Month-by-month viewing quality
| Month | Viewing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Dawson City: 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 October and March and February tend to edge out the dead of winter. Dawson City's season runs late august to april.
Dawson City, the gold-rush town deep in the Yukon, sits high under the oval with bone-dry interior skies and almost no light pollution.
Where to stand in Dawson City
The Midnight Dome overlook above town, or the Dempster Highway heading north into true wilderness.
Tours & stays to book
Northern lights tours from Dawson City
Viator · guided tours · from $80
Aurora chases & photo tours in Dawson City
GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $80
Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Dawson City
Booking.com · lodging