Yellowknife – The Best Place to See the Aurora Borealis

Located on the Northern shore of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Yellowknife is one of the best places in the North, and the world, to view the Aurora Borealis, also called the Northern Lights. There are two main aurora viewing seasons in Yellowknife – autumn starts in late August until early October, and winter launches in early December until early April. The two seasons add up to 28 weeks when the Northern Lights casts its magic spell over Yellowknife.

What are Northern Lights?

The aurora's dazzling dancing lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with the earth's atmosphere. When charged solar-wind particles reach the atmosphere, they light up the air molecules. Above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres, the lights can be seen. In the north, they are known as the 'Aurora borealis,' whereas in the south, they are known as the 'Aurora australis.'

Auroral displays come in many colors although the most common are pale green and pink. There were reports of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet colors. The lights come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains, or shooting rays that light up the sky with an eerie glow. The city of Yellowknife is located in the centre of this belt, which spans from the 60th parallel to the Arctic Circle. The Northern Lights are as powerful, brilliant, and spectacular as they are in the Northwest Territories, the months of late August through to mid-April are the best times to see them.

What to wear for Yellowknife’s winter?

It can be dangerously cold during winter in Yellowknife and temperatures can drop down below -40°C. It is important to dress properly and keep warm because most of the best activities in Yellowknife are outdoors. Visitors can bring their own gear or rent the winter gear with your tour guides or B&B owners in Yellowknife.

The following items are included in the winter clothing rental:

• Parka/Jacket

• Warm Ski Pants

• Winter Boots

• Mitts (Gloves)

When to see the Northern Lights?

There is no need to guess when the best time is to see the Northern Lights because there is a website that you can check the Northern Lights forecast. There is also an app called “Aurora” that show the chance of seeing the Northern Lights in your current location. The best time to see the Northern Lights is usually from 10pm to 2am.

What to do in Yellowknife?

Join an Aurora hunting tour

Yellowknife claims to be the best place to view the aurora in the world as it is perfectly situated underneath the auroral oval. There is a 90% chance of seeing the Northern Lights if you visit the city for at least 3 days. Aurora hunting tours include a tour guide sharing helpful tips in aurora photography and allow travelers to chase the aurora from the comfort of a lodge, on a snowmobile, on foot, by car or at a Teepee complete with a warming station and meals. The tour guide will pick you up from the hotel or B&B and take you on Aurora viewing, ice road trips or city tours.

Dog sledding

To get a sense of life before vehicles, take a dog sledding tour in Yellowknife. You will be whizzing through the snow on a sled pulled by dogs, and they will make sure you have a wonderful time on the trails.

Eating local wild caught fish

Bullocks Bistro is the most famous Yellowknife fish & chips house that has been serving local wild caught fish from Great Slave Lake for over 30 years. They serve fresh cooked deep-fried, pan-fried or grilled fish in front of diners. To avoid waiting in line, it is highly recommended to make a reservation in advance. Another feature of this restaurant is its walls, which all the walls and ceiling are filled with signatures and doodles on international currencies left by guests from all over the world.

 

Snowking Winter Festival

The Snowking Winter Festival, held annually on the ice of Great Slave Lake since 1995, is one of Yellowknife’s most popular winter event. The snow structure changes every year and there is a café, VIP room, stage, and patio in this multi-roomed palace.

Ice fishing

This is the traditional way the northern people fishing from the lake for many years. However, the ice fishing experience for tourists is only fishing in the sense as the fisherman had already drilled the hole in the frozen Great Slave Lake. The guide will demonstrate how to catch fish in the north and how to prepare the fish for cooking over an open fire.

Where to stay in Yellowknife?

In Yellowknife, you can stay in hotels, motels, apartment hotels or a variety of B&Bs. Although the accommodation in Yellowknife is capable for over 1,000 visitors, reservations are encouraged.

The Explorer Hotel

With 259 rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space, this is Yellowknife's largest full-service hotel and a great place to stay. The downtown core is only a 5-minute walk away.

 

Chateau Nova Yellowknife

This is a brand new, full-service hotel with 141 rooms and suites located in the Northeast area of downtown Yellowknife and it is just around 5 minutes’ walk from the nearest Shoppers Drug Mart.

 

Days Inn & Suite Yellowknife

It is located in the heart of Yellowknife and offers a variety of rooms and larger suites, as well as hotel services, sauna, fitness centre, and complimentary airport shuttle.