The Northern Lights, properly called the aurora borealis, are among the most spectacular sights you can see on or from the Earth, and it’s no wonder they’re listed among the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
On extremely rare occasions, they’ve been seen as far south as Texas and New Mexico, but there’s a reason they’re called the Northern Lights: they’re more commonly seen in the more northern latitudes.
Although you may think of Alaska as the best place to see them, and it typically is, they’re not rare in the Lower 48.
If you enjoy the national park system, you might enjoy the following even more, for the chance to see the Aurora.
Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Image Credit: BlueBarronPhoto/Shutterstock.
In general, being above the Arctic Circle is a good bet for being able to see the Northern Lights. When you’re not stargazing on a clear night in this remote Arctic park that has no roads to it, you can visit its amazing sand dunes and witness one of the world’s largest caribou migrations.
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Image Credit:BlueBarronPhoto/Shutterstock.
Like Kobuk Valley, this park is north of the Arctic Circle and has no roads to it. Access to this wildest of wildernesses is by charter flight unless you feel like walking hundreds of miles from the nearest town or city.
Denali National Park, Alaska
Image Credit: Miroslav Srb/Shutterstock.
Denali, North America’s highest mountain, is also the world’s tallest from base to summit. It’s also one of the best places in the world for viewing wildlife. Among the stars here are brown bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, musk oxen, wolves, and eagles.
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Image Credit: EWY Media/Shutterstock.
A clear night here when the lights are “on” is unforgettable. While you have the wild colors and patterns overhead, below them are silhouetted volcanoes forever covered in snow and ice (unless they erupt).
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Image Credit: reisegraf.ch/Shutterstock.
A clear night here under the Aurora is similarly majestic to one in Lake Clark. Here, though, imagine that grand cosmic display over a landscape of glaciers and sea. Even better, you can drive to this park, whereas you can’t for Lake Clark.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Image Credit: PNW Park Ranger/Shutterstock.
Virtually no light position exists out among these rugged mountains, so clear night skies are always spectacular here. Now add the aurora borealis and you’ll have a sight you’ll never forget.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Image Credit: Lyonstock/Shutterstock.
Another place with very little light pollution, Glacier has spectacular night skies. Despite how incredible the daytime scenery is, make sure you don’t miss the heavenly display at night, especially when the Northern Lights are putting on a show.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Image Credit:Zack Frank/Shutterstock.
This national park honoring the legacy of our first conservationist president is a realm of rugged landscapes and free-ranging wildlife. Light pollution is pretty much nonexistent, so even the Aurora isn’t on display, which it usually isn’t, you can still get a thrill from looking up at night.
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Image Credit: danesprintshop/Shutterstock.
Since you can only get there by boat or small plane, Isle Royale out in Lake Michigan feels far away from anywhere. The island has a resident wolf population that originally established itself many decades ago when a pack followed moose across a frozen Lake Superior to Isle Royale. They’re rarely seen by people, but you might get lucky!
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Image Credit: F. Setiawan/Shutterstock.
Named for its colorful cliffs along the shore of Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks is heavily forested inland and thus not the best for watching the night sky. However, the sections along the greatest of the Great Lakes have unobstructed views up into the sky and out across the waters.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Image Credit: Gottography/Shutterstock.
Imagine the Northern Lights pulsating over Lake Superior. Now imagine being out on the waters on a sea kayak and watching the show with no one else around. You can do that at this national lakeshore.
Maine Woods National Monument, Maine
Image Credit: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.
Remote and untrammeled, the Maine Woods are a delightful bastion of sylvan beauty. The trees themselves obstruct the skies a good deal, but there are enough lakes out here that you can find open views of the clear, unpolluted skies out here.
Read More:
Image Credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.
Want some more great travel content?
Check this out: The 15 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the U.S. You Need to See at Least Once in Your Life
and this too! 14 Great Sights from the Road in the American Desert Southwest
Leave a Reply