These Are The Best Cities For Seeing The Northern Lights In Each Province Of Canada
Have you always wanted to see the northern lights in Canada? While many know that northern regions of the country offer most of the best northern lights viewing opportunities, it doesn't mean you can't see the aurora borealis elsewhere in Canada.
A new study has ranked the best Canadian cities in each province where you can increase your chances of seeing the northern lights — and with 2024-2025 set to have some of the strongest levels of solar activity in years, now is a great time to look for auroras.
AceOdds, a bet calculator service, studied levels of light pollution, average hours of clear skies and distance to the North Pole in several Canadian cities with a population of more than 50,000 people to compile a list of those with the best chance of seeing the northern lights.
Where to see the northern lights in Canada
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Yellowknife was found to be the best city in Canada for seeing the northern lights, offering clear skies and proximity to the North Pole.
According to Canadian Geographic, the northern lights are visible up to 240 nights per year in the Northwest Territories capital.
The second best city for seeing the northern lights, however, isn't in Canada's territories — Cold Lake, Alberta, was found to offer some of the best chances of seeing auroras in Canada, thanks to the city's low light pollution and hours of clear skies.
Located about 3 hours from Edmonton, the city is home to Cold Lake Provincial Park, where many have shared snaps online of the northern lights seen dancing over the water.
Fort McMurray, Alberta, follows in third place, thanks to its clear skies and its location as the third-closest city to the North Pole in the ranking.
The city is situated under the southern edge of the auroral oval in northern Alberta, according to Destination Canada, and is one of the world's "most outstanding" spots for viewing the northern lights.
For where to see the lights, the Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village (an all-new Indigenous tourism experience in the remote Birch Mountains region of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo) allows viewers to get closer than ever to the northern lights while sleeping in a heated teepee or trapper’s tent.
Other top Canadian cities for seeing the northern lights include Kenora, Ontario, which was found to be the fourth best city for opportunities to view auroras, thanks to its many hours of clear skies, and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a city just an hour and a half from Saskatoon, where the nearby Prince Albert National Park is said to be one of the best places to catch auroras, and even offers clear views of the Milky Way galaxy on clear nights, according to Parks Canada.
The best cities in each province for seeing the northern lights
Here are the cities in each province of Canada with the highest chances of seeing the aurora borealis, according to the ranking:
- Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
- Cold Lake, Alberta
- Whitehorse, Yukon
- Thompson, Manitoba
- Kenora, Ontario
- Yorkton, Saskatchewan
- Baie-Comeau, Quebec
- Fort St. John, British Columbia
- Cranbrook, British Columbia
- Bathurst, New Brunswick
- Summerside, Prince Edward Island
- Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Kentville, Nova Scotia
What is the best time to see the northern lights?
Your best chances of seeing the northern lights will be after a solar storm. The resulting increase in geomagnetic activity means the aurora will be brighter and further from the Earth's poles, where it normally is found.
You can check the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aurora Dashboard for a prediction of aurora visibility over the coming nights in Canada.
The best seasons for aurora watching are around the spring and fall equinoxes, according to the NOAA.
As for timing, the best aurora viewing is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time). Having a good vantage point, with wide open, dark skies away from city light pollution, will also increase your chances of seeing the northern lights.
Good luck!
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
