AuroraCast / Best month / Coldfoot

Best month to see the northern lights in Coldfoot

Planning a trip to Coldfoot, United States for the aurora? Here's the month-by-month guide. The best months are September, March, October, 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 Coldfoot: 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 March and October and February tend to edge out the dead of winter. Coldfoot's season runs late august to mid-april.

Coldfoot is a truck stop on the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range, well north of the Arctic Circle and about as far under the oval as you can drive in the United States. Its geomagnetic latitude is high enough that a quiet night still delivers.

Where to stand in Coldfoot

Anywhere off the highway — there is essentially no light for a hundred miles. The Dalton is a serious winter road; nearly everyone comes on a guided trip from Fairbanks, and that is the sensible way to do it.

Tours & stays to book

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Northern lights tours from Coldfoot

Viator · guided tours · from $95

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Aurora chases & photo tours in Coldfoot

GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $95

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Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Coldfoot

Booking.com · lodging

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Know when Coldfoot is about to light up

Aurora odds swing night to night. Leave your email and we'll tell you when Coldfoot hits its best window — time to book a tour for your dates.

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.