Northern Lights in Glacier National Park, Montana 2024-2025

The northern lights above Glacier National Park are quite rare events, but when the skies here get illuminated by a celestial light show, it's truly memorable. Anyone who has a chance to relish aurora borealis in Glacier gets instantly enthralled. Being an eyewitness to such a display of exceptional beauty isn't something that can be soon forgotten.

Best Time to View the Northern Lights

In Glacier National Park, you can witness the polar lights year-round, but the longer nights of late fall, winter, and early spring provide optimal viewing opportunities. So, the best time to watch Northern Lights here is from November to March. The peak times for observing the aurora borealis are typically from about an hour before midnight to an hour after. Ideal conditions include cloudless and dark nights.

Given Glacier's unpredictable weather, prepare for varying conditions and possibly cold and windy days, especially at higher elevations like Logan Pass. Check the weather conditions using today's forecast from the National Weather Service and consult the aurora forecast for the best chances of catching the light show.

Seasonal Information

The park remains open throughout the year, but conditions and accessible areas change significantly with the seasons. Most businesses and services operate only during Glacier's summer season, typically from late May through September. In winter, with limited services, visitors must plan ahead and be entirely self-sufficient.

Lake McDonald

Located just a couple of miles from the west entrance to Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald is a glacier-carved lake and a perfect site for viewing the Northern Lights. Being 10 mi (16 km) long and surrounded by high peaks, this lake is an awe-inspiring spot to watch the Northern Lights and their dancing reflections on the water. The Lake McDonald Lodge, nestled along the lake shore, was constructed between 1913 and 1914 to resemble a rustic hunting lodge with architecture influenced by Swiss design. This charming and welcoming building offers a comfortable stay for overnight guests.

Bowman and Kintla Lakes

There is no better place to see the Northern Lights than the northern part of the state. Bowman and Kintla lakes offer an off-the-beaten-path destination for marveling at the dancing lights display. Both lakes are situated near the Polebridge community, deep in the North Fork region of Flathead County. Reaching the lakes requires navigating unpaved park roads. Without cell phone signals, visitors must be self-reliant and ready to experience the area without modern amenities. Navigating the North Fork requires careful driving; a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended, along with the ability to change a tire, as flat tires are a common issue. Vehicles longer than 21 feet and trailers are prohibited on North Fork roads, with the exception of private horse trailers accessing the Bowman horse corral.

Where to Stay

If you plan to spend some time in Glacier National Park, a piece of good advice would be to stay at Apgar Campground, the largest campground in this area, accommodating RV and tent campers. As for Bowman and Kintla Lakes, this area provides beautiful backcountry camping to observe aurora borealis from your tent.