Best Place to See Northern Lights

Churchill, Manitoba, is one of the best places in Canada to see the Northern Lights. These phosphorescent green, yellow and pink lights sometimes appear in northern skies at night. For centuries, travellers have been entranced by this phenomenon. There are several places in Canada where you can see the Northern Lights, and winter, November to March, offers the best viewing.  

The team at Canadian Train Vacations can help plan your Aurora Borealis vacation. Travel to Manitoba, the Yukon, or the Canadian Rockies for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Spend the daylight hours doing exciting winter activities, like dogsledding or snowshoeing. In the evening, head to remote locations for guided lights viewing. All our Canadian Northern Lights tour packages are customizable to your interests. We take care of your hotels, transportation, and activities. 

Northern Lights of Churchill 

Journey to Churchill, Manitoba—one of the top three places in the world to see the Northern Lights. During the dark, cold Arctic winter, cross the frozen Churchill River in a Tundra Buggy and watch the mystical Aurora in comfort. This Northern Lights trip features a culinary adventure under the stars, interpretive tours and guided winter activities.

Availability: February

Places Visited: Winnipeg and Churchill

Accommodation Style: Hotels

Activity Level: Easy  

Northern Lights of the Yukon 

This winter adventure in Whitehorse, Yukon, has four nights of Northern Lights viewing. The area’s low precipitation levels mean it is one of the best places to view Canada Northern Lights. Enjoy a range of guided activities like dogsledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing or snowmobiling. 

Availability: December to March

Places Visited: Vancouver and Whitehorse

Accommodation Style: Hotels

Activity Level: Easy 

Add a Northern Lights Excursion to These Trips 

Why not add a Northern Lights tour Canada to a winter train trip? The Yukon is just a couple of hours north of Vancouver or Calgary and is prime Northern Lights viewing territory. Some Canadian train trip itineraries that include Vancouver and/or the Canadian Rockies are: 

Rockies Rail Winter Wonderland

Trans Canada by Rail in Winter

Canadian Cross Country Journey in Winter

Where to see the Northern Lights in Canada?

Canada has several top destinations for Northern Lights viewing. You could catch the lights in any Canadian province, but your chances increase when you head north. The below list features our favourite places in Canada for seeing the Aurora. Much of Canada’s north can be hard to access, so we’ve only listed the easiest places to reach.

The best time to see Northern Lights in Canada depends on the location. The Northern Lights forecast is a great tool that you can use to track the intensity of the Aurora over your travel days. 

1. Churchill, Manitoba 

Churchill is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Canada. The town sits under the auroral oval, and the Northern lights are visible up to 300 nights annually. Long nights and cold temperatures offer the best experience for witnessing auroral activity, so we recommend visiting during January, February or March.

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill is also a hotspot for polar bear viewing in the fall and beluga whale viewing in the summer. You may see the lights during these seasons, too. 

Best time to go: January, February, and March 

Number of nights visible: up to 300 nights per year 

2. Yukon

The Yukon is one of Canada’s northern territories and a top destination for Northern Lights viewing. The beginning of winter provides the highest probability of a Northern Lights show, though it is possible to spot the lights anytime from August to April. Like Churchill, visiting in winter is best as the nights are long and dark with clear skies. The lights appear brighter when there is a dark sky.  

In the summer, the Northern Lights are not visible in the Yukon because of the midnight sun. 

Best time to go: between November and March 

Number of nights visible: up to 240 nights per year 

Also read: Northern Tales in Yukon

3. Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are famous for dramatic mountain peaks and turquoise lakes, but did you know that you can see the Northern Lights here, too? Jasper and Banff national parks are two of Canada's best locations for Northern Lights viewing. 

Jasper is the world's second-largest Dark Sky Preserve. Dark Sky Preserves are areas with low light pollution. So, Jasper is the perfect place to stargaze and watch the Northern Lights. You can visit Jasper during the Dark Sky Festival in October for an even more magical experience.

Best time to go: between October and April 

Number of nights visible: up to 300 nights per year, depending on light pollution 

Explore: Canadian Rockies Train Trip

4. Newfoundland and Labrador

If you are on the East Coast of Canada, head to Newfoundland and Labrador to see the Northern Lights. Your best bet for viewing the Aurora in this province is to find a remote spot away from light pollution. There are some great viewing spots near the coast, in the national parks, and up north. The province has large areas of untouched wilderness, providing fantastic conditions for Northern lights viewing. 

Best time to go: September to October and March to April 

Number of nights visible: up to 60 nights per year 

5. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories is beneath the auroral oval, making it one of the best places for a Northern Lights vacation. The lights are visible up to 240 nights per year, with fall and winter being the main viewing seasons. Cold temperatures and clear, dark skies create the ideal canvas for the bright colours of the Canadian Aurora Borealis. 

Best time to go: between November and April 

Number of nights visible: up to 240 nights per year 

Also read: How to Capture Real Colours of Northern Lights

Why Are the Northern Lights in Canada so Special?

Besides looking beautiful and being on many travelers’ wish lists, the Northern Lights are fascinating from a scientific point of view and have lots of cultural significance.

The lights are surrounded in many myths and legends across the world. For example, in Finnish folklore many people say the lights are created by the Arctic fox running through the snow. The country’s Sami people, however, believe the lights are the souls of the dead. In old Norse Viking legends, the lights were reflections bouncing off warriors’ armor.

In Canada, some Indigenous Peoples see the lights as sacred, regarding them as ancestral spirits dancing in the sky for the Great Spirit. For other groups, the lights are sky people playing ball, while others believe they are the spirits of those who passed in a difficult way. Many people speak hearing the lights, with crackling, sizzling, and hissing sounds. Some legends warn against attracting the attention of the lights because they can draw close and carry you away. 

Canadian Insider Tips to Experience Aurora Borealis 

• The best way to see the Northern Lights is on a guided tour. A guide that knows the local area will check the Aurora forecast and take you to unique viewing locations.  
• Be prepared to stay up late because the best time to view the Northern Lights is between 10pm and 2am, often around midnight. We suggest having a nap in the afternoon to compensate for these late nights! 
• Tour guides on a Canada Northern Lights tour will take you to remote viewing locations that might be hard to reach on your own. Be ready to travel and wrap up warm.
• An advantage of joining a tour is that most providers offer winter gear rentals (if you do not own appropriate attire for the chilly Canadian temperatures). 

More information on Northern Lights 2023 trips

Have questions about seeing the Northern lights in Canada and don’t see the answer here? Contact one of our travel experts to learn more about Northern lights vacation packages Canada. 

Read: How to Plan a Trip to See Northern Lights