This Midwestern National Park Is One Of The Best Places In The Contiguous US To See The Northern Lights

Witnessing colorful northern lights swirling through the night sky is one of the most awesome experiences one can have in nature. One of the top places to see the northern lights in the United States is Alaska, but you don't have to fly all the way to the Last Frontier state to experience them. In the contiguous U.S., one of the best places for northern lights viewing is Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park, according to US Park Pass.

Minnesota's six National Park Service sites include national monuments, rivers, and a trail, but Voyageurs is the only one classified as a national park. Tucked at Minnesota's northern edge, near the Canadian border, the 218,000-acre park is a patchwork of forests, streams, and lakes — a haven for wildlife like moose, wolves, birds, and fish. Receiving more than 200,000 annual visitors in recent years, the park is also a natural playground for hikers, boaters, anglers, and birdwatchers. A boater's dream in summer as well as a fall foliage paradise, it's open throughout the year, with activities to enjoy in all seasons.

To appreciate one of the park's less obvious natural treasures, though, you'll have to crane your neck a little. Far away from major population centers and the light pollution they create, Voyageurs National Park earned an International Dark Sky Park designation, with velvety-black night skies that make the stars and Milky Way pop on clear nights. This ebony canvas is also the perfect backdrop for seeing the vivid green, yellow, pink, purple, and sometimes red streaks of the northern lights. You just have to time your visit right and know where in the park to look for them.

The northern lights may appear in Voyageurs' nighttime skies anytime of year, but you're most likely to see them in winter, simply because the night lasts longer. If you're planning to hit the park to try to see the lights, the first thing to do is perform a few checks. Have a look at the weather forecast to ensure that the skies will be clear. Also check the Aurora Forecast to assess the likelihood of aurora borealis (northern lights) activity on a given night. Another factor to consider is the stage of the moon, which is shown on the NASA sky calendar. You're more likely to see the lights in the absence of competing moonlight, so that means before the moon has risen or after it's set. Another opportune moment is on new moon nights, when the orb is completely shadowed.

Once you arrive at the park for your aurora hunting, find a spot with a north-facing horizon that's clear of tree branches and other obstacles, affording the widest possible view. Some suggested locations are the parking area for the Voyageurs Forest Overlook, the Kettle Falls Dam, the Beaver Pond Overlook, the grounds of the Ash River Visitor Center, the Meadwood Road Day Use Area, and the upper parking lot for the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

A final thing to remember is that Mother Nature doesn't follow a fixed schedule, so be patient while watching those skies. Stay awake all night if you can to maximize your chances. Even if you don't end up seeing the aurora, you're likely to enjoy a night of the most dazzling stars you've ever seen.

Camping in Voyageurs National Park is a wonderful way to maximize your exposure to the nighttime sky. And let's face it: Sitting outside all night waiting for a natural light show is much more fun around a crackling campfire near a tent stocked with everything you need, like food, beverages (a little rum, anyone?), warm clothing, and other creature comforts. Those lacking an adventurous spirit need not apply, as traditional campgrounds do not exist anywhere within the national park.

Two primitive walk-in campsites are available, though, with fire rings and tent pitches. These are located along the Kab-Ash Trail, the longest trail in the park. To access the park's 157 frontcountry campsites near the shores of large lakes, a watercraft is needed. Similarly, canoes or boats of some kind are needed to reach the trailheads for the park's 14 backcountry sites, which are located near lakes on the Kabetogama Peninsula. More modern accommodation options are available at the in-park Kettle Falls Hotel, which is also only accessible by boat. The hotel offers a resort-like setting with single and double rooms, multi-person villas, a saloon, a restaurant, sport courts, a swimming area, and a small store.

The closest international airports to Voyageurs National Park are Falls International Airport (INL) in International Falls, Minnesota (about 10 miles away), and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), which is four hours south of the park. Public transportation to the park is not available, so the best bet is to rent a car in Minneapolis or International Falls, which incidentally is ranked among the top 20 coldest cities in the world.