These North American Ski Destinations Offer Front-Row Seats to the Northern Lights
Published by Allie Hochman
If You're Chasing the Aurora Magic, Be Sure to Head to These Iconic Mountains
For the winter adventure junkies, the snow season is pure magic, from fast-paced shred weekends to cozy evenings spent with loved ones, and so much more. And let's not forget about the mesmerizing lightshow that emergences come wintertime - Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. There's nothing quite like the wondrous purple and green features that dance through the cold, crisp sky, especially alongside one of North America's snow-covered mountains. While it's often unpredictable whether or not the lights will appear, paying a visit to the following destinations will certainly increase your chances of catching a glimpse.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
If you’re determined to experience the essence of the Aurora Borealis in the Northwest Territories of Canada, we highly recommend heading to Yellowknife, especially between the months of November and April. While making your way through the quaint town, you’ll notice the trail of tiny lighthouses, which are there to alert pedestrians when the Northern Lights are expected to be visible. For a one-of-a-kind experience, the town welcomes visitors to embark on an official Yellowknife Northern Lights Tour. This is a magical opportunity to spend three full evenings embracing the lights - whether you prefer to cozy up in a cabin, participate in an Aurora hunting tour, or kick back and relax in a geo dome for a front seat to Mother Nature’s iconic light show. Visitors are encouraged to work with local travel experts to best evaluate dates, weather conditions, and other factors in an effort to maximize the chances of seeing the Northern Lights at its prime.
Additionally, Yellowknife is all about winter adventures, with options for cross-country skiing, dogsledding, ice fishing, and more. Due to the lower elevation, the town doesn’t have quite as many vertical trails for slopestyle skiing compared to other mountains, but if you’re a die-hard downhill skier, you’ve got to check out Yellowknife Ski Club. With over 14 kilometers of groomed trails, the ski club acts as the hub for Nordic skiing, with opportunities to take lessons, give night skiing a try under the lights, and even participate in local races. Be sure to check out their calendar of endless events all season long!
Big White, British Columbia
With an average snowfall of 24.5 feet and 119 runs of all terrain levels, this family-friendly mountain makes for the ultimate winter escape. But that’s not all that Big White’s known for - thanks to the remarkable height of this British Columbia mountain, along with the resort's latitude making way for increased solar activity, a sighting of the Northern Lights may be on the horizon. And given its distance from the city of Kelowna, the clear, dark nights during the winter make for an absolutely mesmerizing sight.
There’s nothing like shredding under the stars, especially when it means an up-close look at this magical scenery. Visitors are welcome to purchase tickets for nighttime skiing on Fridays and Saturdays all season long, as multiple lifts, including the Bullet High Speed Chairs, are open until dusk, so adventure-junkies can make their way down one of North America’s largest vertical drops.
SkiBig3, Alberta
There’s no shortage of adventure when it comes to the mountains of SkiBig3 in Alberta, as the charming town of Banff is home to three different resorts to choose from. And with so much ground to cover, you can probably imagine that there are numerous places to spot the Northern Lights. Especially when stepping away from the bright lights of the crowded cityscapes, where you'll find quaint and welcoming towns like Lake Louise. Often referred to as Canada’s friendly giant, Lake Louise is known for its versatile terrain across four peaks, catering to skiers and riders of all levels. Next, we've got Banff Sunshine, which is located in the heart of Banff National Park. This iconic area of the Canadian Rockies offers 1.6 million acres of picturesque views, completely uninterrupted by civilization, along with access to over 3,300 acres of ski terrain.
And let’s not forget about Banff’s best-kept secret, Mt. Norquay, which is not only famous for hosting World Cup athletes for training, but it’s also the only mountain that offers night skiing in Banff National Park. So, pending visibility on any particular night, you very well might ski right through the Northern Lights. While Mt. Norquay is the only of the three that allows skiing after dark, each resort offers endless opportunities for aprés ski, festive slopeside events, guided tours, and more. Safe to say, winding down after a day of shredding while soaking up the magic of Northern Lights is truly magical.
Eaglecrest, Alaska
To get a true taste of Alaska’s local ski community, buckle up your boots and check out more than 640 acres of pillowy powder at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Whether you’re a daring skier ready to conquer the one-of-a-kind vertical drop or you're simply looking to enjoy the views and charm of this mystical mountain, endless adventure awaits at Eaglecrest. As the highest road access point in Juneau, Alaska, you can probably imagine the views, especially at dusk, being served at this epic mountain. Come sundown, especially on clear winter nights, you very well may catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, thanks to the resort’s ideal distance from the city lights.
There’s truly never been a better time to visit this community-owned and operated ski resort, as this season marks 50 years of Eaglecrest, so it goes without saying there will be celebrations all season long. Following the epic aprés celebration in January, Eagelcrest has been busy putting on an array of events to make this season extra special.
