6 Best Places to See the NORTHERN LIGHTS in CANADA

Looking for gorgeous views of the Northern Lights? We share the 6 best places to see the Northern Lights in Canada.

Why visit the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, also known as the ‘Aurora Borealis,’ are beautiful natural phenomena that many of us want to witness at least once in our lives. 

Many people wonder if you can see the Northern Lights in Canada or is it just Iceland. It may surprise you to learn that Canada is one of the greatest places to observe them. The Northern Lights are a bit difficult to see, which just adds to their enchantment and beauty. Having said that, your odds of seeing them are excellent, particularly if you’re somewhere in the North near the magnetic pole. 

The result creates fanciful colors, and the lights take on a variety of shapes, from arcs and flowing curtains to hazy flecks and opaque clouds. It is an eerie green at times, or sparkling purples, pinks, and yellows at other times. 

Green is the most prevalent color, whereas red is unusual. The colors crisscross and swirl briskly — some even call it a “dance” — over the dark sky at night.

Intrigued? Then why not plan a trip to see the Northern Lights in Canada? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about these mysterious strobing lights and where you may view them. 

Best time to see the Northern Lights in Canada

December to March is the best time to visit Canada to see the Northern Lights; with the days offering the longest hours of darkness. The time of night when the light appears varies depending on where you are, but it is usually between 10 pm and 2 am. 

How to get a Canada eTA

To fly to or pass through any Canadian airport, most visitors require a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). 

eTA to Canada is a system that allows passengers to pre-screen themselves before flying for tourist, business, or transit purposes. Acquiring an eTA is unquestionably less difficult and less costly than obtaining a regular visa, and the application is a pretty straightforward online process. 

You can now make your Canadian visa application online using any working device within minutes from home! The approved document will be delivered to you via email in a maximum of 72 hours (3 business days).

It is recommended to obtain an eTA before booking a ticket to Canada. In the long run, eTA is a safe and strongly recommended method of obtaining your travel authorization.

The Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Canada

As of July 2021, Canada has eased its border measures for those wanting to enter the country due to the successes of the vaccine rollout, so now all you need is an eTA.

Nothing can stop you from experiencing this stunning display of lights from some of Canada’s most exotic locations after you’ve passed this stage, some of which include:

1. Yellowknife

The city of Yellowknife is one of the prime places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, with 80-90 percent of all habitable territory situated beneath the Aurora Oval, the region with the highest geomagnetic action generating the world’s brightest and most prolific spectacles of the Northern Lights. 

In fact, tourists on the beaches of Great Slave Lake have a 95% possibility of seeing the lights. 

Aurora Village, an aboriginal-owned attraction, also provides made-to-order, heated patio chairs that spin 360 degrees to capture every possible angle of the magnificent Northern Lights. 

To get the most out of your trip, travel in a bush aircraft to Blachford Lake Lodge, a fly-in eco-lodge offering views from a hot tub beneath the stars and other amenities.

2. Whitehorse, Yukon

One of the finest sites to enjoy the wonder that is the Northern Lights is Whitehorse, Yukon, where you can capture the essence of the sky’s amazing light show with thrilling winter sports like dog sledding, snowmobiling on Lake Laberge, or simply visiting the public baths at the Takhini Hot Springs. 

The Northern Lights are a common sight for those who are fortunate enough to explore Whitehorse, the Yukon’s capital, throughout autumn and springtime. 

Northern Lights excursions take tourists out from the city to see the spectacular displays where there is no cloud cover. 

Our favorite way to see this incredible light display is from an exclusive watching location – a cozy, heated cabin reminiscent of those used during the Gold Rush era, loaded with food and hot beverages.

3. Churchill, Manitoba

This location, known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World,’ is both solitary and breathtakingly beautiful. The city is located in the auroral region, and the Aurora Borealis may be seen flickering in the sky around 300 nights annually. 

Churchill provides an unmatched Arctic atmosphere, from polar bears to the spectacular Northern Lights. There’s a little bit of everything here, including amazing Aurora projections. 

The Aurora Borealis is best seen when the night sky is at its darkest, often between January and March. In the winter, you can enjoy nature’s finest display from the luxury of a Plexiglas Aurora Dome, which has been particularly designed to optimize panoramas of the cosmos.

4. Edmonton, Alberta

Although it is typically preferable to see the aurora borealis away from the big lights of a metropolis, citizens of Alberta’s capital see their fair share of the Northern Lights from time to time. There is even a specialized site known as Aurora Watch that forecasts aurora occurrence in the Edmonton area. 

On clear evenings, Edmontonians have caught spectacular shows whirling over the city’s buildings. If you hire a car in Canada, there are many dark skies around Edmonton where you may view the aurora borealis in all their grandeur.

We suggest going out of the city to the calm, peaceful countryside to have the best possible chance of spotting them.

5. Battle Harbor, Labrador 

Exquisite ancient buildings in a setting of the wild environment make Battle Harbor one of North America’s greatest soothing, off-the-grid getaways. This is a National Historic Site enveloped by fjords and ice caps that is accessible exclusively from June to September. 

There are evening excursions available for tourists to capture the Northern Lights with the lovely town in the background. Battle Harbor is an excellent site for observing the Northern Lights due to the absence of light pollution and its remote nature. 

6. Nunavik, Quebec

Nunavik Parks, nestled in Quebec’s Arctic area and not too far from Torngat Mountains National Park, is another secluded and daring possibility for watching the Aurora Borealis.

Since it is lightly inhabited and is within the Auroral Oval, it is an ideal location for creating your own Northern Lights journey. 

Visits to Kuujjuaq, the biggest town; vistas from the boat to the Bay of Hudson or panoramas from within your own igloo can be your new favorite activities. 

When it comes to seeing the Northern Lights, you truly can’t go wrong in Canada. It’s a large nation with plenty of places to stop, look up, and marvel at the majesty of the heavens.

What’s your favourite spot to see the Northern Lights from? Let us know!