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2016
3
September
Where can I see northern lights near Calgary or Edmonton in December?

Question:

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Chu

Hi. looking for recommendation on where to find northern light around Calgary / Edmonton in December??

Humans say...

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Naumy

This should be interesting
!!!!

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David

Fort Mcmurray ... every clear night ....

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Lee

Go to iceland. Sorry terrible answer to you question... but...

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Chu

I just went to iceland n back. 19 days of rain. god must not like me a lot.

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Stephani

Depends on the night but you can see them from various places in alberta ! I would try to go further north though , check out jasper maybe ??

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Chu

Jasper is considered north? Im wondering if there is a nice lodge in the middle of nowhere that I can stay in. like a farm house / shed in the forest...

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Chu

Cos i cant really stay in a forest n have to risk driving in the dark through forests into these remote places. Would be nice if there is a forest lodge to stay in..

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Jonathan

This site offers aurora predictions and viewing advice for the Edmonton area: http://www.aurorawatch.ca/

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Chu

Thanks a lot. I know it's more like a rare thing. Just havent figured out if it's worth it getting a tour packages.

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Carolyn

After living in Calgary for 21 years, there has been only ONE time that I saw the aurora from in the city...back in 1997 or 1998, I believe. It's rare with more southern latitude, and city lights. One year we travelled to Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, and we were thrilled to see the aurora 4 out of 5 nights. Of course, there are no guarantees. If skies are cloudy, you won't see anything. Good luck.

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Chu

Hey what's a cheap way to get there yellow knife I mean.

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Carolyn

I wouldn't say it's cheap. About $370 CAD to fly return Calgary-Yellowknife on westjet, if you pick good dates in January...other dates are higher. Of course driving is cheaper - but that's a lot of time, and stressful if winter driving conditions are bad.

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Cheryl

Air North also flys Calgary to Yellowknife - I flew them to Whitehorse and they were good.

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Chu

Oh air north. Haven't come across this airline before.
Btw is it just me or are the Canadian domestic flights just ridiculously expensive...

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Shannon

Canadian domestic flights ARE ridiculously expensive. Not just you
You can fly around the world for less than you can fly across Canada

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Cathy

Chu Air North is an excellent airline - have used them many times!

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Chu

Cathy Hey thanks. I just checked the airline. not cheap either. for a 2 hour flight, $300-400+

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Carolyn

Chu You are so right, it's really expensive to fly domestically within Canada. Over the past year, I have needed to fly Calgary-London, UK several times, and I have consistently found this to be cheaper than fares I have previously booked Calgary-Toronto. Of course it's crazy that a 9-hour international flight overseas should be cheaper than a 4-hour domestic flight, but this is "normal" in Canada...

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Chu

thats really gonna cost a lot for a family. thanks anyway. i thought locals have found a way to get around this situation.

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Jonathan

Yellowknife is a great aurora viewing place! It has a robust tourist industry set up for viewing the lights. It sees quite a few visitors from Japan, in particular. In the winter, you can drive out onto frozen Great Slave Lake for beautiful, unobstructed views.
If you prefer to avoid winter, the lights are often quite good at the end of August. If you time it right, you might even catch some of the Perseid meteor shower too.
Also, if you go in August, you could drive quite easily. However, if you are renting a car, make sure you are allowed to take it into the North, and on gravel highways. Not all companies permit it. You're looking at about 15 hours from Edmonton International Airport.

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Keith

There is an app to forcast better days for northern lights. And locations. It will notify you in advance. Then you just need to get away from lighted areas.
Northern lights are way stronger in certain solar events. An hour north of calgary, I've seen amazing lights. An heard them crackle and hum!

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Chu

OMG. so cool. I wanna see them crackle n hum too!! but its really a chance event. I just want to stay in the outskirts if possible inside the national parks so im ready for it.

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Keith

Yes. But its not chance. The app explains when they are strong. And why. .

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Karen

I leave north of grande Prairie an hour and a half and they are amazing here.

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Chu

Hey there are lights there?

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Keith

Heres the app i like. But there are lots.

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Gordon

There is an aroura map on spaceweather. Lots of other good stuff. The main thing is to go outside and look. I saw the northern lights a lot when I lived in Vancouver. I have seen them as far south as Arizona. Go out now, there is a G1 class magnetic storm so this is the time.
http://www.spaceweather.com/

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Yvonne

Witnessed them traveling north of Edmonton towards Rainbow Lake, as well as near Caroline a couple summers ago, beautiful!

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Lucas

Check out the Facebook group Alberta Aurora Chasers. They have a pinned post there with a tonne of great viewing locations from everywhere from Drumheller to Canmore, Banff and in between!

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Chu

Thanks!!!


A.I. says...

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Best Places to See the Northern Lights Near Calgary and Edmonton in December

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are a natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's atmosphere. The result is a beautiful display of light that can be seen in the sky at night.

If you're hoping to see the Northern Lights, December is a great time to visit Alberta. The nights are long and dark, and the chances of seeing the aurora are higher than at other times of the year.

There are a few different places near Calgary and Edmonton where you can see the Northern Lights. Here are a few of the best:

  • Elk Island National Park: This park is located about an hour east of Edmonton. It's a great place to see the Northern Lights because it's far from the city lights.
  • Jasper National Park: This park is located about a four-hour drive west of Edmonton. It's one of the most popular places in Canada to see the Northern Lights. Jasper National Park is home to some of the darkest skies in the country, so you'll have a good chance of seeing the aurora here.
  • Waterton Lakes National Park: This park is located about a four-hour drive south of Calgary. It's another great place to see the Northern Lights because it's far from the city lights.

If you're planning a trip to see the Northern Lights, be sure to check the forecast before you go. The aurora is most likely to be visible on clear nights with little or no moon.

And finally, be patient. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and they can't be predicted with certainty. But if you're lucky, you'll be rewarded with a truly unforgettable experience.









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