Northern Lights Minnesota: Best Places to See Aurora Borealis

One of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the U.S.A. is Minnesota. If you are willing to see the Northern Lights Minnesota then you must visit Voyageurs National Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and Cook County. 

The prime locations up north, are Dark Sky Park (Voyageurs National Park) and Dark Sky Sanctuary (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness), Minnesota is the state that contains more than 10,000 lakes. This beautiful state will provide you with many opportunities for viewing and photographing, the vibrant phenomenon throughout the year. For those who have a childhood dream of witnessing spectacular shows of dancing and magical lights in Minnesota, here are some best places to see the  Northern Lights Minnesota. 

Northern Lights in Minnesota 

One of the most important reasons why Minnesota is an incredible place in the USA to witness the Northern Lights is its proximity to the auroral oval. Prime location to view these Northern Lights in Minnesota are inland lakes that are in abundance in this US state. Dark skies, remote areas, and frequent clear winter nights are some other prominent factors that make Minnesota a prime location to witness the phenomena of the Aurora Borealis. All these factors combined with the geomagnetic storms which occasionally expand the aurora visibility, to southern areas of of North American continent, and places like  Minnesota become excellent destinations for viewing the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights are natural displays of lights from the Northern Hemisphere. Caused by electrically charged particles from the sun that interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. When these electrically charged particles collide with the earth’s atmospheric gases, they emit beautiful green, pink, blue, and purple lights. 

When is the Best Time to See Northern Lights Minnesota?

The Northern Lights in Minnesota occur due to geographical storms, light pollution, cloud cover and solar activity, the Aurora can be seen around 75-100 times in the entire year. That makes viewing it an opportunity of more than once in 5 chances on a given day in the entire year! Coincidentally, we are at the height of solar cycle 25, and its maximum is likely to occur around July 2025.

With all the reasons to see the Aurora, make sure to check the weather beforehand, and keep in mind it gets darker later in summer! Just hang on and believe me, if you do not see the Northern Lights of Minnesota, it would still be worth it!

While you’re planning to see the amazing Northern Lights Minnesota, winter may seem to be the most appropriate time for that. But as in Kabetogama, MN, shown in the chart of cloud cover above, the best visibility for skies is from May to October, which means summer and early fall is probably the better time for Northern Lights viewing. These months also experience less cloud coverage than winter’s, thus they offer better visibility for stargazing and celestial events. Discover the awe-inspiring night skies at The Pines of Kabetogama in Voyageurs National Park, where reduced cloud cover raises your odds of seeing one of nature’s glorious displays of light.

Where can we See the Northern Lights Minnesota Tonight?

However, darkness remains unhindered by Minnesota’s urban light pollution as you travel to the northernmost corners of the state. The best places to catch aurora borealis in Minnesota are as follows:

1. Boundary Waters 

Unique-certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary that can only be accessed by canoe. It is 150 miles long along the border of the U.S. and Canada and contains over 1100 lakes. After a good number of days spent paddling or portaging, expect grand night skies.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Minnesota is one of the best destinations to witness the northern lights of Minnesota. The BWCAW is a federally protected International Dark Sky Sanctuary, which indicates that it possesses outstanding night skies.

2. Cook County

Minnesota, often sees the sky light up at Lake Superior and along the Gunflint Trail. The guests of Cook County, Minnesota tour the northern lights, also referred to as the aurora borealis. The county stands out as being among the very best locations for viewing the northern lights in all of the United States.

3. Voyageurs National Park

Just now, the new certified International Dark Sky Park link opens in new giving an extensive view of its unpolluted skies from its waterways, where visitors can see great meteor showers and northern lights Minnesota displays. This national park, more than a third water, out of about 218,000 acres, is the best viewing place for the night sky. 

Cozied up near the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, Voyageurs provides some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48 and a perfect respite from the light pollution that usually pervades our world. Here, vivid greens and reds churn and shake through the inky dark sky, displaying a celestial dance like no other.

4. Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Wood is a place where one can have a full view of water and forest during the day and sometimes of the Milky Way by night, as well as the northern lights. The northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, can occasionally be seen from Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. The lake is in the continental United States and is sufficiently north to provide views of the northern lights Minnesota. River Bend Resort on Lake of the Woods Minnesota is in an excellent position to get your fix of Minnesota wilderness, fishing, and chasing aurora borealis.

5. The Northwest Angle 

Minnesota’s most northernmost point, as it borders the Lake of the Woods from the rest of the state. Outside of northern Minnesota, other destinations across the state, remote and urban alike, provide ideal stargazing conditions

In the central and southern regions of the state Rapids, St. Cloud, Stillwater, Lake City, Mankato and Rochester constellations can be seen on any given clear evening, at least some of these cities feature an occasional view of northern lights. Just a few miles from the heart of Minneapolis, Silverwood Park features some thrillingly enigmatic after-dark activities that guarantee to uncover some of the intriguing things that occur once the sun goes down. 

Also Read: Best Places to See Northern Lights | Best Places to Visit in Norway

How can We Capture the Northern Lights in Minnesota?

1. Photography Gear Recommendations

To capture the Northern Lights Minnesota in the best possible manner, use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings. Pair this with a wide-angle lens to capture more of the sky. A sturdy tripod is essential for stability during long exposures. Be sure to bring extra batteries, as cold temperatures can drain them quickly. A remote shutter release or intervalometer is also a must-have to reduce camera shake. 

2. Essential Camera Settings

For capturing the northern lights, set your camera to manual mode and use a wide aperture (f/2.8 or faster) to let in maximum light. Set your ISO between 800 and 3200 to best balance sensitivity and noise. A shutter speed of 5–30 seconds is recommended, depending on the aurora’s brightness and movement. Adjust your camera settings as needed based on the intensity of the Northern Lights.

3. Apps and Tools to Track Aurora Activity

There are many apps and tools available to track and plan viewings of the Northern Lights. The University of Alaska, a gold standard within the astronomy community, has a forecasting tool that can predict when will be the best chance to witness the Northern Lights. There are also several weather apps on the app store, including Aurora Forecast, My Aurora Forecast & Alerts, Aurora Now, and more. 

Unknown Facts About Minnesota

• There are over one million recreational boats in Minnesota, one for every six people, easily the most of any state.
• The Mall of America in Bloomington could easily fit more than 78 football fields inside it.
• The entirety of Minnesota takes up an area of approximately 90,000 miles of shoreline, which is greater than the total of California, Florida, and Hawaii combined.
• The first basketball game in America was played on February 9, 1895, when the Minnesota State School of Agriculture (now the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus) played against Hamline College.
• Bloomington and Minneapolis are the two farthest north-latitude cities ever to host a World Series game.
• The Metrodome is still the only facility in America to host a Super Bowl, a World Series, and an NCAA Men’s Final Four championship. 

Best Things To Do At Minnesota

Minnesota is perhaps one of the most underrated states in America. The largest city, Minneapolis, enjoys one of the largest theatre scenes in the nation as well as some Michelin-starred restaurants and cultural gems just waiting to be explored. Smaller, immigrant-centric mines such as Rochester present an open window into the local arts, music, and food. On the open front, it’s water, water everywhere, so let us check out some of the best things to do besides Northern Lights Minnesota.

1. Chain of Lakes Regional Park

The Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Minneapolis is an example of a natural asset, south-west of Minneapolis, which is turned to greater returns. There are several matches around Chain of Lakes Regional Park, including Brevard County parks in Florida and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Located approximately five miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, Chain of Lakes is open for visitation off-and-on, year-round. Entrance into the lakes is usually free; however, parking and rentals for certain facilities may not. Fees may differ from lake to lake. Please check the Minneapolis Parks website for details. 

2. Minneapolis Institute of Art

Beautifully holding an expansive collection of more than 90,000 pieces of artwork spanning over 5,000 years, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is a must-see for art lovers. From ancient Egyptian artefacts to European masterpieces by Titian and Monet, this museum has all you may want. 

Minnehaha Regional Park is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with its waterfall, gardens, hiking trails, and more right beside it. Minnehaha comprises 170 acres of winding trails for walking, and biking, and the last of which takes you as far away as Fort Snelling and the Grand Rounds trail system. Also located in Minnehaha is the great Minnehaha Falls. An incredible 53-foot waterfall that is housed in one of nature’s most beautiful settings and calls to mind the ever-enduring heritage of the Dakota people, the original stewards of the land.

3. Walker Art Center

The Walker offers a must for any culturally curious individual with 11 galleries of modern and contemporary art, the Walker Cinema, and the McGuire Theater. Sit down for a meal at Gather Cafe and discover some artful gifts at the Walker Shop. Outside, stroll the expansive 11 acres of Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, featuring the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture and fountain, open daily from 6 AM to midnight.

4. Mall of America

The Mall of America located in Bloomington, Minnesota is a popular tourist destination that has an amusement park, aquarium, restaurants, and stores. Mall of America is the Minnesota trademark. With over 520 stores, 50 eateries, an amusement park, and an aquarium itself, it keeps gearing up with trendy stores, exciting entertainment options, restaurants, and hosting major events that draw 32 million visits every year. 

Also Read: Best Things to Do in Canada | What To Do in Scotland in Winter

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