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The majority of Americans believe that in order to see the Northern Lights’ ethereal dance, they must travel by plane to Iceland, Norway, or some isolated Arctic outpost. The secret is that you can visit this must-see destination without a passport. If you know where (and when) to look, you can see the aurora borealis right here in the United States.
The aurora is a natural phenomenon that creates streaks of green, pink, and violet light in the sky when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field. Some U.S. locations offer conditions so ideal that you might forget you’re not in the Arctic Circle, even though sightings depend on factors like solar activity, cloud cover, and light pollution.
So grab your thermos of cocoa and bundle up — here are 10 underrated places in America to catch nature’s most dazzling light show.
1. Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Idaho
The Panhandle National Forest is an unspoiled wilderness of lakes, pines, and mountain ridges nestled in Idaho’s northernmost region. Because of its remote location, there is little light pollution, making it an ideal place to see auroras. Watch the colors change over Lake Pend Oreille for a genuinely enchanted moment; the beauty is doubled by the reflections.
2. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
This Maine treasure offers some of the clearest skies east of the Mississippi and was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020. When solar activity peaks, the aurora displays a spectacular show over Mount Katahdin, and the monument’s untamed landscape and sparse development make it the ideal getaway spot for stargazers.
3. Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory, New York
The Adirondack Sky Center in Tupper Lake offers a front-row seat to the stars and is only a five-hour drive from New York City. Because of its mountain elevation and roll-off roof observatory, there is less light, less haze, and more color. Lucky tourists can see the northern lights dancing over the Adirondack peaks on strong geomagnetic nights.
4. Newport State Park, Wisconsin
Newport State Park, Wisconsin’s first and only Dark Sky Park, is situated on the Door Peninsula of Lake Michigan. The serene surface of the lake often reflects the dazzling green streaks that greet campers as they awaken. It’s serene, unspoiled, and unadulterated Midwest magic.
5. Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, Maine
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, formerly a military installation, has exchanged radar towers for aurora observers. This area is perfect for seeing wildlife, such as owls and moose, as well as the Northern Lights because the skies are among the darkest in New England.
6. Cook County, Minnesota
Cook County, located in Minnesota’s arrowhead region, is a peaceful sanctuary for aurora hunters. Grand Marais, where the lights frequently glimmer over Lake Superior, and the Gunflint Trail are popular destinations for locals. The ideal North Woods evening is complete with a roaring campfire.
7. Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Astronomers adore Cherry Springs, one of the nation’s few certified International Dark Sky Parks. This secluded area of forest provides expansive views of the Milky Way, as well as a vibrant aurora curtain that sweeps across the northern horizon on the right night.
8. Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Oregon
Aurora hunters need the wild, windswept, and blissfully desolate Oregon Outback. Its high desert terrain, which makes it one of the darkest locations in the lower 48, makes it the perfect place to witness the night sky in all its splendor. It’s understandable why campers here frequently refer to the experience as “otherworldly.”
9. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Voyageurs is a lake and island paradise that straddles the Canadian border. Because of its seclusion, the skies are immaculate, and the park’s mirror-like waters reflect the Northern Lights flawlessly when they appear. It’s no surprise that this park is a photographer’s paradise and a popular destination for International Dark Sky.
10. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
Already, Craters of the Moon seems like a different planet with its striking cinder cones and lava fields. Its dark volcanic landscape is made surreal by the addition of the Northern Lights. One of Idaho’s best-kept secrets for aurora viewing, it has been a designated Dark Sky Park since 2017.
To see the Northern Lights, you don’t need to brave the Arctic cold or cross the Atlantic. America’s lesser-known dark-sky locations, which range from the forests of Maine to the deserts of Oregon, provide front-row seats to one of nature’s most captivating performances.
Because your own backyard might just light up the night, the next time the solar forecast looks promising, forego the international flight.
