Watch The Northern Lights In Canada

You can see the Northern Lights in Canada and the good news is that you can see them year-round, depending on the area. Apply for a canada working holiday visa today to experience this bucketlist adventure.

In this article, I’ll help you find the best time and places to see the Northern Lights in Canada:

BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN CANADA

The best months to see the Aurora Borealis in Canada are from October to March (most hours of darkness). However, if you want to see the Northern Lights in Canada in August or another summer month, days with high solar activity in the southern provinces will give you the best chance to see Aurora.

If you are flexible with your dates, I’d recommend either late September or March to plan your Canadian Aurora trip since the solar activity that causes the Northern Lights is higher during that period closer to the fall and spring equinox.

However, as we travel further north, there will be fewer hours of darkness during the summer months, so always consider the hours of light when planning your trip to see the Northern Lights in Canada.

lso, I strongly recommend setting an app alarm system to know when to see the Northern Lights so you don’t miss any show. (You can find some Northern Lights forecast tips here).

SUMMING UP, THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE AURORA BOREALIS IN CANADA:

September and October: Statistically, there is high solar activity during these months and it is easier to see auroras in Canada even though the days are not as long as in winter.

November, December, January, and February: The days are very short and the nights are very dark, so it is easy to see the northern lights in the North when the skies are clear.

March and April: The spring equinox is also a very good time to enjoy a great display of Northern Lights in Canada.

WHERE TO SEE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN CANADA

The best places to see the Aurora Borealis in Canada are in the northern provinces from the early fall to the early spring when there are more hours of darkness.

IN SHORT, THESE ARE THE 7 BEST PLACES TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN CANADA:

1. Whitehorse – Yukon: One of the most popular places to take an Aurora Tour in Canada.
2. Yellowknife – Northwest Territories: The best place to see Northern Lights in Canada in winter.
3. Churchill – Manitoba: Besides Northern Lights, it is one of the best places to see Polar Bears in November.
4. Banff & Jasper – Alberta: These are the best locations to see the Aurora in Canada during the summer.
5. Tuktoyaktuk – Northwest Territories: It is not so popular but the chance to see Northern Lights here is high.
6. Iqaluit – Nunavut: One of the remotest places to see Northern Lights in Canada.
7. Kuujjuaq – Quebec: Although difficult, this is the best place to see Northern Lights in Quebec.

And these are the best places to see northern lights in Canada:

1. WHITEHORSE (YUKON)

Yukon is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the World, following its latitude and location. In Whitehorse, the “Aurora capital” in Yukon, we can even find some of the best Northern Lights hotels in Canada. One of these hotels is the Northern Lights Resort & Spa where you can book Chalets with large glass windows for viewing the Aurora Borealis under a warm interior.

2. YELLOWKNIFE (NORTHWEST TERRITORIES)

Another perfect place to see Northern Lights in Canada is the Northwest Territories, where its capital, Yellowknife, is one of the most famous locations to enjoy this phenomenon. There are also numerous hotels and activity centers related to the Northern Lights here.

3. CHURCHILL MANITOBA

Also located at a high latitude, the city of Churchill in Northern Manitoba is another Northern Lights destination. We can find companies specializing in Northern Lights Tours here.

In addition to Northern Lights, we can also try a polar bear-watching excursion in Churchill between October and November, combining two exciting activities in one trip.

4. BANFF & JASPER (THE CANADIAN ROCKIES)

At lower latitudes, the best place to see the Northern Lights in Canada are the British Columbia/Alberta provinces and the Canadian Rockies in general. Within the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park would be the best places.

This is the first place where I saw the Northern Lights in Canada, and it’ll always be special for me.

To estimate your chances to see Northern Lights in other places further south, you should always consider the time of year and latitude:

If you want to see Northern Lights in a more photogenic environment, I would personally opt for the Canadian Rockies.

Here, the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis are as high as in other territories at similar latitudes, such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, or Quebec. However, the incredible Canadian Rockies landscapes offer the perfect scenery to enjoy a great Aurora show.

5. IQALUIT (NUNAVUT)

In the remote and arctic Nunavut Territory, we can also see the aurora in its capital, Iqaluit, on the Baffin Island. This is perhaps one of the coldest and most remote and uninhabited places to experience the Northern Lights.

6. KUUJJUAQ (QUEBEC)

To maximize the possibilities of seeing the Northern Lights in Quebec, you will have to head to the northern parts of this province, like Kuujjuaq for instance. However, this is a very remote area with difficult access and not many amenities.

Pay attention to darkness as a factor for choosing your Northern Lights destination in Canada. Stay away from major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, where light pollution will vanish the Aurora Borealis.

The same goes for clouds – if the sky is covered, you will miss the show. Use a weather forecast system to search for the clearest possible skies. For Canada, you can use this website to check the cloud forecast for the next 48 hours on an interactive map.

Apply For a Working Holiday Visa for Canada today!!!