Where to see the Northern Lights in North America

If you travel up to the Arctic north with its towering peaks and wide sky above, there lives a phenomenon steeped in myth. As the winter sleeps, the sky is alight, glittering with the mystical dance of the northern lights.

This article was created in collaboration with our partner brand Alaska By Design.

Summary

• The best places to see the Northern Lights in North America are in Canada and Alaska
• Canada's Northern Lights viewing can be combined with dog sledding and polar bear viewing
• Alaska's Aurora Borealis can be combined with a luxury lodge or time above the Arctic Circle

If you're wondering where to see the Northern Lights, you're in luck. North America is home to some of the best places on Earth to see the Aurora Borealis. Within North America, Canada is our personal favorite destination to see the Northern Lights. We might be biased, but we think it offers the best combination of unique winter daytime activities and the ability to spot the lights.

Our Expertise

Our credentials? Over 25 years experience designing custom tours and itineraries through Canada, curating trips for every kind of traveler. We know what to do, when to do it, and how to arrange it into a life-changing vacation.

Heading north is key, as the Northern Lights are most active in the auroral band in the Northern Hemisphere, running through Canada's Far North, just below the Arctic Circle. Luckily, Northern Canada is a magnetic destination in its own right, offering winter daytime activities to fill the shorter days and a whole host of incredible options for seeing the Northern Lights at night.

So, as experts in all things Canada (and having explored it corner to corner), we have selected our favorite locations to see the stunning lights do their thing, along with a trip to each.

The Northern Lights in the Yukon | Credit: Tourism Yukon / Dan Carr @dancarrphoto

1. The Yukon

The Yukon, the northwest of Canada, is a world-class Northern Lights viewing destination and the country's largest best-kept secret. Here, Aurora Borealis viewing at night is complemented by unique daytime activities like dog sledding, snowshoeing, or spa treatments (a stint in the sauna is made all the better when surrounded by snow and ice).

The Yukon is delightfully quiet and, what it lacks in population, it makes up for in nature. From towering mountain ranges to expansive lakes and rivers to many, many moose (easily outnumbering people), you can have your pick of nature in the vast territory and pair it with a dramatic display of swooping, swirling auroras dancing across the sky.

The glass chalets at day and night | Credit: Northern Lights Resort and Spa

Northern Lights Viewing Tour in the Yukon

The best Northern Lights viewing tours in the Yukon include multiple nights in a remote location to ensure dark skies for viewing.

Northern Lights Resort & Spa | Winter at its Best

For the best Northern Lights viewing in Canada, we designed an eight-day tour to the Yukon's Northern Lights Resort and Spa, a remote resort outside of Whitehorse. Nightly guided aurora viewing is conducted around a communal bonfire with s'mores, but your private aurora glass chalet (fitted with floor-to-ceiling wrap-around windows) makes staying in equally tempting.

For daytime activities, guided city tours, trips to local hot springs, and an on-site sauna are all included in your stay, as well as a number of other optional excursions like snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dog sledding.

Best location: Northern Lights Resort and Spa

Best Time: Winter

Unique Way to See the Aurora: From bed in a private glass-fronted chalet

The Northern Lights over the Hudson Bay in Churchill | Credit: Travel Manitoba / CoPilot Collective

2. Churchill, Manitoba

Churchill is an ideal place to plan a hybrid trip of polar bear safari and Northern Lights viewing. Located directly under the auroral oval, the town sees over 300 nights of aurora activity per year. And, with minimal light pollution and vast, flat tundra landscapes stretching out in all directions, views of the dark sky are expansive and a perfect stage for the Northern Lights.

Alongside the Aurora Borealis, Churchill has some of the most unique daytime activities of any Northern Lights destination.

Known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World,’ and home to approximately 900 bears through the summer months, Churchill is a hot spot for Arctic wildlife. Aside from the bears, the town is also frequented by beluga whales, moose, caribou, red and Arctic foxes, ptarmigan birds, and Arctic hare. There are a wide range of viewing opportunities — walking tours, all-terrain vehicles, and even your flights — providing the ideal opportunity for unforgettable encounters with creatures big and small.

Fall actually marks the best time to see polar bears in Canada as the bears begin to move inland from the shore, passing through Churchill as they do.

When the bears gather along the Hudson Bay coast, waiting for the ice to form, and the aurora begins to light up the night, it marks a rare window which doubles as the ideal time to visit Churchill. In fall, you can experience both the region’s best offerings in one amazing trip.

Dymond Lake Lodge at day and night | Credit: Churchill Wild - Dafna Bennun / Dennis Fast

Northern Lights Viewing Tour in Churchill

The best tours in Churchill include both Northern Lights viewing and polar bear watching to make the most of its extremely unique location.

The Great Ice Bear Adventure

Our Great Ice Bear Adventure doubles as a Northern Lights viewing tour. Spend three nights at the remote Dymond Lake Ecolodge, located 30km north of Churchill, and two more in the town of Churchill itself. As the tour is held in fall, it offers a pretty unique combination of polar bears and Northern Lights.

For the darkest sky possible, we fly you out to the remote Dymond Lake Ecolodge where you can take in the Northern Lights far from the bustle of town.

Your days will be spent getting (safely) up-close-and-personal with the many bears wandering by. As the evening rolls in, enjoy tundra-inspired meals, a cozy wood fire with a delicious hot drink, and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the lights dancing above. As you sleep, the lodge keeps someone on watch to wake you at the first sign of the Aurora Borealis.

Best location: Dymond Lake Ecolodge

Best Time: Fall

Unique Way to See the Aurora: After walking with polar bears

Northern Lights near Fairbanks, Alaska | Credit: Ali Lutz on Unsplash

3. Alaska, USA

If you want to stay strictly within the United States, Alaska offers another Northern Lights hotspot.

There are many reasons to book an Alaska Northern Lights tour in 2027, and our partner brand, Alaska By Design, is available to help you, with the same signature service you'd get here.

The best place to see the aurora borealis in Alaska is in Fairbanks, which is set directly underneath the auroral oval where the lights are most active. But, as it's a city, you'll need to head out to a viewing point free from light pollution. On the other hand, there are numerous wilderness lodges located far from city limits with access to clear skies.

One, Sheldon Chalet, is perched atop a rugged nunatak (an isolated peak of rock) in the secluded heart of Denali National Park and is only accessible by helicopter. There’s not another soul in sight, so you’re sure to have the clearest light-free nights to let the auroras shine and glow and absolutely dazzle you. And, at an elevation of 6,000ft, you can almost reach up and touch them.

Bettles Lodge with the Aurora Borealis above | Credit: Bettles Lodge

Northern Lights Viewing Tours in Alaska

Alaska By Design's Northern Lights tour packages are split between Fairbanks tours and remote wilderness lodges.

Bettles Lodge Northern Lights | Arctic Wilderness Escape

Alaska By Design's Bettles Lodge Northern Lights tour combines a lodge stay with time in Fairbanks and a trip on Alaska Railroad and, in doing so, combines three of the best ways to see the Northern Lights in Alaska.

You'll arrive in Fairbanks on the Aurora Winter Train after traveling through remote backcountry. The short daylight hours mean that you'll spend some of the journey in the dark and, in doing so, have the chance to see the Aurora Borealis from the train.

After a night in Fairbanks in the auroral oval, you'll fly north to Bettles Lodge, located 35 miles above the Arctic Circle. Not only is it miles away from the nearest large settlement — the town of Bettles itself only has 14 year-round residents — but it has the clearest skies in Alaska and long winter nights.

Best location: Fairbanks or Bettles Lodge

Best Time: February and March

Unique Way to See the Aurora: From a remote lodge above the Arctic Circle

Seeing the Northern Lights is best in a remote location | Credit: Northern Lights Resort and Spa

Tips for Successful Northern Lights Viewing

At Canada By Design, your personal Travel Designer is an expert in all things Canada, and will be able to provide you with the best insider tips for getting a perfect view of the Northern Lights. However, we recommend:

• Book multiple nights to increase your chances of a sighting. Our tours always dedicate at least three nights to viewing.
• Consider the moon's phase during your trip. Even though it seems insignificant, a new moon will result in darker skies.
• Stay in locations far from the city lights. Talk to your Travel Designer about the best remote lodges for viewing the Northern Lights.
• Bring proper cold-weather gear, or check that your lodge provides it.
• Use a tripod and special camera settings for aurora photography. A long exposure and wide aperture will make the lights look brightest.

The Northern Lights in fall vs winter in Churchill | Credit: Churchill Wild / Terri Winchester, Travel Manitoba

When is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights?

The best time to see the Northern Lights depends on lots of things like time of year, time of night, and weather patterns (they are as famously fickle as they are beautiful), but is typically visible from late August to early April in Canada and Alaska.

While you can technically see the Northern Lights year-round, and especially anytime in the August-April window, they are most reliable in late fall, winter, and very early spring.

If you’re in the far north, you can’t see the Northern Lights in summer because of the midnight sun.

Northern Lights Watching by Season:

While we can’t conjure the elusive spectacle ourselves, we do know our best chance at seeing it: it’s got to be clear, it’s got to be night, and it’s got to be dark. Along with that, there are pros and cons to each season:

• Fall (Late September - October): Warmer nights and active skies but less snow and wintery daytime activities
• Winter (November - February): Longest nights but higher likelihood of overcast weather
• Spring (March - April): Strong auroras and milder weather, but better earlier in the season

While we can predict the times it's most likely, we can never guarantee a sighting.

Comparing winter in the Yukon, Churchill, and Alaska | Credit: Northern Lights Resort and Spa, Travel Manitoba, Chena Hot Springs

How to Choose Where to See the Northern Lights in North America

When booking with Canada By Design or our partners, you'll be paired with a Travel Designer who will walk you through choosing the best destination for you (or tailoring your trip to perfection, if you already know where you want to go).

But, to cover it briefly, we typically recommend:

• The Yukon for low light pollution, snowy mountain backdrops
• Manitoba for polar bear tours with the chance for Northern Lights
• Alaska for those who want to stay in the United States

Of course, the right destination depends on the traveler, so reach out, and we'll find the perfect fit for you.

The Canada By Design team exploring Canada in Winter | Credit: Canada By Design

Book Your Aurora Tour with Canada by Design

However you choose to see them, even a small glimpse of the sky awash with color is sure to be a memorable experience.

Our expertly crafted packages ensure you get the most out of your journey with comfort, safety, and unforgettable experiences. Chat with one of our Travel Designers to start planning your custom aurora experience.

(And if you're looking to see the Northern Lights in the United States, we can't recommend our partner brand Alaska By Design enough.)

Looking to learn more? Visit our Northern Lights Tours Canada page for inspiration and to browse our most popular packages.

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FAQs

Why should I take a Northern Lights vacation with a travel company?

Planning your Northern Lights vacation through a travel company not only means you get the best chance to see the Aurora Borealis, but also have expert advice on how to spend your days while you're there.

Bathing under the auroras' light is a bucket-list item for nearly every seasoned traveler. But witnessing the majesty of the Northern Lights is not simple — the best viewing locations are remote, and the timing finicky — but with the right preparation and planning, it will make for a truly unforgettable vacation. And with auroral activity still near its peak, it's a good time to take a trip to see the aurora.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, though seemingly magical, are caused by the sun's electrically charged particles entering the atmosphere on a solar wind. They are channeled towards the magnetic North Pole and, as they collide with the atmosphere's gases, they produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with waves of light. This happens year-round, but is typically most visible from late August to early April, and in the Auroral Oval — encompassing latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights?

Canada is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights on Earth. Here, northern locations like Churchill, Manitoba, and the Yukon are best, as the Northern Lights directly pass overhead.

Can you see the Northern Lights in Banff?

You can see the lights across Canada if you are lucky enough. Currently, solar activity is at its height, and chance sightings further south than typical are occurring. This means from the Far North to Banff National Park, you have a chance to see the Aurora Borealis this winter.

Where in the US can I See the Northern Lights?

If you want to stay in the US, the best place to see the Northern Lights is near Fairbanks. It is best to head to a remote location away from light pollution, so working with a tour company like our partner brand Alaska By Design can help you book a remote lodge best suited to Northern Lights viewing.

What month is best to see the northern lights?

The best months to see the Northern Lights are between September and March, but we particularly recommend later in the season, in February and March, when longer nights provide more hours of darkness and more time for aurora hunting.

An added bonus to going Northern Lights viewing later in the season is that exciting winter activities like dog sledding, polar bear viewing, and ice fishing are available. That way, you can spend your days enjoying unique activities and still dedicate the nights to aurora hunting.