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Northwestern Montana's Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, drawing in adventurists and nature lovers from all corners of the globe. Covering more than a million acres of land, including two Rocky Mountains subranges, the protected reserve located on the US-Canada border holds myriads of natural assets. Due to past ice ages, the park is full of water, boasting around 700 lakes — 131 of which are officially named. With ample H2O comes abundant life, including 1,000 plant species and hundreds of birds and other animal species, such as the park’s resident mountain goats that inhabit its lands and are somewhat of a mascot of the area.
The rich fauna and flora, diverse ecosystems, verdant forests, glistening lakes, and countless scenic hiking trails in Glacier National Park for experts and beginners alike across and around the mountainous terrain make its rugged expanse an extraordinary place to visit. The immense beauty, wildlife abundance, and recreational diversity are what attract millions of visitors to explore the lands within its borders annually — three million, in fact, according to Statista.
Despite this richness and recreation enough to tempt most people to visit the park, they're not the only reasons to make the trip. Another once-in-a-lifetime experience is possible in these parts — one reserved for the luckiest of park-goers who know when and where to go, where to stay in Glacier National Park, and how to maximize their chances of witnessing this breathtaking natural phenomenon.
This sought-after, naturally occurring spectacle is the Aurora Borealis — commonly known as the Northern Lights. Of course, many visitors head to the northernmost regions of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, and all the way to Finland to hunt for this surreal light show in the night sky. However, traveling that far isn't always necessary; it is possible to view these bright lights in Big Sky, Montana — with some pre-travel planning, preparation, and a handful of good old-fashioned luck.
Iceland is the most wish-listed Christmas vacation destination among Americans, according to Google searches. Anyone jetting off to spend the holidays in this winter wonderland can enhance their trip by checking out the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland!
What Is Aurora Borealis?
The Aurora Borealis is a natural occurrence appearing in the form of the bright dancing lights of Aurora. The lights appear when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with atoms as they enter the earth’s atmosphere, creating beautiful 'streamers' of displays of different colors pulsating across the skies. The naked eye can see these polar lights in the night sky between the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.
In the north, the lights are known as Aurora Borealis, while they're called Aurora Australis in the south. The former — Aurora Borealis — is a more common term due to the cultural importance of the lights across the world. ‘Aurora Borealis’ means ‘dawn of the north' in Latin — a phrase with numerous myths and legends in tow. According to ancient Roman myths, Aurora was the goddess of dawn, while some aboriginal cultures believed the lights were ancestral spirits. Furthermore, other civilizations considered the aurora lights harbingers of war or famine, showing just how unique their cultural and spiritual interpretations were.
What Do The Northern Lights Look Like?
The Aurora Borealis lights reveal themselves in various colors. The most common hues are pale green and pink, although shades of yellow, red, blue, and violet can also be seen. The lights often resemble streamers, although they can also take numerous other forms, including arcs, scattered light clouds, shooting light rays, or rippling curtains. Whichever shape and hue they take, the Northern Lights have baffled and mesmerized humans for thousands of years as they create an illusion of traveling from south to north.
When Can You See The Northern Lights?
Aurora Borealis appears to be cyclic in nature, as experts' recent findings suggest. The auroral lights' activity peaks around every 11 years, resulting from greater solar activity that sends out solar flare energy into space — including to the earth, where it collides with atoms in the planet's upper atmosphere. Think of it like this: like most lifeforms, the sun has a heartbeat, which beats hard every 10 or 12 years — a timeframe known as the solar cycle. The solar cycle is measured by the number of sunspots visible on the sun; more sunspots mean more solar activity and solar flare energy hurled into space. The result? More incidence of Aurora Borealis visible in the night sky!
When Is The Best Time To See The Northern Lights?
The solar cycle's last peak was in 2013, meaning the next peak is expected to occur around 2024 — completing the 11-year cycle. Therefore, over the next couple of years, Aurora Borealis sightings are very likely to be on the up — much to travelers' delight.
Generally, winter in the northernmost parts of the world is the best season to view the Northern Lights. The many months-long nighttime in the arctic circle is ideal aurora-hunting time — made even better by the higher chances of clear skies, enabling people to spot the auroral show more easily. Usually, the ideal time to search for the Northern Lights is at the local place's midnight on a clear night. Still, sightings are never guaranteed, and there's no way of predicting exactly when and where they'll put on a show; it comes down to luck, too.
People can increase the probability of witnessing the Northern Lights not only by visiting northern destinations at the ideal time but also by observing the K-index. The K-index (Kp) measures the relative fluctuation in the earth’s geomagnetic fields; the higher the K-index (on a scale of 0 to 9), the better the odds of seeing northern lights — and viewing them at lower latitudes, too. Check the Space Weather Prediction Center's tips on viewing the Aurora Borealis for further insight on this index.
When Can You See The Northern Lights In Glacier National Park?
Now comes the part for people on the hunt for the auroral displays in Glacier National Park. Fortunately for intending visitors, the park offers many excellent viewpoints to catch the northern lights. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Glacier National Park tends to be in the spring when the season's longer and darker nights are prime viewing time compared to the summer. Additionally, September to April is also a wider timeframe in which to search for the lights; these months are winter to spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when the night skies are not only darker but also clearer.
It's also wise for travelers to note that the Northern lights start in the north and typically light up in a southward direction to Glacier National Park. Plus, travelers should try to time their lights-hunting trip to places like Big Sky, Montana, when the area's K-Index is high. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) website claims that in regions of Montana south of I-90, a Kp of 7 or higher is often needed to view the Northern Lights.
Sure, the Northern Lights' performance isn't quite as impressive as it is in other northern night light hotspots, such as Alaska, Canada, and Iceland — but it's still a sight to behold. When combined with knowledge of the history of Glacier National Park, catching these extraterrestrial illuminations that countless generations before also gazed upon seems all the more fascinating.
There are plenty of fascinating things people may not know about the Northern Lights — learning about them beforehand is sure to enrich a trip spent searching for them!
What Is The Best Place To See The Northern Lights In Glacier National Park?
After choosing the right time, season, and area for catching the lights, it's all about picking the perfect spot in Glacier National Park for viewing the show. Ideally, travelers' chosen lights-viewing place should showcase a wide-open view of the north and be as far away as possible from towns, cities, and crowded areas that could cause light pollution and obstruct the illuminations in the sky. The more remote the given location within the park, the better the auroral lights show.
Once the perfect spot is chosen (and perhaps after a day spent enjoying the daytime scenery and the best hikes in Glacier National Park), the magical nighttime theatrics in the sky begin. With that in mind, some of the following points are some of the best spots for seeing the Northern Lights in Glacier National Park.
Bowman & Kintla Lakes
Bowman and Kintla lakes are a little more off the radar but magnificent for watching the Northern Lights. These lakes are also conveniently near Polebridge — another popular spot for viewing the lights. In particular, these spots are wonderful for camping; located in Flathead County’s North Fork area — where backcountry camping is a favorite pastime — visitors can enjoy the night sky's displays from their tent.
Northern Lights Saloon & Cafe
The popular Northern Lights Saloon and Café in the Flathead community of Polebridge may be the least remote place for viewing the Northern lights — but it offers comfort, a great ambiance, live music, and a cozy, uncrowded atmosphere for enjoying the sky's spectacle.
Looking Glass Road
Looking Glass Road on Highway 49 is a secluded space granting spectacular lookouts for watching the Northern Lights. Extending ten miles north from East Glacier Village to Highway 89 in Kiowa, the road provides a number of lookouts along its length, each offering sublime vistas of the show. Wildlife encounters are possible at this spot when it's dark, so keeping an eye out — especially on the road — is advised.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald's shores offer a clear view of the north and are thus superb for catching the Northern Lights. What's more, the tranquil lake's waters reflecting the light spectacle across the skies make the show even bigger and brighter. In addition to Aurora Borealis viewing possibilities, the lake — located a few miles from West Glacier park entrance — is excellent for daytime recreation, too, from kayaking to paddleboarding.
Bison Paddock Loop, Waterton Lakes National Park
The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park links Glacier National Park with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The sweeping spaces of Bison Paddock Loop are idyllic spots for catching the auroral lights, as there's no light pollution in the area to ruin the view.
Travelers north of the US border can take an actual Polar Express tour to the Northern Lights in Canada!
Those fortunate enough to witness the Northern Lights often claim the display to be the most magical, surreal sight they've ever taken in. Viewing the alien-like phenomenon is indeed on many bucket lists, but it's not always the easiest show to catch. There are no guaranteed showings or planned schedules; seeing Aurora Borealis in person demands patience and luck (and with a little planning to maximize the odds of seeing the show, of course).
Choosing the right place at the right time of year is one of the best ways of finding this elusive extravaganza in the skies — and one of the 'right' places on the North American side of the world is Glacier National Park. Whether spending a weekend in Glacier National Park or an extended getaway, visiting at the right time to search for the rare, breathtakingly beautiful Northern Lights is an adventure — even if they're a no-show (all the more reason to return and get on the hunt again, especially between now and 2024 as auroral activity is on the rise, thanks to the upcoming solar cycle peak!)
Take a look at Spaceweather.com's Aurora Forecast and Alerts to discover the best spot to catch the Northern Lights from a given viewing point, as well as to sign up for notifications to avoid missing out on the auroral activity.