Yellowknife : Seek The Aurora

Yellowknife

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Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, is renowned for its breathtaking display of the Northern Lights. Nestled on the shores of Great Slave Lake, this vibrant city offers a unique blend of culture, adventure, and stunning natural beauty.

Yellowknife is located directly under the auroral oval, making it one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights, particularly from late August to mid-April. The region’s cold climate often results in clear nights, enhancing your chances of seeing this spectacular phenomenon.

Visiting Yellowknife to see the Northern Lights is truly a bucket-list experience, combining the magic of the aurora with the warmth of local hospitality. Yellowknife is home to Aurora Village. Are you ready to plan your adventure under the stars?

Credit: Ken Cheung
Credit: Ken Cheung
Credit: kwan fung
Credit: kwan fung
Credit: Ian Keefe
Credit: Sydney Haws

How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?

10%

There is a 10% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Yellowknife area (forecast for 28 April 2025 at 2:17am UTC)

Kp 1.33

The Kp-index is a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicating greater geomagnetic activity.

0-2 (Very low) Far north, quite dim, and not very active.
3-5 (Moderate) Can be seen further south, with increased brightness and activity. Chance of good viewing conditions nearer the pole.
6-7 (High) Visible in many northern regions, with vibrant displays.
8-9 (Extreme) Widespread visibility, often seen in areas much further south than usual, with intense and colorful displays.

Bz 0 nT

Bz refers to the north-south orientation of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. It is measured in nanoteslas (nT).

When Bz is negative (southward), it allows solar wind particles to penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field more easily. A strong negative Bz is often associated with increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Conversely, when Bz is positive (northward), the Earth’s magnetic field tends to block the solar wind, resulting in reduced auroral activity.

Density 3.40 p/cm³

Solar wind density refers to the number of charged particles in a given volume of the solar wind, typically measured in particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm³).

A typical solar wind density is around 2.76 p/cm³.

The density of the solar wind affects how many particles reach the Earth’s magnetosphere. A higher density means more particles are available to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, energy is released in the form of light that we see as the aurora.

Speed 385.9 km/s

Solar wind speed refers to the velocity at which charged particles are ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

A typical solar wind speed is about 375 km/s. When both speed and density are high, the energy transferred to the Earth’s magnetosphere increases, enhancing the chances of seeing vibrant auroras.

Clear

-7°C Feels like -12°C

High: -7°C
Low: -15°C

Precipitation: 0%
Cloud cover: 0%
Wind: 4 km/h

Moon

New moon

Sun rises at: 5:32am
Sun sets at: 9:37pm
Moon rises at: 5:08am
Moon sets at: 10:41pm

Book an amazing adventure in Yellowknife

4D3N Aurora Package Including 3-Nights stay Chateau or Explorer

4.6 (19)

4 days From £493.17

Stay at the top-rated Explorer Hotel or Chateau Nova. Our Aurora Lodge offers a spacious and cozy indoor area where you can comfortably wait for the Aurora without facing the cold or crowded vehicles. Package includes: ️24-hour airport pickup ️A city tour featuring must-see landmarks such as Pilots Monument, the Visitor Centre (where you can receive a certificate and a small knife), Ndilo, and Old Town. ️✅During the winter, enjoy the Ice Road, and in March, experience the Ice Castle. ️Free Aurora photos delivered via a drive link, allowing you to cherish the memories of your trip forever. ️Warm and cozy Aurora Lodge viewing, plus Aurora hunting. ️Experienced drivers and guides, with commercial vehicles equipped with $2 million in insurance, ensuring a safe and worry-free journey. Note: This tour is not primarily conducted in English but is suitable for English-speaking tourists who are flexible with language.
Free cancellation Likely to sell out

Guided Snowmobile Adventure

4.9 (174)

2 hours From £88.76

This is likely the most exciting and interactive experience for your stay in Yellowknife. This guided tour is fun, exciting, safe and is suitable for young kids to seniors. Thanks to the state of the art Skidoos with heated handle bars, heated helmets, Canada Goose + CKX clothing, along with carefully selected wind sheltering trails. Guest can enjoy the wilderness in comfort even in -40C weather. Clothing is available for rental. Let this tour be part of your forever treasured memory of the amazing arctic adventure.
Free cancellation

Aurora Chasing + Aurora Lodge

4.6 (53)

4 hours From £75.65

The best of both worlds, Aurora Chasing and Aurora Lodge! This is the Aurora Tour that allow you to have the cake and eat it too! On a cold and clear night, guests will spend more time in a spacious and warm Lodge near Madeline Lake and wait for the aurora show to begin. While waiting, there will be a display of various furs and animal products, guests will also have access to board games, cards, majong, arcades, foosball, and basket ball shooter. Light snacks and hot beverages are also provided. View the aurora in comfort, go to proper washrooms without freezing your butts off in comfort. On a night with roaming cloud, Guests will spend more time driving to clearer location to have better chance to see the Aurora. If the location of the Aurora Chasing is near the lodge, guests may use the lodge to rest and recuperate. Professional photographer will take guests photos and provide original digital photos to all guests at no additional charge.
Free cancellation

Alaskan Husky Dog Sledding at Yellowknife Enodah Kennel

5.0 (18)

3 hours From £86.54

Join us on a dogsledding odyssey traversing untouched frozen lakes and picturesque forested portages. Our professional dog mushers will take you step-by-step through this unique northern experience, from setting up the dog team, riding on a sled through the trails, and thanking our amazing furry athletes afterward with some well-deserved cuddle time. After your journey, share your stories from the trail and warm up with a hot beverage in our heated Aurora Station!
Yellowknife 5-Day Northern Lights Adventure:Aurora&Arctic Wonders

4.7 (3)

5 days From £560.47

Experience an unforgettable 5-day, 4-night adventure in Yellowknife, renowned as the "Northern Lights Capital" with a 95% chance of witnessing the stunning aurora, including the rare yellow-purple display. Stay comfortably in a 4-star hotel and enjoy classic winter activities like dog sledding and ice fishing. Collect memorable souvenirs, such as aurora or Arctic Circle certificates from local tourist centers. For larger groups, each room accommodates up to four guests, and if multiple bookings are made, provide confirmation numbers to ensure you travel on the same bus.
Free cancellation

Yellowknife Tours - Aurora by bus

4.9 (128)

4 hours From £69.34

We will pick up our guests at each hotel and take all guests to different lake locations, find a good place to enjoy the aurora viewing and relax on our luxury bus. You will appreciate the northern lights around the lake and see the reflection on the lake when the aurora appears. Our tour guide will also take pictures for all guests and teach them how to use their cameras to shoot the Northern Lights. During the trip, we will also provide guests with hot drinks and biscuits, as well as expertise on the Northern Lights and Yellowknife.