Can You See the Northern Lights in Montana

February 17, 2022 Post a Comment

( Northern Lights and Milky Style over Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana )

If yous're planning on visiting Montana anytime shortly, consider making the trip around a time of year when you tin see the northern lights. While some areas of the country take higher visibility than others, overall, Montana's wide open spaces combined with depression air pollution make for some of the clearest nighttime skies in the U.S.

What Are Northern Lights?

The northern lights or aurora borealis are the visible collision of electrical-charged particles from the sun and gases in the globe'due south temper.

They are merely visible well-nigh the north and southward poles. The most common colors are green and pink although colors similar red, purple, and blue take been seen in the past. The common green color is formed when the sun's particles collide with oxygen molecules, and majestic rays happen when the primary gas is nitrogen.

Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Montana?

1. Glacier National Park

Although seeing the northern lights above Glacier National Park is a rare result, when it does happen and the skies bask in the illumination of the light show, information technology is said to be a brilliant memory that will terminal a lifetime. Many will deem witnessing the northern lights in person as a once if a lifetime opportunity.

The all-time hazard to get a view will happen in the late fall and winter when the nights are longer. The darker the sky, the meliorate the show. Early spring has as well been a promising time to witness the lite bear witness. As e'er, the nights that are cloudless and nighttime are best. Fortunately, many areas in Montana have little light pollution that volition increment the take a chance to take hold of sight of the lights.

All-time places to view

Bowman – The most northern parts of the park volition offer the all-time take chances to witness the lights. Bowman is considered to be more of an off-grid destination. Deeper into the North Fork region, the pitch-black skies and serene surroundings offer an ideal place to view.
Kintla Lakes – Similar to Bowman, the lakes can be found along unsealed park roads, which means it takes more effort to become out at that place. The more effort information technology takes means that it's non likely you lot'll exist sharing your infinite with someone else. Both lakes are near the Polebridge community, which is as well in the North Fork region.
Lake Mcdonald – The lake is located just two miles from the westward entrance of the park. It is a glacier-carved lake and is ane of the favorite locations to view the northern lights. The lake offers a unique show as the vivid aurora volition reflect off of the h2o. In addition, the surrounding high peaks encapture the light and glow.
Due north Fork, Flat Caput River – Non only is this a great angling spot, but it is also a terrfic viewing spot for the Northern Lights. Absolutely beautiful scenery with unobstructed views of the night sky.

2. Big Sky

The best experiences tend to ever come up from going off the filigree. Though these trips tend to take a fiddling more planning and preparation, they are always worth the extra effort for the experience gained from information technology. Off-filigree means access to the purest, black sky, which will create the ideal atmosphere to witness the northern lights.

Information technology is important to note, this otherworldly light show doesn't happen every dark. It is recommended to pay close attention to the K-Alphabetize if y'all want the best chance to be in the right identify at the right time.

"The K-Alphabetize is a measurement of the relative fluctuation in Earth's geomagnetic fields. The higher the K-index (on a scale of 0 to 9), the improve your chances of viewing the northern lights and seeing them at lower latitudes. For regions of Montana s of I-90, a Kp of 7 or higher is generally required to see the northern lights." source

3. Whitefish Lake

Whitefish lake is a secluded area located within the Whitefish Lake Country Park. The lake is one of the virtually popular lakes in Montana. It is about one mile broad and vii miles long. The lake, along with the immense mountain backdrop, is known to be a spectacular spot to witness the northern lights on rare occasions the atmospheric conditions are optimal.

4. Sleeping Giant Montana

Sleeping giant is some other popular destination to catch the mesmerizing colors of the northern lights in the sky. It is located only outside of Helena, Montana. The mountain sits at viii,917ft acme and much of the vi,665-acre wilderness park is roadless state. The less humanization, the more pure night skies are available to catch the northern lights.

(Northern Lights Over the Due north Fork of the Flathead River)

5. Bozeman

Bozeman is a known location to every avid adventurer, particularly those who love the mountains and backcountry exploring. Viewing the northern lights in Bozeman offers an opportunity to exist closer to town and not so exposed to the cold and surrounding nature. Although this is all a function of a memorable experience, it'due south not everyone's cup of tea.

6. Missoula

Missoula is peacefully located in the heart of the northern Rocky Mountains. Its location near the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot Rivers offers several great areas to catch the northern lights. With its location in western Montana, Missoula is the coming together point of the five vast mountain ranges, a view desired by many on the hunt to catch the northern lights.

7. Makoshika Land Park

The land park is located in Dawson County Montana. It is the largest country park in Montana with more than 11,000 acres. With so much broad, open space, it has become a pop location to view the northern lights. It is possible to get off the grid to the point of being surrounded by nothing but nature. The dark skies and clean air offer the ideal adventure to grab the rare phenomenon.

A fun fact: The park also features badland formations and the fossil remains of Tyrannosaurus Male monarch, Triceratops, and other prehistoric life.

(Related: vi All-time Places To See The Northern Lights In Wisconsin)

Tips To See The Northern Lights In Montana

The Northern Lights' visibility depends on conditions like deject cover, the viewer's proximity to light pollution, and the time of day. For maximum visibility, get as far abroad from light pollution as possible, and choose a squeamish, long winter night.
Some other light issue to take notation of is the moon. The brighter the moon is, the harder it volition exist to encounter the lights so check the lunar cycles and plan to scope out the lights during a new moon, the darkest of the moon cycles.
The best time of yr to see the northern lights is in the winter. In the icy common cold months of December-March, the sky is usually much clearer and the nights longer.
The best time of day to dee the northern lights is the nighttime! Word has it that the perfect time to run into them is midnight.
The Northern Lights are all-time seen in the winter months, and when the K-index is high. Montana when the K-index was at a 7. You tin can check for K-alphabetize levels online if yous desire to be positive that you'll come across the Lights!
Picking your viewing spot is everything! Make sure you choose an area that has a clear viewing of the sky. You tin't e'er predict where the rays will appear in the sky, so the larger the opening, the better.
Download the Aurora Forecast app. Information technology has everything y'all need to aid yous see the awesome spectacle in the night sky.
Cheque the weather condition to brand certain that at that place won't be any storms or even stray clouds. Clouds can actually cake your view, so aim for every bit clear of a night as possible. This is why winter is the all-time option for seeing the lights; the nights are usually very articulate.

It's totally possible to see the northern lights in Montana! The key is timing and weather atmospheric condition. Brand your trip during the winter, stake out your spot away from city lights and in the heart of the night, and your chances of seeing the astonishing aurora borealis are much high