The aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights, is such a magnificent phenomenon that it’s considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World. Recently, the Northern Lights were a hot news item because an unusually intense solar storm made them visible as far south as parts of Texas. Normally, though, you have to be much farther north to see them.
If you missed seeing them recently, here are some places you’ll likely see them again. Some are not easy to get to, while others are driveable. Also, the first three are in Alaska, but you may be surprised to learn where the others are!
1. Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
This national park is entirely north of the Arctic Circle, and no roads lead to it. You have to charter a flight to get there. These factors help create a true wilderness experience made even more amazing by the aurora.
2. Fairbanks, Alaska
Many people assume the Arctic is the best place to see the Northern Lights, but that actually isn’t true. Instead, it’s somewhere beneath what’s called the “Auroral Oval,” a zone where aurora activity is most concentrated. Fairbanks is directly beneath it, and its distance from the coast means little precipitation and humidity, so there are a lot of clear nights. These factors all make Fairbanks actually one of the best places in the world for viewing the aurora.
3. Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali is far from population centers, so there is almost no light pollution in the night sky. It also has a lot of wide-open terrain with nothing to obstruct your view upward.
4. Hurricane Ridge, Washington
Hurricane Ridge is in Olympic National Park, and in the summer, you can drive right up to it. The clearer, thinner air up there is good for aurora-watching.
5. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho
A lot of the Idaho panhandle is good for viewing the northern lights. What makes this great resort special is that when the aurora shows itself in the summer, a ski lift can take you to the top of the mountain for better viewing.
6. Glacier National Park, Montana
The night sky in Glacier is really dark, and in the summer, you can drive to high elevations for unobstructed views of the sky. In the winter, most roads are closed, but you can still drive to St. Mary Lake or Lake McDonald for open views.
7. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
A dry climate, northern location, and mostly rural landscape make North Dakota excellent for seeing the Northern Lights. Why this national park in particular, then? It’s really remote, really dark at night, and really beautiful during the day.
8. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Voyageurs is on the Canadian border and far from any big towns and cities, so clear nights have very dark skies. What adds to the experience is that almost all of the park is islands, and you can easily find solitude since you can only get there by chartering a boat.
9. Cook County, Minnesota
Rural, dark, and easy to get to, this county is good for viewing the Northern Lights. Try Grand Portage State Park or the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center in Grand Marais.
10. Door County, Wisconsin
A lack of big cities in this county means a lack of light pollution. There are also miles and miles of open shoreline along Lake Michigan.
11. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
If you like the sound of Voyageurs, you’ll love Isle Royale. It’s several miles out in Lake Superior, and you can only get there by boat or plane. There are no issues with light pollution or crowds here.
12. Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is lightly developed and far to the north, especially along the Lake Superior shore. There are many good places there for viewing the aurora; one of the most scenic for daytime enjoyment is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
13. Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Often named as having the darkest night skies on the Eastern Seaboard, this park is too far south to see the aurora that often, but when it does, it’s spectacular. Being atop a 2,500’-high mountain with an open top certainly doesn’t hurt.
14. Baxter State Park, Maine
Maine is the northernmost state in the Lower 48, so it makes sense that it has some of the best places for viewing the Northern Lights. One of them is Baxter State Park, home to Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and the northern end of the famed Appalachian Trail. It’s a strenuous hike up to the summit, but there are plenty of places lower down that have clear views of the night sky.
15. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
There’s very little development out here and thus very little light pollution. In fact, this place has been designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
The World’s Most Beautiful Mountain Ranges
For as long as humans have existed, mountains have inspired and daunted us. They’re the basis for countless legends, and although they can be deadly, have an irresistible pull on us, drawing millions of sightseers, hikers, climbers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts every year. Making a definitive list of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world is subjective, but the ones here are certainly strong contenders.
Lagoons at Ko Olina: Best Beach on Oahu For Families
Visiting the lagoons at Ko Olina was one of our favorite things about our vacation in Oahu. If you’re considering whether or not to spend time there, I’m here to give you the rundown on why I think you absolutely should!
Maybe.
Although we absolutely loved the lagoons at Ko Olina, there’s a specific reason why. Read on and I’ll explain why while answering all your questions.
Then you can decide if visiting the most popular lagoons in Oahu is what you want to do, too.
Robert Sihler is an educator, freelance writer, and rock climbing guide and instructor living with his family in Driftwood, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, streaming films, completing crossword puzzles, and rock climbing. When he goes on vacation, he likes to visit the mountains of the West and climb remote, obscure peaks that have seen few or no prior ascents.