Northern Lights in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories 2024-2025

Yellowknife is the capital of the Canadian Northwest Territories, located on the Northern shore of Great Slave Lake. It lies just 512 km (318 mi) from the Arctic Circle and enjoys clear weather during most of the winter. Its dark. long and crisp winter nights are perfect for viewing beautiful northern lights.

The city of Yellowknife is equipped with special Northern Lighthouses. These are small lighthouses scattered throughout the city, alerting residents to go out and marvel at the skies colored with dancing lights.

What is the best month to see Northern Lights in Yellowknife

Clear skies and low light make the Northern Lights visible in Yellowknife up to 240 nights a year. As a result, Yellowknife is one of the best places in North America to enjoy the Northern Lights. Since the season runs from mid-November to early April, there is also a good chance of seeing the lights in the late summer and early autumn.

Northern Lights Forecast

Considering that the Northern Lights are a fickle phenomenon and depend on many conditions, you should familiarize yourself with the aurora forecast before planning your trip. This will allow you to design your time as best as possible and get the desired emotions and memories.

Best place to see Northern Lights in Yellowknife

There are plenty of spots throughout the city to watch the northern lights. If an aurora alert caught you downtown, you can head to Bush Pilots Monument, located up the hill in Raccine Park, Old Town. The elevation gives you a panoramic view of the area and the aurora over it. Tincan Hill Recreation Area is another great spot featuring a lookout over Great Slave Lake.

If you have time to get out of the city, you can go to the Fred Henne Territorial Park located on Highway 3. The campground in the park suits perfectly for an aurora hunt. Prosperous Lake Territorial Park, Madeline Lake, and Prelude Lake Territorial Park are other scenic spots that can be easily reached from Yellowknife.

Day time Activities in Yellowknife

Yellowknife offers not only magical auroras borealis but also numerous lakes, walking trails, and a plethora of community events for great time spent in the city. Cameron Falls, the North’s most-photographed waterfall, is one of the must-see natural spots to visit.

For beginner hikers, this place will be a great experience because there are wooden boards on many parts of the trail. Additionally, the parks along the Ingraham Trail are great places for water activities or an outdoor picnic. Houseboat Bay is another place in the city center to hit, if you want to rent a kayak or paddleboard, or get stronger in a houseboat

Guests can also explore the culture and historical heritage of Yellowknife by visiting The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which features everything from mooseskin boats to old-time bush planes. Another highlight is the Bush Pilots Monument, Yellowknife’s most popular lookout, providing an astounding view over Great Slave Lake, Back Bay, and the northern reaches of the city.

Northern Lights in Canada

While Yellowknife and Northwest Territories offer some of the best aurora views, northern lights in Canada can be experienced quite frequently. While southern regions like Ontario require a bit of luck and patience, traveling through the northern lands of Nunavut is sure to be rewarded with stunning northern lights.