AuroraCast / Best month / Dawson City

Best month to see the northern lights in Dawson City

Planning a trip to Dawson City, Canada for the aurora? Here's the month-by-month guide. The best months are September, October, March, February. Looking for tonight's odds instead? →

Month-by-month viewing quality

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
MonthViewingWhy
January Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
February Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
March Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
April Marginal Short nights at the season edge
May No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
June No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
July No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
August Marginal Short nights at the season edge
September Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
October Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
November Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
December Peak Long dark nights + peak activity

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds in Dawson City: darkness and activity. You need real darkness — so the bright midnight-sun months are out no matter how strong the aurora is. On top of that, geomagnetic storms run statistically stronger around the spring and autumn equinoxes (the Russell–McPherron effect), which is why September and October and March and February tend to edge out the dead of winter. Dawson City's season runs late august to april.

Dawson City, the gold-rush town deep in the Yukon, sits high under the oval with bone-dry interior skies and almost no light pollution.

Where to stand in Dawson City

The Midnight Dome overlook above town, or the Dempster Highway heading north into true wilderness.

Tours & stays to book

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Northern lights tours from Dawson City

Viator · guided tours · from $80

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Aurora chases & photo tours in Dawson City

GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $80

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Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Dawson City

Booking.com · lodging

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This guide is built from each month’s dark-hours and the long-run seasonal pattern of aurora activity — it tells you when the odds are best, not what any single night will do. Aurora viewing is never guaranteed. Our method & sources.