North Dakota: Northern Lights and a Stargazer's Heaven
Northern Lights, galaxies, and endless stars. Discover them all right here!
With vast prairies and dark, open spaces, North Dakota is made for skywatchers. Here, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights), countless stars, wandering planets, and far‑off galaxies all seem to shine a little brighter.
Northern Lights
North Dakota is one of the best places to scan the dark skies for the northern lights. Take a look outside on a crisp, clear night to see the amazing lights dance across a black background in vivid green, purple, blue, red and orange hues. Some of the best places for viewing the northern lights are Theodore Roosevelt National Park, any of North Dakota's state parks and scenic areas like Crow Flies High Butte at New Town and Mystical Horizons in the Turtle Mountains near Bottineau.
Aurora Forecasts are updated daily - watch for potential opportunities to view the Northern Lights. Please note that these are "projected" not guaranteed.
Knowing when and where to look for the stunning aurora borealis will help you make the most of the experience.
Here are some tips from North Dakota experts on the secrets of seeing the northern lights:
Step #1: Be Prepared
- The northern lights can appear year-round in North Dakota. Pay attention to local weather experts like NWS Bismarck, NWS Grand Forks, Space Weather Prediction Center or SpaceWeatherLive.com.
- Keep in mind that once an alert goes out, we won’t know for sure until about 30 minutes before showtime if the lights will happen or not, so stay on your toes!
- Keep an eye on other weather conditions. If your area is expected to get clouds, you most likely won’t see the lights. Sometimes even a full moon can drown them out.
Step #2: Be A Lights Chaser
- If the lights are going to happen in North Dakota, you don’t have to worry about going to a particular area of the state. They most likely will be seen statewide.
- Two to three hours after sunset tends to be the best viewing time. Make sure to go at least 20 to 30 miles outside of any town to avoid light pollution.
- Most importantly: BE PATIENT. The lights can happen for 10 to 15 minutes or they can stretch into the next night. They also will come in waves where they will get stronger and weaker over time.
Step #3: Be a Photographer
- If you’re trying to photograph the lights, it is essential to bring a tripod. The camera should be kept completely still.
- Make sure your camera allows you to manually keep your shutter open for longer periods of time (10-30 seconds) in order to let in the most light possible.
- Open your aperture as wide as it can go to help get even more light into your shot.
Looking for some out-of-this-world landscapes to capture the lights in? Click the photos below for some recommendations.
Stargazing
You don’t have to venture far from North Dakota’s cities to feel completely connected to the universe. Look up, and suddenly the night sky becomes a place of wonder — a canvas that makes you think about impossible distances, like what a thousand light‑years really means. Some nights bring meteor showers streaking overhead; other times you’ll spot the soft glimmer of airplanes passing by, a steady train of Starlink satellites, or even the International Space Station gliding silently across the dark. No matter where you are, the sky here always has something to share.
Looking for the best skies? Try these stunning stargazing locations:
1. Pembina Gorge - Take a short hike along the Tetrault Trail and reward yourself with sweeping views of the Pembina River and rolling hills. As night falls, the overlook becomes a peaceful perch for watching the stars glow above the valley.
2. Rough Rider State Park - Picture yourself under a sky full of shimmering stars while gentle water flows nearby. This quiet, scenic spot offers a calming escape where the night sky truly steals the show.
3. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park - History meets the heavens here. Settle in at the campground or stroll through the reconstructed earthlodge village to experience the same star-filled skies that once guided generations across these lands.
4. Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Open 24/7, this park offers some of North Dakota’s most awe-inspiring night views. With little interruption and endless horizons, it’s the perfect place to unwind and take in brilliant natural light shows and the Milky Way. Popular overlooks like Buck Hill and Oxbow Overlook give you sweeping views that feel made for stargazing.
5. Sheyenne National Grassland - Wide-open prairies mean boundless skies. The Grasslands’ vast horizons create ideal conditions for catching countless stars all at once, making every glance upward feel like a grand reveal.