Voyageurs National Park is now officially one of best places anywhere to see the night sky.

Voyageurs National Park

The International Dark Sky Association has recognized the 218,000-acre national park in northern Minnesota as a dark sky park for its efforts to keep the park dark at night. The area has some of the darkest skies in the Midwest, which makes the night sky more visible to people on the ground.

Park officials developed a light management plan to earn the designation, including retrofitting lights used in the park. There are only about 80 such parks worldwide.

International Dark Sky Park

The International Dark Sky Association created the designation to recognize “a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” Fifty-seven parks in the U.S. boast the title, including the Grand Canyon, Arches, and Joshua Tree. But the difference between them and Voyageurs is the sheer number of travelers who seek them out. In 2019, Voyageurs drew just 232,974 visitors. There were 1.5 million at Arches, 3 million at Joshua Tree, and nearly 6 million at the Grand Canyon.

Northern Lights resort on Lake Kabetogama is a top destination to to see the Aurora Borealis in Northern Minnesota

  • It is awe inspiring to view the northern lights reflect in our beautiful lake in the heart of Voyageurs National Park.

  • The pictures you see on this page are taken right from our dock.

  • Our resort is on Northern Lights Road and aptly named!

Where can I see the Northern Lights in Minnesota?

Is viewing the Northern Lights on your bucket list? We often hear that, so created this page to improve your chance of viewing the beautiful Aurora Borealis. For your best chance to see the northern lights dance, you need a clear, dark sky and some patience! But we love the hunt & think it’s worth it.

How do I know when I can see the Northern Lights?

On this page, we provide some of our personal favorite resources for you to predict viewing the Aurora wherever you are! The predictions are a “guideline” of how “high of a probability” you have to view the Northern Lights in your area.

Here are the basics for viewing the Northern Lights and understanding the predictions:

1. The aurora “storms” are assigned a “KP  level” of intensity, which gives an indicator of the size of the storm.
2. The higher the KP, the higher the chance of you viewing the Northern Lights.
3. So, you have to know when the KP levels are peaking to see the northern lights!
4. The NOAA “real time” Ovation map, gives you the best picture of your viewing possibility.
5. The darker and clearer the sky the better. City lights will mask your ability to see the northern lights. And the darker the moon, the better!