How to chase the Aurora
Aurora Chasing – that’s what we call it up here. If you dream of watching the best Northern Lights in the world, your host or your hotel will be happy to introduce you to Aurora chasing, a seasonal NWT activity best done late at night in early fall, or from mid-winter to spring.
Ready for your first Aurora chasing adventure? Here are a few great tips that will help you chase the Northern Lights well into the night, on your own or on an Aurora Tour.
Find a Safe Spot
Chasing the Aurora means getting away from city lights and finding a spot with a nice, wide-open view of the midnight canvass above. You can use Northern Lights forecasting websites to find the perfect night, but like any good show, you’ll want to be ready and in your seats for when the Northern Lights make their entrance.
In late August and September, you can chase the Aurora on your own – head away from the lights of town and settle into your chosen spot for a spectacular night. That might mean a beach, a dock, or a large field, with just a few trees on the horizon. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight, your camera and a tripod. If you are driving when you notice the Northern Lights in the sky spring to life – pull off for safety rather than stopping on the road. Here is the link to a safe Aurora viewing locations map.
chase on an aurora tour
On a clear night, it’s easy to find your own viewing spot and set up for an amazing experience watching the Northern Lights. But when it’s particularly cold or the sky is cloudy, you’ll want to rely on the expertise of a skilled Aurora chaser to guide you. Guided aurora chasing is popular and you’re sure to have an experience watching the Northern Lights that you simply can’t get anywhere else. A local tour operator can often locate a viewing area where the stars and aurora poke through the clouds. Yellowknife is home the worlds first ‘Aurora Hunting’ tour, an Indigenous owned and operated tour with the Aurora Hunter himself, Joe Bailey.
Find the Magic
On an Aurora Tour, you’ll be introduced to the deep timeless connection between the Aurora and the people of the NWT as you travel, watching the sky. The Indigenous cultures that have called this territory home know the Aurora better than anyone, and the combined experience of watching Northern Lights while learning about their cultural significance is a magical and memorable experience.
The best place to see northern lights
The Northwest Territories are home to the world’s best Aurora, and there’s simply no better place to watch the Northern Lights dance above. Some of the best Aurora watching spots are quick and easy to access if you know where to go or have an experienced guide with you. In either season, our endless lakes make great opportunities to set up the start of your Aurora chase. In autumn, the Northern Lights sparkles on the water, and in winter the vast snowfield takes on the colours of the sky.
If you want to capture the Aurora for the folks back home, bring a tripod and set your camera for a minimum five-second exposure. And bring some extra batteries. Their power fades quickly in the cold. Photographing the Northern Lights is a skill that requires practice, and it’s important to remember that the experience of standing under the lights will always be more impactful than fiddling with the settings on your camera.
How to dress for Aurora hunting
Before you start out, dress warmly, especially in winter, when a turtleneck sweater, down jacket or parka with hood, a toque or fur hat, scarf, mitts, wind pants and really warm insulated boots are essential. You’ll be standing, looking up in awe, and the chill can creep in. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to make the most of your Aurora viewing experiences across the NWT.
There’s no better place to chase the Aurora than in the NWT. If you’re ready to be stunned as the Northern Lights come to life above, read more about the spectacular opportunities to see the world’s best Aurora here.
Intriguing tales from Canada's Northwest Territories
Member
Red Cliff Adventures has a traditional camp that is located in Lutsel K’e, on the shores of the East Arm,......
Member
What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......
Member
We are an experienced team in the tourism industry and we provide services in Mandarin, Cantonese, English and other Asian......
Member
Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......
Member
Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......
Member
Tundra North Travel is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......
Member
Nestled in the Nahanni Range of the Mackenzie Mountains on Cli Lake, is the North Nahanni Naturalist Lodge. It is......
Member
Enodah Wilderness Travel / Trout Rock Lodge/ Enodah Kennel offer high-quality Aurora viewing experiences by night and dogsled tours by......
Member
With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......
Member
Arctic Adventure & Wildlife viewing on the edge of the tree line of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lynx Lake 400 km......
Member
Offering four-hour Aurora tours including the ice road and City of Yellowknife. Pick-up and drop-off available. Small groups. Service in......
Member
Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......
Member
The all new Namushka Lodge! Come enjoy all the new amenities of a fly-in fishing lodge! Located on Harding Lake, 32......
Member
Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...
Member
Explore Yellowknife is an adventure tour operator based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.We offer authentic northern tours like no other. Witness......
Member
With us, you will find a unique Northern fishing experience with no distractions. Our amenities include Starlink Wi-Fi, standard queen-sized......
Member
DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......
Member
Our professional tour guides will take you on amazing Aurora viewing tours, city tours, ice road tours and much more.......
Member
For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......
Member
100% Indigenous owned! We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......
Member
World class dogsled tours! We are one of the largest professional sled dog kennels in Canada. Over 150 happy, healthy......
Member
Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......
Member
Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......
Member
Join us on an Aurora hunting adventure. Our skilled tour guides know all the best places around Yellowknife to capture......
Member
Come explore more then half a century of marine history under the Aurora!...
Member
“Like No Other Place On Earth” We are the only fly-in lodge located a 50 minute float plane flight from......
Member
We offer winter clothing rentals. Our winter clothing will keep you warm and comfortable for your outdoor fun – ask us......
Member
Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......
Member
We operate a fully equipped luxury coach and offer City Tours, Aurora Tours and tours to the Nahanni National Park Reserve......
Member
We offer tours such as aurora viewing, dog sledding, snowmobile rides, ice fishing and more. Come experience a once in......
Member
Fish & Explore Thaidene Nëné Frontier Lodge. Over 60 years of legendary fishing on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, at......
Member
Extend your trip to Fort Simpson with a visit to our Dene Camp, K’iyeli. We have options available for an......
Member
Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......
Member
“Unforgettable remote fishing experience” We are the only lodge located on this fly-in only lake. With only 8 guests per......
Member
Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....
Member
We are a local Aboriginal tour company based in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Our focus is on......
Member
Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......
Member
Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......
Raven Tours is a tour operator in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. We offer Aurora Viewing, Snowshoeing, and Hiking Tours. We hope to......
If you are looking for an Aurora Experience of a lifetime in Yellowknife – the best place in the world to......
Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......
Yellowknife Online produces Yellowknife specific articles and content for visitors, residents, and newcomers. Yellowknife Online has recently transferred that knowledge......
