Where to See the Northern Lights in British Columbia

When a solar wind blows clouds of electrically charged particles into the earth’s atmosphere, the results can turn northern skies into a fantastic screen of moving, swirling and dancing colors. The sight is unforgettable, and one family travelers won’t want to miss if in British Columbia in the winter.

While the northern lights have been seen as far south as Vancouver, they are most commonly seen in the far north and in areas with little or no light pollution in the night sky. Remote places where communities are small and widely separated are likely to have the most spectacular displays.

British Columbia’s best spots for viewing northern lights are along the Alaska Highway, from Dawson Creek to the Yukon border. Stop at Dawson Creek Visitors Center for local information, then head north or stay in Dawson and visit its historic sites and attractions between evenings of Aurora watching. The kids will like the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery at Tumbler Ridge Museum.

At Muncho Lake Provincial Park, at the northernmost tip of the Canadian Rockies, even summer campers have seen northern lights displays, especially impressive when their colors are reflected in the lake.

One of Canada’s largest natural hot springs draws travelers farther north on the Alaska Highway to Liard River Hot Springs. Soak in the steam pools, even in winter, when visitors can possibly spot the rarest phenomenon — red northern lights. You can stay in the guest house or camp in the park summer and winter.

The best northern lights activity is in the winter, from December through March, and late in the evening with the highlights around midnight. All of this can vary, but those are the times when you’re most likely to see displays.