Why the Canadian Rockies are the Best Place on Earth to See the Northern Lights | Intrepid Travel

When you think of the Northern Lights – the elusive green ribbons of the earth’s solar and magnetic fields that dance through the sky on dark cold nights – places like Iceland, Greenland, and the Norwegian or Canadian Arctic typically come to mind. We think far north, hence the name.

Sure, Iceland’s scenery is otherworldly, and its northerly latitude and longitude are perfectly positioned for viewing the Northern Lights, but the weather is unpredictable. In the winter months, when the aurora forecast is typically at its strongest, it’s often cloudy (and overcast, at best). And, well, the Arctic isn’t very accessible during those dark winter months – for most of us at least. Instead, we rely on researchers and scientists brave enough to spend winter there to share imagery of the aurora with us.

Much to my surprise (especially as a Canadian married to an Icelandic), some of the best places to spot the bright pallet of colours of the aurora are actually right here in my backyard. Alberta, Canada is home to the top two largest Dark Sky Preserves on earth: Wood Buffalo National Park (also Canada’s largest national park) covers an area of 44,807 km2, and Jasper National Park covers an area of 11,000 km². Those spots – and plenty of small towns and parks across the province – make Alberta one of the most spectacular places on earth to catch the aurora at its finest.

Read the full story on Intrepid Travel’s The Journal here.