Ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered what those eerie lights are dancing across the horizon? Welcome to the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, one of the greatest natural wonders in the Yukon. If seeing the Aurora is on your bucket list, there’s no better place to experience them than Whitehorse. Surrounded by mountains and far from big city lights, the night skies here are pitch black, providing the perfect backdrop for the colorful lights to shine through. Whether you’re a lifelong Yukoner or just visiting, viewing the Northern Lights in Whitehorse should be at the top of your to-do list. Here’s everything you need to know to make it happen.
Did you know that over 80% of tourists miss the Northern Lights due to the lack of Aurora knowledge? Don't let that be you! The right time and the right place are the key. Northern Lights Online Course and Aurora mobile app designed for beginners will significantly increase your chances.
Designed For Beginners
Designed For Beginners
The Best Views Are Outside the City
Whitehorse is a perfect base for Northern Lights viewing because you can easily escape the city lights. Head 20-30 minutes outside of town to find dark, secluded spots with open skies where the Aurora shines bright. Some top spots include:
Fish Lake - A popular spot for photographers, Fish Lake is only a 30 minute drive from Whitehorse. The lake provides beautiful reflections and open views in all directions.
Lake Laberge - Yukon’s largest lake is a 45 minute drive north of Whitehorse. Find a secluded beach or campsite and enjoy the show over the water.
Mt. Sumanik - For panoramic views, head up Mt. Sumanik, just 15 minutes from downtown. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a 360° view of the Yukon night sky.
Fox Lake - A hidden gem only 20 minutes from Whitehorse, Fox Lake is a perfect escape from city lights. Find an undeveloped campsite and watch the Aurora dance over the water.
Check the Forecast and Head Out Late
The Northern Lights are visible from late August to mid-April in the Yukon, but viewing is best between 10 pm and 3 am when the sky is darkest. Check the Aurora forecast to see the likelihood of activity and head out once the sky darkens. A Kp index of 5 or higher means a good chance of spotting the Aurora.
Before going out for your first Aurora hunt take Northern Lights Online Course where you will learn all you need to know to successfully hunt for the Northern Lights. This course is designed for beginners so you don't need to worry about not knowing much yet.
Once at your viewing spot, give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the show. The lights may start out faint, so look for a pale green glow low on the horizon. As activity picks up, rays and arcs of green, red and purple will dance across the sky.
For the best photos, use a tripod, point your camera north and experiment with manual settings. You’ll capture memories of the Yukon sky that will last a lifetime. Enjoy!
Some of the best spots for Northern Lights viewing around Whitehorse are away from the city lights. Head to one of these locations for optimal viewing:
Fish Lake
About a 30 minute drive from Whitehorse, Fish Lake is a popular spot for catching the Aurora Borealis. There's a recreational area there with picnic tables, fire pits and outhouses - perfect for a night of viewing. The lake itself also provides beautiful reflections of the lights dancing above.
Mount Sima
For panoramic views, head up to the Mt. Sima ski hill. Their Aurora Viewing Deck sits at the top of the beginner lift, giving you a 360 degree view of the night sky. They even have cozy seats, a fire pit and hot chocolate to keep you warm while you wait for the show to start.
Miles Canyon
Just 10 minutes from downtown, the historic Miles Canyon suspension bridge offers a unique vantage point for viewing and photographing the Northern Lights. The canyon walls help block out city light pollution and the bridge sways gently, giving you a thrill while gazing up at the Aurora.
Camping
If you want to get away from it all, spend a night camping at Wolf Creek, Fox Lake, or one of the many Yukon campgrounds surrounding Whitehorse. Without any light pollution, the night sky will be crystal clear and the Northern Lights vibrant. Some campsites even have amenities like firewood, picnic tables and outhouses. Just be sure to dress warmly!
Wherever you choose to view from, check the Aurora forecast to see the likelihood of activity and be prepared for a late night - the lights are often most active between 10 pm to 3 am. But seeing the Aurora dance and shimmer is worth losing a little sleep over.
The intensity of the Northern Lights is measured using the Kp index, which indicates the level of geomagnetic activity. The higher the Kp number, the more active the Aurora Borealis. To see the lights dancing and shimmering across the sky, aim for a Kp index of 3 or higher.
Monitoring the Kp Index
Several space weather agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Canadian Space Weather Forecast Center issue Aurora forecasts and monitor the Kp index. Check their websites daily for the latest predictions. Some also offer email alerts you can sign up for to get notifications when the Kp index is on the rise.
A Kp index of 0-2 means little to no geomagnetic activity, so the Northern Lights will not be visible. A Kp of 3-4 indicates minor activity and a chance of spotting some Aurora Borealis, especially at higher latitudes like Whitehorse. For the best show, look for a Kp of 5 or higher. At these levels, the lights will likely be quite active and visible farther south.
The Kp index can change quickly, so keep an eye on the forecasts, especially around midnight when geomagnetic activity tends to be higher. The lights are often most active and visible between 10 pm to 3 am. Head out in the evening to a dark location away from city lights and be patient. The higher the Kp index, the better your chances of an amazing display dancing across the night sky.
Using Aurora Alerts
For the best chances of catching the Northern Lights in action, sign up for Aurora alerts or notifications to get warnings when activity is on the rise. Some Aurora apps like Lumyros offer alert options to get notifications for specific Kp index levels or time periods. They tap into data from NOAA, Canadian Space Weather and other agencies to monitor activity and issue alerts. With alerts set for a Kp of 5 or higher, you'll get a heads up to grab your camera and head out for the show.
Some Northern Lights shapes are visible only during specific levels of Aurora activity. Learn more about how it works.
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Whitehorse is between 10 pm and 3 am when the sky is darkest. The Aurora is often most active and vibrant during the equinoxes in March and September. However, you have a good chance of catching the lights any night between August and April when the nights are long and dark.
September to March
During these winter months, the nights in Whitehorse last over 12 hours, giving you plenty of time to spot the aurora. The longer hours of darkness mean the lights often start appearing as early as 9 pm. The winter season also tends to be the most active for the Northern Lights, especially around the equinoxes in September and March. Bundle up, grab your camera, and head out around 10 pm for the best viewing.
April
As spring arrives in April, the days start to get longer again in Whitehorse, but you can still see the Northern Lights on clear nights, especially till mid-April. The Aurora may appear for a shorter time, starting around 10 pm, as twilight lasts later into the evening. But when the lights do come out, the shows can be just as spectacular.
August
By late August, the nights are once again long enough in Whitehorse for the Northern Lights to return. As summer transitions into fall, the Aurora starts becoming active again, reappearing in the night sky after midnight. The lights may be more subtle at first, but as the month progresses, the shows tend to get brighter and last longer into the early morning hours.
The most important factor, of course, is the level of solar activity and geomagnetic storms which vary daily. Check the Kp forecast index to determine the likelihood of an Aurora visible as far south as Whitehorse. When the Kp index rises to 5 or higher, there’s an excellent chance of seeing spectacular Northern Lights dancing across the night sky.
Seeing the Northern Lights is a bucket list item for many, and what better place to view them than Whitehorse, Yukon? To capture photos of the Aurora Borealis with your smartphone, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Find a dark location
The darker the location, the better. Head out of the city lights to an open area without much light pollution. Some options include the Fish Lake area, Miles Canyon, or the side roads off the Alaska Highway.
Check the forecast
Use a Kp index forecast to determine the likelihood of Auroral activity. A Kp index of 5 or higher means the Northern Lights may be visible that night. The higher the Kp number, the more active the Aurora is likely to be.
Set up your shot
Place your phone on a tripod or solid surface to keep it steady. Turn on location services so you can find the North Star to properly frame your shot. Capture a mix of landscape and portrait orientation shots.
Use Night Mode
If your phone has a Night Mode feature, turn it on. This will allow more light to hit the sensor, brightening your image. You can also download camera apps specifically for night sky and Aurora photography that provide Night Mode.
Adjust camera settings
Set your phone to manual mode. Increase the ISO to at least 800 to make the image more sensitive to light. Use the largest aperture setting possible, typically f/1.8 or f/2.0. This will let in more light. Increase the exposure time, starting around 5 to 10 seconds. You may need to go up to 20 seconds for dimmer Auroras.
Take continuous shots
The Northern Lights are constantly changing, so take multiple shots to capture their movement and different shapes. Shoot in burst mode if your phone has it.
Be patient
Don't get discouraged if the lights aren't as active as you had hoped. Some nights they start out slowly and build up over a few hours. Find a cozy spot, grab a warm drink, and enjoy the light show. With the right conditions and a little patience, you'll get stunning photos of the Aurora Borealis dancing across the night sky.
The most useful Northern Lights online tools for a successful Aurora hunt. Are you about to hunt the Northern Lights on your own? Then you will find these resources helpful. If you are trying to see Aurora for the first time we recommend signing up for the Northern Lights Online Course where is explained step-by-step all you need to know to see the Northern Lights in an easy way.
Northern Lights essential online tools designed for beginners to help you see Aurora like the handy Aurora Mobile App and Northern Lights Online Course will help you to understand how Aurora works and to monitor real-time activity.
The Northern Lights Forecast for 3 days and long-term Aurora forecast for up to 27 days ahead can be found here: Geophysical Institute Forecast, NOAA Aurora Forecast, Spaceweatherlive Forecast or in the Northern Lights App.
Find the best Aurora spots with the light pollution map and cloud cover prediction.
Northern Lights activity in real-time: Real-time Aurora activity (worldwide magnetometers), Solar Wind activity, Sun's activity, Aurora live Boreal webcams list or Aurora App.
Additional resources to know when it will be dark enough Darkness graph & Map and how much the moon will illuminate the sky Moon Phase + Moonrise & Moonset.
If you decide to go with professional Aurora hunters here you can find the top-rated Aurora Tours.
So there you have it, everything you need to know to experience the magic of the Northern Lights in Whitehorse for yourself. Bundle up, find a dark secluded spot away from the city lights, check the forecast to make sure the skies are active, and look up. As the colorful lights dance across the starry sky, you'll understand why so many travelers flock to the Yukon just for a chance to witness the Aurora Borealis in person. The Northern Lights are an unforgettable natural phenomenon, and Whitehorse is one of the best places on earth to catch the show. What are you waiting for? Start planning your adventure to the Yukon and get ready for a night you'll never forget under the glow of the Northern Lights.
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