2024 is the best time to see the Northern Lights in decades: How to plan your trip

If you’ve always wanted to see the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, 2024 could be your year. 

According to Erica Grow Cei, a public affairs specialist and meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora is expected to be especially strong through 2025.

“We are entering a period of expected increased activity on the sun. Some types of space weather, called Coronal Mass Ejections, or CMEs, can cause the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, to reach farther south and look more spectacular,” she said in a statement. “This period of higher activity is likely to last through this year into 2025, but the technology doesn't yet exist to predict precisely when a strong geomagnetic storm will happen.”

USA TODAY had a chance to witness the phenomenon firsthand on a trip to Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, organized for journalists by Expedia, and the wispy green light in the sky did not disappoint.

But the aurora can also be unpredictable and hard to spot. Seeing it is not always a matter of just going somewhere northerly and cold and staring up at the sky, so if you’re planning a Northern Lights trip, you’ll want to go somewhere that has other activities you’re equally excited to do.

Tips for seeing the aurora

◾ Get expert help: Tracy Therrien, owner of Bucket List Tours in Yellowknife, hosted one of the viewings USA TODAY attended and said in an interview that it’s always better to go with a professional.

“When the aurora first comes out, most times she’s actually white in color to the naked eye, and for some people, it’s hard to distinguish the aurora from a cloud, which is why we encourage you to go with aurora guides,” she said. “They need to know in the beginning it may be just white in color, but as she gets stronger and stronger, that’s when we see the color to the naked eye, but we can always see the color through the camera.”

◾ Avoid the full moon: Therrien also said it’s best to avoid a full moon when you’re planning your trip because even that celestial bright light can wash the aurora out, and to stay in the location for at least four or five days, not including travel, to maximize your chance of seeing the lights.

◾ Stay a while: “The longer the stay, the better the chances, but more than anything to take a day or two of rest,” she said. “The five-night stay guarantees that much more of a chance of seeing her, just staying those couple of days.” 

Expedia’s Northern Lights viewing guide also includes tips like going somewhere remote, away from the light pollution of cities, wearing the right winter clothes for extended periods in below-zero temperatures, and using a tripod to best capture your photos.

◾ Get the right gear: Different tour companies rent out the needed gear to withstand the cold temperatures. During USA TODAY’s trip in late January, temperatures in Yellowknife reached below 30 degrees Fahrenheit – which locals called “warm,” compared to the week prior – but with a set of insulated snow boots, snow pants, parka, mittens, neck gaiters and headgear, the group was able to explore the outdoors for extended periods comfortably.

Therrien said renting gear can be a way to help travel more economically – not having to pack bulky winter clothes will save space in your luggage for souvenirs.

Why Yellowknife is a great place to see the Northern Lights

There are plenty of places on Earth where the aurora is visible, but according to the Canadian Space Agency, Yellowknife is an especially good place for viewing.

"The city is located under the auroral oval, a huge oval centered on the Earth’s north magnetic pole where the northern lights (aurora borealis) often occur," an agency spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Yellowknife has experienced more frequent and stronger aurora recently because the Earth’s magnetic field is being buffeted by more frequent and stronger storms in the solar wind, storms that begin at the sun. Like the Earth, the sun has seasons and the sun is currently in its stormy season, with the peak forecasted to occur later this year."

Joe Buffalo Child of indigenous-owned North Star Adventures added: "We also have no mountains or oceans near Yellowknife, which gives us a stable weather system that provides plenty of clear nights. In the Dene language, we say 'yaké nagas,' which means 'the sky is stirring' – there’s nothing else on Earth like it."

Other things to do in Yellowknife

While you’ll likely be able to see the aurora on a trip to Yellowknife, it’s always possible the weather won’t cooperate. Cloudy skies can block your view, so you should take advantage of the city's other activities.

USA TODAY had a chance to go snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and dogsledding during our two-day visit, and we got to sample local restaurants as well.

Aurora Village, a popular Northern Lights viewing site just outside of downtown Yellowknife, also hosts activities and local speakers to help you better understand your surroundings.

Therrien said another operator recently opened a polar plunge and sauna. Located by the frozen shore of Great Slave Lake, Jake Olson of Arctic Duchess Adventures offers a relaxed atmosphere for travelers to lounge in the warm sauna – with a clear view of the sky and often the aurora – and the opportunity to do a polar plunge safely. Unlike other plunges, Olson installed a pool right off the lake to ensure no one would go below the ice and installed lights at the bottom for a visual sense of security.

Yellowknife is also the capital of the Northwest Territories, and there are daily tours of the legislative assembly. A wildlife museum also recently opened in the city, and there’s a glassworks downtown where you can create a memento of your visit. 

How to plan your trip

Expedia has a Northern Lights booking guide, not just for Yellowknife but for other global destinations, including those in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Alaska.

Some cruise lines also offer Northern Lights expeditions, so it’s best to research and determine which destination or option best suits your travel needs.

Wherever you go, be sure not just to do it for Instagram.

“Patience is key, and experimenting with your camera settings is the secret sauce to capturing the Northern Lights,” professional nature photographer Dave Sandford said in a statement. “That said, don’t forget to savor the moment. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been fortunate to see them in person. I always make a point to put the camera down and lose myself in the extraordinary experience of the Northern Lights.” 

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

Editor’s note: The reporter on this story received access to this trip from Expedia. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com