{"id":1737,"date":"2022-06-08T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T08:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/?p=1737"},"modified":"2023-08-07T14:55:01","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T14:55:01","slug":"best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_5_Best_Places_To_See_the_Northern_Lights_in_Ontario\"><\/span>The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">What you will learn in this Article<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661627dbdb582\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661627dbdb582\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#The_5_Best_Places_To_See_the_Northern_Lights_in_Ontario\" title=\"The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario\">The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#When_Is_The_Best_Time_To_See_the_Northern_Lights\" title=\"When Is The Best Time To See the Northern Lights?\">When Is The Best Time To See the Northern Lights?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#Manitoulin_Island\" title=\"Manitoulin Island\">Manitoulin Island<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#Lake_Superior_Provincial_Park\" title=\"Lake Superior Provincial Park\">Lake Superior Provincial Park<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#Cree_Village_Ecolodge\" title=\"Cree Village Ecolodge\">Cree Village Ecolodge<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#Torrance_Barrens_Dark_Sky_Reserve\" title=\"Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve\">Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#Chapleau\" title=\"Chapleau\">Chapleau<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#The_Top_5_Places_to_See_the_Northern_Lights_in_Ontario\" title=\"The Top 5 Places to See the Northern Lights in Ontario\">The Top 5 Places to See the Northern Lights in Ontario<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Seeing the Northern Lights should be on everyone\u2019s bucket list. Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights showcase a colourful array of glowing lights across the night sky. This fantastical feat of nature can only be seen in certain places and at certain times of the year, so consider yourself lucky if you get to experience them in your lifetime. There are a number of locations across Canada where you can see the Northern Lights, and we are going to be discussing the top 5 spots in Ontario to experience them.\u00a0 \u00a0Whether you&#8217;re<a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-selling-hiking-shoes\/\"> hiking<\/a> or<a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/how-long-would-it-take-to-bike-across-canada\/\"> biking across Canada<\/a>, it&#8217;s worth it for a little detour to see this phenomena.\u00a0 If you own <a href=\"https:\/\/exprealty.ca\/on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">real estate in Ontario<\/a>, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pack up for the weekend and go see this incredible natural phenomenon.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Is_The_Best_Time_To_See_the_Northern_Lights\"><\/span>When Is The Best Time To See the Northern Lights?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The summer isn\u2019t the best season to view the Northern Lights if you\u2019re looking in Ontario. Summer brings long days and short nights, which aren\u2019t optimal for Aurora Borealis viewing. However, when fall and winter approach, nights become longer and your chances of seeing the lights increase significantly. October through late March are known to be the best times to see the northern lights.<\/p>\n<p>Note that cold and clear nights are crucial to getting the best view of the Aurora Borealis, so the cloudy days in December and January may be more finicky than other months. Aim to search for the lights between 11pm and 3am on a clear night, and you\u2019ll likely get pretty lucky. For the best places to find dark, clear skies in Ontario, keep reading below.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Manitoulin_Island\"><\/span>Manitoulin Island<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1739 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"-\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Manitoulin-Island.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As the only Dark Sky Preserve in northern Ontario, Manitoulin Island is the prime location to spot the Northern Lights. Manitoulin Island has no light pollution, giving you crystal clear access to see the Aurora Borealis in action. It\u2019s located off the beaten path in Lake Huron and is considered a hidden gem of Ontario, so it\u2019s rarely busy or packed with people. However, you will find more people on the island throughout the summer months than in the fall and winter (which will serve you well considering when you\u2019ll be travelling to see them).<\/p>\n<p>To get to the island, you can either drive across the Little Current Swing Bridge on HWY 6 from Sudbury or take the Chi Cheemaun Ferry from the mainland. Note that it takes about an hour and a half to get from one end of the island to the other, so plan accordingly.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lake_Superior_Provincial_Park\"><\/span>Lake Superior Provincial Park<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1741 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"-\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Lake-Superior.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another excellent location to find a dark sky for northern lights viewing is the Dark Sky Preserve at Lake Superior Provincial Park. Not only does the park provide beautiful views and unique wildlife viewing during the day, but nighttime brings one of the most spectacular views of the northern lights found on Earth. There are several campsites and beaches along the coastline of Lake Superior, so head out to one of them to watch a spectacular sunset before gazing at the beauty of the northern lights.<\/p>\n<p>Some popular spots to stargaze and view the northern lights within Lake Superior Provincial Park include the Agawa Bay Campground Observation Area and the Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground. To stay overnight, you will need a permit that you can get from the visitors centre toward the park entrance. In addition, you will also need a vehicle permit to keep your car on the grounds overnight.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cree_Village_Ecolodge\"><\/span>Cree Village Ecolodge<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Directly along the Moose River in Northern Ontario, the Cree Village Eco Lodge sits right by James Bay. Accessible only by air or train, Cree Village offers a unique cultural experience before viewing some of the most beautiful natural wonders the sky has to offer. While at the lodge, you\u2019ll enjoy authentic Cree-fusion cuisine and luxury accommodations. Yet, the lodge\u2019s location is so remote that you are likely to see the northern lights in the sky on any given night right outside your room!<\/p>\n<p>If you are set on visiting the Village in the peak of winter, you\u2019ll likely need to access Moosonee by plane since the train tracks can easily become iced over. Once you are at the Moosonee Airport, you can typically take a helicopter to the Eco Lodge or take a taxi over the ice road. If you visit at a time where the train is running, the best option is to take it from Cochrane to Moosonee.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Torrance_Barrens_Dark_Sky_Reserve\"><\/span>Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1740 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"-\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Torrance-Barrens-Dark-Sky-Reserve.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Just northwest of Gravenhurst, Ontario, Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve offers the best viewing of the northern lights that Southern Ontario has to offer. The Reserve is just two hours from most <a href=\"https:\/\/exprealty.ca\/on\/toronto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">homes in Toronto<\/a>, so it\u2019s a rare northern lights adventure that stays closer to home. With no light pollution, you\u2019ll need a flashlight or your phone to light the way to some of the campgrounds, so we recommend hiking out there during the day and staying well into the night to get the best views of the Aurora Borealis.<\/p>\n<p>The Reserve is located right off\u00a0 District Road 13 between Washago and Gravenhurst. Pay close attention to your GPS, as the entrance sign can be difficult to spot at night.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chapleau\"><\/span>Chapleau<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This historic small town often gets overlooked by travelers, but it offers the largest wildlife preserve in the world. When visiting this charming town, you can explore shops and large greenspaces throughout the day, and head to Borden Lake at night to wait for the exquisite northern lights to surface. Chapleau Lodge is located directly on the lake and offers a fully immersive experience with fishing, boating, kayaking, and (of course) spotting the Aurora Borealis.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Top_5_Places_to_See_the_Northern_Lights_in_Ontario\"><\/span>The Top 5 Places to See the Northern Lights in Ontario<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Grab your camping gear, binoculars, and star maps and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at any one of these Ontario spots. It\u2019s important to keep in mind that the lights don\u2019t appear on just any night, so check the weather and be mindful of the season\u00a0 you are visiting. For whichever viewing spot you choose, we recommend calling some local hotels or lodges in the area to ask whether your preferred dates are within range of seeing the lights. Regardless, at any one of these locations, you are sure to see some of the most spectacular sky views that Canada, and the world, have to offer.<\/p>\n<p>Go over your gear checklist and consider getting a water filter, we covered a <a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-review\/\">LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Review<\/a> for you, so you can be sure to have all the hiking essentials before starting your exploration.<\/p>\n<p>After seeing the Northern Lights, there are tons of other activities you can do. Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/the-6-best-places-to-go-hiking-in-ontario\/\">best hiking places in Ontario<\/a> as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-go-kayaking-in-ontario\/\">best places to go kayaking in Ontario<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario Seeing the Northern Lights should be on everyone\u2019s bucket &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-ontario\/#more-1737\" aria-label=\"More on The 5 Best Places To See the Northern Lights in Ontario\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1737"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1737"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2064,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1737\/revisions\/2064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}