THE BEST TIME AND PLACE TO SEE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE YUKON

One of the many incentives that lead people to the Yukon is the opportunity to view the northern lights! Northern lights, also referred to as aurora, occur when gaseous particles from the sun enter the earth’s atmosphere and collide. The nature of the breathtaking colors that then develop are dependant on the type of gasses that collide. The recognizable yellowish-green lights are formed as a result of oxygen molecules colliding 60 miles above the earth and the purplish-blue lights are formed by nitrogen molecules following the same process.

Northern lights can be viewed in the Yukon from mid-August up until mid-April. Although the lights are best seen in the first few weeks of winter, we recommend enjoying them in September when the temperature has not yet dipped below 0 allowing for a more comfortable outdoor viewing party. That being said, get ready for a late night as the best time to see the lights is between 10 pm and 3 am!

Although there are many spots to view the show, we recommend driving outside city limits to minimize the amount of light pollution providing a clear canvas for the lights to dance on.

One of our top spots to view the lights is at the Midnight Dome in Dawson City! This viewpoint gives you an all-access pass to see the beautiful city of Dawson with the light display overhead.

To stay up to date on when the next viewing will be check out the aurora borealis forecast site!

Let us know in the comments below what your favorite spot becomes to catch this wonder in the sky!