Voyageurs National Park guide · 2 min read
Northern Lights Over a Remote Dark Sky Park
Watching the northern lights from Voyageurs National Park comes down to a few checks before you head out.
Start with an aurora forecast to see whether the aurora is active, then look at the weather, since clouds will hide the display. Darkness matters just as much. A bright moon and nearby electric lights can both drown out the aurora, so choose a spot far from artificial light, and aim for a night with a new moon or one after the moon has set.
Voyageurs holds International Dark Sky Park status, granted for the darkness of its skies and the park's work to keep light pollution down. On a clear night, planets, shooting stars and satellites crossing low in the sky are all visible. The best nights come when the moon has set and the sky is clear, and when conditions are right, the aurora may appear too.
Several spots are especially good for looking up. Kettle Falls Dam, the Voyageurs Forest Overlook parking area and Beaver Pond Overlook all stand out as strong places to look skyward. Two spots carry an official dark sky designation: the upper parking lot at Rainy Lake Visitor Center and the Meadwood Road Day Use Area along Ash River Visitor Center Road. For the aurora, you might also head to a boat launch near one of three visitor centers: Ash River, Kabetogama Lake or Rainy Lake.
Campsites offer another option. Almost any campsite in the park can work, as long as it has an open view of the northern horizon. Shorelines, trail clearings, backcountry openings and campsite docks can also offer a broad view of the sky, and they tend to be best when no lights are nearby. Plan to be out for hours, since the aurora can appear at any hour, and bring what you need to stay comfortable in the dark.
