Where to see the northern lights in Canada

You never forget that first time you stand in awe beneath the majesty of the aurora borealis. 

This nighttime display of phosphorescent green, yellow and pink lights shimmering like stardust across northern skies has entranced travelers for centuries. 

Canada has several of the world’s top places to see these northern lights, so stunning and ethereal that people travel from across the globe for a chance to catch a glimpse of them. 

Here’s your guide to the aurora borealis—and the best places to experience this amazing natural wonder across Canada, from a prospector-style tent camp to a cushy viewing capsule.

What does aurora borealis mean?

The name comes from Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, and Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind. Much of Canada’s North lies beneath the Northern Hemisphere’s Auroral Oval, a hot spot for activity.

What causes the aurora borealis? 

The aurora borealis effect happens in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun’s electrically charged particles, riding on a solar wind, enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases—namely oxygen and nitrogen. You're most likely to catch a spectacular display of the aurora borealis when the Sun is at its most active.

Why is the aurora borealis so special?

The aurora borealis is elusive—an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon with no guarantee of a show—which makes it all the more attractive. That said, in Canada chances are good, especially in the North near the magnetic pole. 

The effect makes for fantastical hues, though the northern lights can take all kinds of forms—from arcs and rippling curtains to misty wisps and translucent clouds. Sometimes they are an eerie green, sometimes shimmering purples, pinks and yellows. Green is the most common color, while red aurora is rare. The colors zig, zag and move surprisingly quickly—some say, “dance”—across the inky, night sky.

When can you see the aurora borealis in Canada?

Winter (December to March) is often the luckiest season, thanks to more hours of darkness each day and frequent cold, clear nights. 

The best time? Around midnight: 10 pm to 2 am is the window, so get ready to stay up late.

Where can you see the aurora borealis in Canada?

It's possible to see the northern lights during all four seasons (almost) anywhere in Canada, but the North is the best place to see them, where they are the most active, most of the time. 

You can't see the aurora through the clouds, so if you're near the coast—say in British Columbia—steer clear of coastal clouds, head north and seek out higher ground. 

The best venues are remote communities with little or no light pollution.

Where are the very best places to see the aurora borealis in Canada?

For our list below, we only chose the locations known for the regular appearances of the northern lights that are easy to reach for most travelers. 

These places don't require extreme hikes or enduring rough conditions. Our suppliers use the northern light forecast to determine the best nights for outings. 

Here are the best places to see the northern lights in Canada.

Yukon

In the northwest of Canada, Yukon boasts several destinations with a high chance of seeing the northern lights. Part of the region lies underneath the auroral oval.

The prime time for seeing the natural spectacle is between November and March, although you may spot the lights anytime between the end of August and the middle of April.

Note that due to its remote northern location, Yukon experiences the midnight sun during the summer months—and the long hours of sunshine make it impossible to see the lights.

How can you see the aurora borealis in Yukon?

Since the Gold Rush days, the Wild West Yukon has been the spot for fabled adventures. You can dabble in a few of them—dogsledding, fat biking, wilderness camping—while you wait for your glimpse of the beautiful aurora. 

Fall - why not take up residence in a prospector-style tent camp in the wilderness near Whitehorse, with Northern Tales, lit only by the stars—and the aurora? The outfitter provides modern creature comforts like barrel stoves and steaming beverages to keep you warm while you wait. 

Late winter and early spring - In winter, Northern Tales hosts a variety of aurora packages and tours with activities such as snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling and dog mushing. 

Cozy up in Arctic Range Adventures' AuroraCentre with your choice of a plush, insulated yurt or cozy First Nations-style teepee. Add wildlife viewing, dogsledding and a soak in Takhini Hotsprings to round out the fun. 

Mountain biking pros Boréale Explorers lead guided snow biking-aurora packages, as well as snowmobiling or dogsledding-aurora combos out of their stylish eco-lodge and Yurtville basecamp near Whitehorse.

Manitoba

Northern Manitoba is in the sub-Arctic Circle, bordering Hudson Bay. Up here, you'll find Churchill, considered one of the top places in the world to see the aurora borealis. 

The winter months of January, February and March offer the best experience, though you have the chance to see the northern lights most of the year. 

Why is Churchill a top spot? Its longer nights and colder conditions mean the northern lights often appear brighter and remain in the sky longer.

How can you see the aurora borealis in Manitoba? 

The thing that makes a visit to Churchill even more special is that you can combine aurora experiences with bucket list wildlife viewing—think belugas, polar bears, Arctic foxes and more. Plus, there are unique opportunities to take in the lights, such as a special diner car located in a tundra buggy. Via Winnipeg is the best route, pausing at the Manitoba Museum to learn more about the aurora borealis and how best to photograph them. 

Late winter - Aurora high season in Churchill is February and March because of the extreme cold, which can drop to 40 below zero. Go with experienced operator Frontiers North, heading out around midnight into the deep dark of an arctic winter in a heated tundra buggy kitted out with a bar. Pack extra batteries, which can fizzle in the plunging temperatures, and rent clothing from the Polar Inn & Suites. Snap pics of the mesmerizing display or better yet just take it in so you don't miss a thing. 

Fall - September to November is the second-best time to catch the aurora. Combine trophy fishing until mid-September with an aurora show from the comfy deck at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, a two-hour flight from Winnipeg.

Northwest Territories

The very best place to see aurora borealis in Canada—if not the world—is the Northwest Territories, where the northern lights are generally visible for 240 nights every year. 

Its capital, Yellowknife, is located approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of the Arctic Circle. This northern city experiences high levels of geomagnetic activity, which can make for spectacular northern lights. 

The optimal timeframe is either fall or winter (though summer is pretty good, too). During the winter, Yellowknife's remoteness and lack of light pollution makes for perfect aurora viewing.

How can you see the aurora borealis in the Northwest Territories? 

Winter - The northern lights are especially dramatic in winter, contrasted against the frozen, white wonderland of the Northwest Territories. The most convenient way to take in the show is in cozy comfort at Aurora Village, a teepee village just outside Yellowknife. Specially designed for aurora observation, the place is equipped with spacious wood-stove heated teepees, fur-lined sofas, and warmed viewing capsules that recline.

Nunavut    

Autumn and winter

Open expanses of tundra and a far-north location make Canada's Arctic prime aurora viewing country. Spring and summer in Nunavut is the time of seemingly endless daylight, with 16 hours a day May to August and 24 hours of sunshine daily in June and July. So you want to go between October and April when the dark days are long. December, for instance, has just four hours of daylight. This time of year is when locals enjoy frequent, rippling aurora displays.

Winter - Consider a journey to a remote traditional Inuit community like Kimmirut, where you can kayak and see icebergs. Or visit Whale Cove, where you can fish and spot beluga whales after a night of aurora viewing.

Early autumn - Follow traditional caribou routes by day, then catch the Lights by night at Arctic Haven Wilderness Lodge, which happens to be at the optimal latitude for Aurora viewing. Here, you're most likely to spot the Northern Lights on cool autumn evenings. Set on the Arctic Barren Lands on Ennadai Lake west of Hudson Bay, the lodge is just a short bush plane flight from Yellowknife, NWT. In addition to the light show, you get the fiery fall color backdrop, plus wildlife like grizzlies and wolves. Pack layers, bring your sturdy hiking boots, and prepare for always-changing weather conditions.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Summer

Like solitude? Newfoundland and Labrador has swaths of beautiful, untouched wilderness especially in unspoiled Labrador. During the winter months, snowmobile over 900-plus miles of trails with the Lights dancing above. Add snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hunting, and ice fishing, if you like.

Summer - Perhaps the most spectacular option is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Torngat Mountains National Park on the Labrador Peninsula. It's a place of unusual, dramatic geology, four billion-year-old rock formations, and the traditional Inuit way of life. Established each summer, remote Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station connects you with the land, its Inuit elders, and the international researchers who study it -- not to mention, a memorable aurora show in a wild natural setting.

Ontario

Autumn

It's true, you're more likely to see the effect further north and in the Arctic, but you can still catch the elusive aurora regularly in Canada's lower latitudes, and that includes Ontario.

Autumn - For Ontario, September and October are prime time for aurora viewing. You need to be somewhere outside the city, obviously, with little ambient light for the best conditions to see a dramatic aurora display. The best places for aurora viewing include Manitoulin Island and Pukaskwa National Park. For a full experience, try one of Ontario's best aurora-equipped outfitters: Killarney Mountain Lodge, Manitoulin Eco Park, or Moosonee. While you're up north waiting for aurora to show, take advantage of northern Ontario's other attractions and plentiful outdoor adventure options -- bordered by Hudson Bay and the Great Lakes, it's a wild and beautiful place not known to many, but well worth the trip.

Alberta

Autumn

It's hard to beat the shimmering Lights juxtaposed against the towering Canadian Rockies, reflecting off glassy, glacier-fed lakes. Not surprisingly, northern Alberta is the base of the Geophysical Observatory at Athabasca University, which studies the Aurora's magnetic impact on Earth. Non-scientists should head to Banff National Park for the best vantage points.

Autumn - Total nighttime darkness and scant light pollution make Banff National Park ideal for viewing the Lights. September to mid May is the most aurora-active, but in fall you can often see them comfortably, combining the trip with camping and other top Rockies activities, like hiking and paddling. Check Aurora Watch to see when chances are good for a sighting. Though you can often see the glow from the Banff, you'll want to get away from human activity. Easy-access Lake Minnewanka is one of the best places to see the aurora and it's only 10 minutes outside town. Or try Castle Junction on route to Lake Louise, aqua-marine Peyto Lake, or ever-popular Herbert Lake. There's also the world's two biggest dark sky preserves: Wood Buffalo National Park, home to a herd of 3,000 free-roaming bison, and famously scenic Jasper National Park. Bring a warm sleeping bag, camp, and stay up late.

Even the most jaded can't help but be affected by the moving spectacle of the aurora -- as fleeting as it is mesmerizing and dazzling. Time to plan your trip.