Photo: cboswell/DepositPhotos
The United States has already enjoyed several episodes of nature’s best light show in 2023, and the viewing opportunities are about to explode as we approach another solar maximum period in 2025, leaving many wondering where to see the northern lights.
Photo: Vincent Guth
April, October, and November are the most popular months for northern lights activity across North America. It’s more common to see the northern lights in winter as the night skies are darker longer.
Photo: Nicolas Leclercq
The U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is the best place to find an updated northern lights forecast as they have both a three-day forecast and show geomagnetic activity in the last 30 minutes for current northern lights possibilities.
Photo: Matt Houghton
Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. Locations: • Fairbank • Anchorage • Denali National Park • Nome • Talkeetna • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Photo: Federico Dio
Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is another place with great potential for seeing northern lights. Locations: • Voyageurs National Park • Lake of the Wood • Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderne • Gunflint Trail • Hallock
Photo: Jonatan Pie
Michigan’s shorelines are a great place to see the aurora borealis. • Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City • Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park • Keweenaw Peninsula • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore • Port Crescent State Park • Isle Royale National Park
Photo: Luke Tanis
On the East Coast, Maine is the ideal place to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. • Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge • Moosehead Lake • Baxter State Park • Acadia National Park • Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Photo: Chris Henry
• Glacier National Park, Montana • Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota • Idaho Panhandle National Forest • Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania • Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Photo: Lightscape
To see the northern lights, you should bring warm clothing, including a hat, gloves, boots, and a camera with a tripod to capture the aurora. It’s also a good idea to bring snacks, a bottle of water, and a red light flashlight to preserve your night vision.
Photo: Jonatan Pie
Photo: Jonatan Pie