Northern Lights in Ontario

N.O.A.A

The U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

There are two main places we look here - the Experimental Aurora Dashboard (Which gives predicted viewlines for the current day and next day), and the 30 Minute Forecast, which basically shows you what the Aurora is predicted to be doing in the short term.

Just know that you need to take that experimental one with a BIG grain of salt. Sometimes it’s accurate. Sometimes it’s WAY more hyped for an aurora than reality will live up to. Sometimes it predicts nothing, while a big show is raging!

Space Weather Canada

Space Weather Canada - A decent source of information when you're looking for an overview *if you know what you're looking at*.

More on that in a minute, though!

Anyway... personally, I prefer Space Weather Live, your mileage may vary!

Great, But What Does it All MEAN!?

Knowing what all the numbers and variables are is WAY more info than I want to cram in a post specifically about where to see the Northern Lights in Ontario!

That said, all of that info above - and all of the info on interpreting the data - is important knowledge to have, before you even start considering location.

So, we have a whole separate post on it: Can I see Northern Lights Tonight? Understanding the Aurora Forecast!

Is there a Chance I’ll See the Aurora if it Happens?

Ok, so now that you know where to look for information on the actual aurora happening, there’s a whole other set of conditions to consider.

Really, at this point, there are three main factors to consider:

Your Latitude

First and foremost, you need to consider where you are in proximity to the auroral oval.

This is where the Kp index from the aurora forecasts / active conditions comes into play. It’s basically a number that can tell you how far south the aurora is expected to be seen, at that time.

The further north you are, the lower kp you can get away with. If you’re further south, you’ll need a higher Kp.

As an example, we like to see Kp5 or higher where we live - in Southern Ontario.

Further north - like at Quetico Provincial Park, west of Thunder Bay - we’ve seen a fantastic show at only Kp2.

Basically, the further north you are, the better your chances. The further south you are, the bigger of a storm - and higher Kp - you’ll need, in order to see the northern lights.

When there was a big, strong auroral storm back in May 2024 - Kp8 or Kp9 - it was seen as far south as Texas.

Light Pollution

So you’re at a good latitude for the Northern Lights being predicted, now’s when you need to look at Light Pollution.

Light of any kind - especially city light or bright full moonlight - can wash out your chances of seeing an aurora.

Much like with latitude, this can be affected by the Kp / storm intensity in general.

A weaker storm will be harder to see, and impossible to see with a full moon or city lights. A stronger storm has a better chance of punching through any light.

As an example: That VERY strong geomagnetic storm in May 2024?

We were at Awenda Provincial Park at the time.

Right after sunset, I was coming out of a brightly lit comfort station, walking *south* towards the car - with headlights in my face - and could clearly see bright green aurora overhead.

... NONE of those circumstances would have allowed me to see a smaller storm!

As an easy guideline: If you can’t see stars in the night sky - for whatever reason - you’re not likely to see the Northern Lights, even if they ARE active at the time.

As a general rule of thumb, the best time of year to see the northern lights is during the colder months - September to April, usually. This is at least partially due to the darkest skies happening earlier at night.

Not only does that make it easier to see, as someone who needs to sleep at some point... but it also gives you a bigger time window of opportunity.

Mother Nature

Beyond having dark night skies as a backdrop, you also need clear nights.

So, your next stop is the Weather Network, or whatever you use to track the weather conditions here on Earth.

While a small amount of cloud cover can be OK - and can make for some interesting photos of the Northern Lights - you’re not going to be able to see the Aurora Borealis if it’s overcast, raining, foggy, and/or snowing.

In addition to that - though not so much of a “Mother Nature” issue - pollution-free air is also a necessity.

During periods of dense forest fire smoke, you are more likely to find yourself out of luck, even if the Northern Lights are active.

So, a few good resources to check, in addition to the weather forecast:

Clear Sky Charts

Cloud Cover Map

Current Forest Fire Smoke Map

Finding the Perfect Spot

Ok, so you’re at a decent latitude, you’ve got a clear skies in the forecast, and there’s a possible northern lights show in the near future. Time to suss out the best spots to see it!

Well, sort of - ideally, you’ll get this part done BEFORE there’s an geomagnetic storm warning in effect!

Your best bet to see Northern Lights is to scout out a few locations well in advance of the actual show - maybe take a road trip or two.

The thing is, it’s best to have a few places in mind, to hedge your bets against weather. You can have the best possible viewing location, but when it’s go time... if that one location is rainy, you’ll be out of luck.

So, I recommend having a handful of suitable locations. One sort of near-north to you for shorter drives, and at least one further north for when you have the time to drive further.

I also like to have one or more off to the north east, and another couple off to the north west.

This way, you’ll have a few “best places” - it’s just good insurance!

SO, how do you find those places? Here’s how I go about finding the best spots to see the Northern Lights in Ontario:

Start with Light Pollution

The first thing you need to do is to load up a Light Pollution Map, and look for remote places that are north of you, and far away from the large cities - with the lowest possible amount of light pollution.

As I mentioned earlier, dark skies are absolutely essential to seeing the northern lights.

A very rural area has much better odds of seeing the Aurora Borealis with the naked eye, than the suburbs.

Start Identifying Possibilities

Zoom in on the map, and identify a few places - in area of minimal light pollution - that have potential.

For us, I usually look for something like a lake with a definite north facing view, ideally with a rural road or small parking lot at the south of it.

For any particular area you’re looking in, you want to identify at least a few possible spots, and plan to drive around a bit aimlessly when you go scouting.

You never know what you’ll encounter - be open to the possibilities!

Go Scouting!

You can go scouting entirely in person, or - when it comes to dark-sky preserves, conservation areas, etc - you can find some information online before taking off.

You want to look at the whole situation for each spot.

You’ll want the northern horizon to be a fair distance away from where you’ll be situated - which is why we tend to gravitate to lakes.

If a show isn’t happening directly overhead, a DISTANT horizon will give the best shot.

For instance, if you’re in a parking lot with a big row of tall trees immediately to the north, you’ll miss a lot of the show - it’ll be blocked by those trees.

Then, there’s the matter of localized light. Yes, even in an area of low light pollution.

Look for things like street lights above your viewing spot, “mood lighting” on a beach, a neighbourhood of cabins across the lake - all of these can negatively impact your Northern Lights viewing and photography.

Beyond all of that, consider your logistics.

Is it a safe place to be? Is it a LEGAL place to be? If it’s a public park, what are the hours? The best time to see the lights tends to be between 10pm-2am, which happens outside of most park hours.

If it’s private property, do you need a reservation, or can you otherwise obtain permission to be there?

What is the washroom situation?

Yes, it’s a lot to consider - which is exactly why I recommend planning well in advance of the show!

How to Plan for Aurora Hunting

So. You now know what to look for in the numbers, the weather, and a location... now it’s time to prepare to go aurora hunting!

Here are some things to consider:

Have a Go Bag Ready

In prime aurora season - usually winter months, but - as we’re in solar maximum, spring, fall, and summer months are currently fair game - I like to have a bag of essentials packed and ready to go.

This usually includes some form of caffeine, some snacks, a couple water bottles, etc.

If you have a DSLR camera, have some extra batteries charged and ready to go. If you’re using a phone for your aurora photography, having a power bank / extra battery pack and cable can be handy.

If you have any special equipment you want with you, pack it as well.

You should definitely have a tripod (I use a XXZU 60" Camera Tripod with Travel Bag which is a super economical tripod that’s compatible with phones AND cameras), and I recommend using having either a headlamp (we use a 2 pack of Rechargeable Headlamps) or a Red Light Flashlight.

Not only is red light better for your vision, it’ll be less obnoxious to anyone else who’s aurora hunting - and photographing - in the area!

Also, think about what you’ll need to stay warm: Toques, mitts, hand warmers, etc can all come in handy.

Having a bag ready to go saves a lot of stress when you get an alert and want to RUN!

Have Multiple Aurora Alerts Set Up

Most of the aurora forecast apps have some sort of push-notice way to alert you to the latest updates in solar activity.

You can usually customize these for which kind of alerts you want (Kp, Radio blackouts, solar flares, etc), and the thresholds you want to be notified of - as applicable.

I recommend setting solar flare, CME, and Kp notices. The Kp notices, you’ll want to customize based on your location.

Where we live - down in Hamilton - we set ours to Kp4, as we’re realistically not going to see anything that’s a lower Kp than that. The further north you go - or are willing to drive, on short notice - the lower threshold you can set.

Have a Backup Plan

If you’re making a long drive - especially if it’s your first time hunting this natural wonder - I recommend having a backup plan.

This is basically another reason to visit an area, another way to enjoy yourself if the lights don’t materialize.

For us, this invariably means camping. If the lights don’t pan out, we still have everything else that come with camping - especially ways to enjoy ourselves when the daylight hours hit!

For others, that may mean also bringing a telescope - or different lenses, for high-zoom photography - to do some astrophotography.

After all, you’ll be in an area with very dark sky - take advantage of it! You’ll be in a great spot to photograph planets, constellations, meteors, the Milky Way, and other aspects of our solar system.

Have some fun with it!

Keep an Eye on the Info

Only you can determine the amount of gamble you’re willing to make in aurora chasing - how far you’re willing to drive, and what the threshold is for “go time”.

It’s important to realize that - the further south you are - the more “gamble” you’re going to need to take, in order to see the show.

If you live in the GTA and wait until there’s confirmation of an active aurora before getting in your car, there’s a good chance the show will be over before you get to your chosen viewing spot!

In addition to knowing and interpreting the numbers - relative to your situation - I also recommend joining the Ontario Aurora Chasers Facebook Group.

It is a FANTASTIC resource, with up-to-the-minute reports being posted during times of auroral activity. If you’re new to chasing, just watch for what others are saying, in terms of the numbers being worth a drive.

Just please... use the search feature before asking any questions about locations and possibility of aurora on any given night!

Hit the Road!

So the numbers look good, the weather is cooperating, you’ve got your stuff packed, and you’re ready to drive north and hope for a show!

Double check that you have everything you need, then... safe travels!

When you get to where you’re going, turn your headlights off as soon as possible.

Try to use only red light to see, and aim it at the ground - if you flash bright lights around, you’re not going to make a lot of friends with those who may already be there!

Have Fun, and Get Some Great Photos!

Now, you wait. You might find yourself waiting for a few hours - and you may or may not even see the lights.

Or, you may get a wild light show that lasts until the early morning hours - you’ll never know until you’re out there, and it’s happening. We’ve had times where the show started *at* sunset, and went until almost dawn.

So... having good company with you is also a good idea!

When the show starts up, take some time to get the settings right on your phone.

In our experience, aurora shows USUALLY tend to ramp up a bit, starting a bit slow before blowing up. This is a good time to practice, try new techniques, etc.

Not sure how to photograph the northern lights? See our post, How to Photograph the Northern Lights - Tips for Camera & Phone Photography!

Popular Aurora Hunting Spots in Ontario

So now that you know what to look for in general, how about some details on popular Aurora viewing spots in Ontario?

Ontario Provincial Parks

It’s no secret that we’re a fan of Ontario Provincial Parks in general... some of them are just about the PERFECT place to enjoy the full experience.

Several are designated dark sky preserves can book ahead, have a place to overnight, there are washrooms near by, and you can scout out the north-facing locations right on the registration portal, to some degree!

What’s not to love?

The thing is, there is a big caveat involved, with regards to visiting one of the Ontario Provincial Parks for watching the northern lights.

You need to be a registered camper - this is non-negotiable. All day use passes expire at 10pm, and anyone who’s NOT a registered camper must leave at that point.

If you don’t book an actual campsite for the evening of your visit - and fail to leave by 10 pm - you’re trespassing ... and subject to some hefty fines!

Also, keep in mind that you're more likely to see people there, so be mindful of others that are there to enjoy the intensity of the northern lights in peace.

Of course, this is a camping blog... so we have no trouble with that requirement. It’s nice to be able to pull up a chair on a beach, watch the show, and walk back to our camper to go to bed.

Sure beats 3+ hour long drives home!

We recently took a big trip through Northern Ontario, and saw the Aurora Borealis at almost every campground, for a good stretch of it!

Anyway, here are some Provincial Parks you might want to look into, if planning a camping trip to view the Northern Lights:

Awenda Provincial Park

Located on Georgian Bay, we were at Awenda Provincial Park during the WILD Aurora Borealis show on May 10, 2024.

It’s pretty ideal - a HUGE beach (with opportunity to get away from the crowds!), directly facing north. Parking is nearby, as are washrooms.

Bon Echo Provincial Park

While we haven’t see aurora during any of our stays at Bon Echo Provincial Park, there’s a north-facing beach there that would be absolutely ideal!

Algonquin Provincial Park

We’ve seen aurora while staying at Algonquin Park, but we weren’t in a great spot. Lake of Two Rivers is fantastic, but there was a LOT of traffic in and out of the beach area that night, and the headlights on the highway were to the north.

Canisbay Lake, though, has a north facing beach that is free of traffic worries! It’s north of the highway AND a fair drive away from it.

Chutes Provincial Park

Chutes Provincial Park is another park that we haven’t seen Aurora at during our stays, but had a perfect spot ready to go.

The beach looks directly north, with very little light pollution. Even cooler, it has sort of a planetarium vibe to it, due to the layout.

We had a lot of fun doing astrophotography there!

Craigleith Provincial Park

Craigleith Provincial Park doesn’t have a lot going for it - aside from fossils - but it does have a really nice, north facing beach.

It IS in an area of higher light pollution than most of the others on the list, but it’s much lower than in the GTA, and it’s not a super far drive.

Driftwood Provincial Park

When you’re staying in the waterfront sites at Driftwood Provincial Park, you’ve got a great north-facing view, with fairly low light pollution.

We’ve had a decent aurora show on one of our two visits there, and you cannot beat the convenience of watching from your own campsite!

The park is in Northeastern Ontario, about 2.5 hours northwest of Ottawa.

Killarney Provincial Park

While we haven’t been to Killarney Provincial Park ourselves - yet - I’ve seen some fantastic northern lights photos that others have taken there.

Located on the northern shores of Lake Huron, it’s a bit of a drive from the GTA, but it’s known to be incredibly beautiful - and DARK at night!

Killbear Provincial Park

During our recent stay at Killbear Provincial Park, we got to see SEVERAL aurora borealis shows!

We were lucky enough to be up there during the big October 10th, 2024 display, and there were a few minor storms on some of the other nights / early mornings that week.

There are a few spots in the park with decent north-facing views, just PLEASE be respectful of other people.

We did have a hell of a time with drunk jerks on Sunset Rock during the big show - loud, flashing lights everywhere, walking right in front of cameras, etc... and that was in *October*!

Would hate to see how it would have been in the warmer months!

Lake Superior Provincial Park

Right in the heart of Algoma Country - and only about 1.5 hours north of Sault Ste. Marie - Lake Superior Provincial Park has been a favourite of ours for reasons that have nothing to do with the Northern Lights.

This past trip, though, we were able to enjoy the show from the beach, less than 100 metres from our camper!

As a note, the beach faces directly west, so you’ll be looking up the length of the beach to see the lights.

Pinery Provincial Park

While the aurora hasn’t shown up on any of our trips, Pinery Provincial Park would be a good place to see them, if the timing works out.

It’s relatively low light pollution, and has a huuuuuge beach with a north facing view of Lake Huron. It’s not *super* far north, but it’s a good option when you’re not looking to drive super far - and the show is of a higher Kp.

Point Farms Provincial Park

Point Farms Provincial Park is another park where the timing didn’t work out for us, but we scouted it for future possibilities.

The beach is west-facing, but juts out enough to have a good view north. It’s also in an area of low light pollution, and tends to have fewer people. It’s a quiet park, and we like that.

Polar Bear Provincial Park

I see Polar Bear Provincial Park come up from time to time - it’s a non-operating park, you have to fly in (and arrange for a landing permit), and I’m not entirely sure you’re even allowed to camp there.

Still, apparently it’s a good place to view them, if you can make the logistics work for you.

Quetico Provincial Park

Quetico Provincial Park is our absolute favourite place for northern lights, but we might be biased.

We’ve had AMAZING shows there, both times we’ve visited. I like to think it’s my ancestors doing a little dance to welcome me home 🙂

It’s a designated Dark Sky Preserve located in Northwestern Ontario, about 2 hours west of Thunder Bay.

... So it’s definitely a *drive* if you’re coming from the Greater Toronto Area. Absolutely worth it, though!

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

We only had a little light show during our stay in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park last year, but the conditions were great!

We had a water-view campsite that faced north, so it was super convenient to be *right* there for the lights!!

Tidewater Provincial Park

If you read about Polar Bear Provincial Park, and you’re looking to go to those kind of extremes - Tidewater Provincial Park - sounds AMAZING.

It’s right up near the shores of James Bay and Hudson Bay, and apparently you can see Beluga Whales and seals, right from the campgrounds!

You do have to take a train to get up there, then a water taxi to actually get to the park. Some day...

National Parks

We’ve been to 3 of the National Parks that are located in Ontario, and all have something to offer when it comes to night sky viewing.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Bruce Peninsula National Park is in our top 2 or 3 campgrounds ever - it might even be #1, just an absolutely beautiful place in general.

The windy skies of Lake Huron seem to help a lot when it comes to pushing cloud cover away, so we’ve had good luck when it comes to clear skies there.

On dark nights - when aurora activity is present - you’ll be able to see them from the south shore of Cyprus Lake - it runs along the campgrounds.

If you’re a bit more adventurous, walking the 2km+ (depending on where your campsite is) to Indian Head Cove - in the dark, in bear country - could potentially net you some AMAZING photos, depending on the conditions.

If it’s a strong storm and with a fairly bright moon to illuminate the beach there... the photos would be fabulous!

And hey, if the aurora doesn’t show up, it’s usually a great place to enjoy sunrise!

Point Pelee National Park

If you’re in Southern Ontario, are experiencing a strong enough aurora show to be seen there, and don’t want to make a long drive north, Point Pelee National Park - on Lake Ontario - MIGHT work for you.

While it is the most southern point in all of Canada, somehow it’s known as a great place for seeing the northern lights!

The thing is, although they’re a designated dark sky preserve, they’re NOT always open at night. They sometimes have “dark sky nights” scheduled, so you’d need some serious timing to work out in your favour.

That said, they do have some yurt-type camping available there, just not a full campground.

Pukaskwa National Park

Located on the shores of Lake Superior, Pukaskwa National Park is a GORGEOUS park.

While the beaches are all west-facing, you can get a good north view over the beach / forest from them. Alternately, you can get a north facing view over a lake, towards the beginning of the Bimose Kinoomagewnan Trail.

Miscellaneous

Beyond Provincial and National Parks, there are a few other locations - and general areas - that are known to be great spots for watching the Northern Lights.

Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is gorgeous, and Manitoulin Eco Park (Formerly gordon’s park eco reserve) is a designated dark sky preserve.

We haven’t been there yet, but I’ve seen some AMAZING photos!

Meaford Memorial Park

Meaford Memorial Park is the first campground we went to specifically for aurora hunting. We struck out that first time, but loved the waterfront sites so much, we’ve been back a TON of times since.

Located on the shore of Georgian Bay, you can get a fabulous north facing view over the water, right from your campsite.

... and yes, you DO need to book a campsite in order to be in the park after dark.

Anyway, on a recent trip, we FINALLY got to see the Northern Lights there for the first time. Unfortunately, it was a pretty minor storm - and during a full moon - but hey, it counts.

This park is a pretty easy drive from the GTA. It’s not the LOWEST light pollution option, but it’s a good option to have, especially for stronger storms /when you want to go camping anyway.

Moosonee

I’ve seen a LOT of fantastic aurora photos taken in and around Moosonee and nearby Moose Factory Island.

Note: Cree Village Ecolodge on Moose Factory Island shows up on a lot of current “Where to see Northern Lights in Ontario” lists, but is unfortunately they seem to have went out of business.

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve

So, I’m including Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve on this list because *everyone* does, but it comes with a giant caveat.

While it’s a Royal Astronomical Society of Canada-designated dark sky preserve - technically?

From everything I’ve heard lately, you CANNOT expect dark skies there during aurora activity. The park is known to be overrun with people, to the point where people will show photos of the sky *saturated* with hundreds of red brake lights.

Personally, I’d recommend avoiding it.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, “Go north, on a clear night, away from city lights and light pollution in general. Have a north facing view with a far-off horizon” covers almost everything you need to know about finding out where to see northern lights in Ontario.

Part of the fun in aurora hunting is the *hunt* - finding a beautiful location that work well for you, your situation, and the photo you want!

Hopefully, this post has provided some inspiration for you, to find your OWN best place to see the northern lights in Ontario!

Places To See The Northern Lights

Looking for a few ideas on where to start with your Aurora Borealis hunting? We're a big fan of aurora hunting at Provincial Parks.

There's a BIG caveat here, though: You must be a registered CAMPER in order to be in the parks after 10 pm. Otherwise, expect some big fines.

Looking to book a camping spot to see the show? Here are a few suggestions!

Arrowhead Provincial Park
Awenda Provincial Park
Big Bay, Ontario
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Canisbay Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park
Chutes Provincial Park
Driftwood Provincial Park
Killbear Provincial Park
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Pinery Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park