Best Places To See The Aurora Borealis

Canada is home to approximately 80 to 90% of all accessible land situated directly under the Aurora Oval, these giant rings forming above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole. As a result, Canada is one of the best places on Earth to observe this unique phenomenon. But where exactly in Canada, you ask?

While there are a few different places where you can see the aurora borealis in Canada, Yellowknife, a small town located in the Northwest Territories, is one of the most wonderful areas in the world to enjoy the northern light spectacle. And as a matter of fact, the town has even been nicknamed the ‘’Aurora Capital of North America’’. There, every night during the winter season, the sky puts on an incredible and marvelous light show displaying an array of colors from pale green and pink to shades of red, blue, and violet.

When to Visit:

The area is blessed with long and clear winter nights, so the best time for visitors to catch a glimpse of this unique light display is between mid-November and the beginning of April.

Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:

The main areas to observe this natural phenomenon unfold at night include:

• Somba K’e Park
• Prosperous Lake
• The Ramparts
• Parker Park
• Great Slave Lake
• Aurora Village

If you’re planning a trip there to snap awesome pictures of the northern lights, make sure to check the Aurora forecast here.

Fairbanks is another ideal spot to watch the northern lights dance in the sky during clear and dark nights. Indeed, Fairbanks in Alaska is ideally located at a high latitude, close to the Arctic circle, and under the aurora oval.

Once in Fairbanks, aurora seekers will enjoy one of the most wonderful spectacles that nature has to offer as the sky takes on green, teal, white, and even magenta hues during intense auroras.

When to Visit:

The aurora season in Fairbanks is pretty long and stretches from the 21st of August to the 21st of April. While clear skies and dark nights are a prerequisite, it’s estimated visitors can observe the northern lights four nights out of five on average during this period.

Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:

Due to the high aurora activity in the area, there are a lot of spots from which you can enjoy the show, and some of the best ones for photographers include:

• Creamer’s Field
• The Chena Lake Recreation Area
• Murphy Dome
• Cleary Summit
• Haystack Mountain

You’ll find more information about Fairbanks here.

No article about the best spots to visit to experience the mesmerizing northern lights would be complete without mentioning Reykjavík in Iceland! Serious contestant for the ‘’Northern Lights Capital of the World’’ award, Reykjavík is indeed one of the best places on Earth to watch the aurora borealis.

Indeed, the city experiences twenty hours of darkness at the winter equinox, which provides plenty of opportunities to capture the light show.

When to Visit:

In order to marvel at the northern lights in Iceland, you’re best to visit between September and April, when the nights are the darkest.

Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:

While you can see the northern lights from downtown Reykjavík during aurora season, going outside the city to escape the light pollution will definitely allow you to experience more vibrant colors.

Some of the best areas to go to include:

• Grótta island
• Kirkjufell
• Lake Kleifarvatn
• Þrengslin
• Garður

You can check the aurora forecast for Reykjavic here.

We hope this article has provided you with some great inspiration for your next photography adventure. Also take a look at other locations with winter landscapes too beautiful to miss. 

Whether you’re a serious photographer passionate about striking landscapes or a beginner who just started photography as a hobby, these spots will provide you with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to capture the aurora borealis.

Also, to help you make the most of your trip, we’ve published a guide on how to photograph the aurora borealis or northern lights. Don’t hesitate to check it out here.