Notable national and state parks where you can try viewing the aurora include the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and Heyburn State Park. If you prefer a mountain view, you can also consider Idaho Panhandle National Forests. You can camp on nearby Bartoo Island or Kalispell Island, which are accessible by boat and open all year and where you can access plenty of outdoor activities, dazzling scenery, and various wildlife. Add the still, crystal clear waters of the lake reflecting the light show in the sky, and you have one unforgettable spectacle. This lake, known as the Crown Jewel of Idaho, is located within the northern portion of the Idaho panhandle, 30 miles south of the Canadian border.Ĭlear skies and no city lights provide the perfect conditions for the northern lights. Lakes are some of the best places to see northern lights, and Priest Lake, Idaho is one of them.
Winter provides the opportunity for snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding. Outdoor activities range from hiking, cycling, and climbing, to kayaking, fishing, and swimming. If you don’t get to see the northern lights, there are other activities to do in Spokane. Spokane, Washingtonįrom here on, the places I’m going to mention have lower chances of viewing the northern lights than Alaska, but the chances are still pretty good when conditions are right.Įastern Washington offers a rural area with low to zero light pollution, and Spokane is one of the best places to start chasing auroras. If you’re not the outdoorsy type, though, you can always stay in one of the many lodgings in the area. It has been a favorite destination of outdoorsy types for hiking and camping because of the wide-open spaces, mountain views, and rich wildlife. It features acres and acres of pristine land without city lights and thus, no light pollution. Yes, another Alaska destination, but as I’ve mentioned, the state of Alaska is the best state in the US to see the northern lights.Īside from Fairbanks, the Denali National Park is another great place in Alaska to watch the northern lights. Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska If you’re not yet tired from staying up all night to wait for the northern lights, you can go dog sledding, soaking in the hot springs, and ice fishing in the daytime. There is no shortage of accommodations in Fairbanks, and some of them even allow you to wait and watch for the aurora right in your room come nightfall, such as in one of the domes in Borealis Basecamp. If you’re a tad more adventurous, consider driving yourself or renting a vehicle and chasing the lights independently. Local northern lights tours can take you to one of several viewing areas, such as Murphy Dome, Chena Lakes, Creamer’s Field, and Cleary Summit. The city of Fairbanks, in particular, is one of the most popular places to see northern lights.Īround 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle at 65° north latitude, Fairbanks is found within the auroral oval. With its geographic location, dark skies, and mostly clear weather, it’s no wonder that it has the highest number of northern lights of any US state. In general, Alaska offers excellent conditions for viewing the northern lights. If you’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, but don’t want to venture out of the US, here are the best cities to go visit.īe warned, you will be cold. 10 Best Places To See Northern Lights In The US Manage your expectations, though even if you do all these things right, there’s still no guarantee that you’ll see the northern lights. Other tools you can use to schedule your trip are apps, such as My Aurora Forecast or Aurora Alerts that offer aurora forecasts and notify you when an aurora is visible in your location.
It can be helpful to know what time on a given day are the northern lights most likely to show up. The SWPC website has a page with a forecast of both the northern and southern lights. Luckily, the Space Weather Prediction Center does exactly that. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if you can predict the probability of the northern lights appearing, as well as where they’re likely to hold a show? The best time to see northern lights is normally from September through March because the longer nights in the northern hemisphere increase the probability of the lights being visible. The northern lights are one of the most spectacular shows that Mother Nature has to offer, and seeing this phenomenon live is an item on many a bucket list so I rounded up the best places to see northern lights.
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