gateway to the Arctic," Tromsø offers a sophisticated way to hunt the lights. It’s also a vibrant city located about 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, making it a very comfortable place to stay.

Because of the Gulf Stream, Tromsø is surprisingly temperate for its latitude. You can experience the Arctic without the -40°C temperatures found in inland Canada or Russia. Visitors can take an "Aurora Chase" tour by boat through the fjords, seeing the lights reflected in the dark, glassy water.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The "Crown of the Continent" provides a sense of scale that makes the aurora feel even grander. Note that the mountains here are so steep they can block the lights if you are in the wrong valley. Focus on the northern shores of the park's lakes. Lake McDonald is the most accessible and offers a clear line of sight to the North Pole over the water.

Glacier National Park offers low light pollution, enhancing the aurora viewing experience. The best months to visit are between late September and March, when nights are longest and darkest.

Saariselkä, Finland

Home of the world-famous glass igloos, Saariselkä is the heart of Finnish Lapland. If you want the fairytale version of the Northern Lights, this is the place.

This region is famous for its innovative approach to comfort viewing. Many resorts in Saariselkä provide a dedicated pager or app that alerts guests the moment geomagnetic activity spikes. This allows you to sleep comfortably and wake up only when the show actually starts. There is no experience quite like lying in a warm bed, peering through a heated glass dome as the sky explodes in color above you. It's the most efficient way to see the lights without losing a toe to the cold!

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine is a premier, certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary, offering some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. So, for those on the East Coast, this is one of the greatest places to see the lights without a cross-country flight.

The best chances to experience the aurora borealis are from September through April, with peak activity often occurring during the autumn and spring equinoxes. These equinoxes can trigger more frequent geomagnetic storms, providing a stunning backdrop to Maine’s famous fall foliage.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

The rugged Badlands provide a stark, beautiful contrast to the flowing lights. Furthermore, due to its high northern latitude and relatively flat terrain, you can see the aurora curtain from top to bottom. Clear, cold nights with no moon provide the best visibility, which can appear as green, pink, or violet lights.

You can stay in nearby Medora, which provides quick access to the park. Prime viewing typically occurs 2–3 hours after sunset between September and March.