Niven Lake Trail : 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?

13%

There is a 13% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Yellowknife area (forecast for 13 June 2025 at 10:39pm UTC)

Kp 6.00

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 -6 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 19.20 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 440.8 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.

Clouds

22°C Feels like 21°C

High: 22°C
Low: 9°C

Precipitation: 0%
Cloud cover: 72%
Wind: 3 km/h

Moon

Waning gibbous

Sun rises at: 3:41am
Sun sets at: 11:33pm
Moon rises at: 2:41am
Moon sets at: 4:12am

Book an amazing adventure in Yellowknife

Free cancellation

Northern Lights Tour Yellowknife

4.8 (284)

4 hours From £54.66

Wonderful and Amazing experience while going through the famous Ingraham trail to view the Northern Lights in our bus. There are lakes with breathtakingly beautiful landscapes on this trail for you to See Experience & Enjoy this wonderful Northern Lights tour with a tour guide who will click pictures for you. This type of tour is an amazing style of tour that increases your chances to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) with spectacular backgrounds and landscapes in your pictures at various lakes with amazing Northern Lights. This is the only Northern Lights tour in Yellowknife where you get "Your" free Pictures and complimentary snack. This tour is cost-effective and provides Pictures, Snacks, Pick & Drop. Important Info: This is a Nature tour. During winter months, Please make sure to dress warm or rent winter clothing from any Tour Operator in Yellowknife.
Free cancellation

Yellowknife Tours - Aurora by bus

4.9 (128)

4 hours From £69.01

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.
Yellowknife 4 Days 3 Nights Aurora Tour Package - Accommodation not included

5.0 (2)

4 days From £273.28

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.
Aurora Hunting Tours

4.8 (329)

4 hours From £82.26

Enjoy awesome, amazing Aurora with the world's best Aurora Hunting tour company! We are 100% Aboriginal owned, we grew up in Yellowknife, we know Yellowknife, we know Aurora! We will drive to one or more locations to find the best Aurora viewing for you. We are a smaller tour company, we can offer you a more personal Aurora viewing experience. We will take FREE professional photographs of you and Aurora. We have free tripods rental for the smaller tripod and larger tripods available to rent. All tours have hot chocolate and delicious Canadian Maple cookies.
Free cancellation

Guided Snowmobile Adventure

4.9 (174)

2 hours From £88.33

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

4.6 (19)

4 days From £490.80

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.