Discover Minnesota's Dark Skies
Discover Minnesota's Dark Skies
Looking for the best place in the U.S. to see the stars and the Northern Lights? Minnesota is home to some of the darkest skies in the nation, including an International Dark Sky Park (Voyageurs National Park) and International Dark Sky Sanctuary (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness). Here is everything you need to know about making the most of the state's moonlit nights throughout the year.
The sun sets over Voyageurs National Park / Credit: Mary Mathis
What are the differences between a Dark Sky Park and a Dark Sky Sanctuary?
The International Dark Sky Places program certifies international communities, parks, and protected areas that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. There are currently more than 200 designated areas worldwide, with two right here in Minnesota.
Voyageurs National Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, which is a publicly or privately owned conservation area that implements good outdoor lighting and provides educational dark sky programming.
The Boundary Waters is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, which makes it one of the most remote, darkest places in the world — a conservation state that's increasingly rare and fragile.
Camping in the Boundary Waters / Paul Vincent
What is the Boundary Waters like?
True to its title, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is accessible primarily by canoe. It is protected land along the U.S.-Canada border, home to over 1,100 of the world’s purest lakes.
It’s also the ideal place to witness the northern lights. Expect epic night skies after days filled with paddling and portaging. Most visitors camp within the designated area, but many stay at nearby resorts, hotels, vacation rentals, and more.
A houseboat on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park / Paul Vincent
What sets Voyageurs apart from other state parks?
Voyageurs National Park offers expansive views of unpolluted skies from its waterways, where visitors can see impressive meteor showers and northern light shows. Over a third of this remote 218,000-acre national park is covered in water and presents primetime night sky viewing.
According to Duluth photographer Bob King (a.k.a. "Astro Bob"), the best time of year for visiting Voyageurs is "sometime between the last quarter moon and the first quarter moon, right around the new moon, when there is a crescent in the morning sky right on through the evening.
He continues, "Make sure that at least part of your trip is planned for dark sky viewing at that time [because] Voyageurs is top-notch. It gives you the impression that the stars are uncountable."
Northern lights over the Gunflint Trail / David Johnson
What are some other great spots for stargazing in Minnesota?
There are so many places to soak up the dark skies across Minnesota. Cook County visitors can frequently see the sky shining over Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail.
Lake of the Woods has panoramic views of the water and forest by day and, sometimes, the Milky Way and northern lights by night. Separated from the rest of Minnesota by Lake of the Woods, the Northwest Angle is the northernmost point in the continental U.S. Prime dark skies territory, in other words.
For a unique and memorable camping experience, reserve a yurt at one of three Minnesota State Parks
In the central and southern parts of the state — including Park Rapids, St. Cloud, Stillwater, Lake City, Mankato and Rochester — locals can see constellations on any clear night.
Afton and William O’Brien state parks are close to the Twin Cities but have plenty of public space perfect for stargazing. They also have campsites, allowing for a quick overnight getaway with the stars.
Find more places to stargaze near the Twin Cities.
Dark Sky Festival / Credit: Travis Novitsky, courtesy of Visit Cook County
What are some dark sky events?
Visit Cook County hosts the annual Dark Sky Festival in Grand Marais every December. Past celebrations have included presentations from NASA, a Star Party at the University of Minnesota Duluth Planetarium, night walks, telescope viewing, family-friendly activities, and more.
In January, the Ely Dark Sky Festival offers a variety of indoor and outdoor events where visitors can learn more about astronomy, astrophotography, winter recreation, and the wonders of the night sky.
Got any other tips for stargazing?
Seek out dark skies in underpopulated rural areas, but don't forget there are lovely places to stargaze within an hour of the Twin Cities. Be sure to dress accordingly. That means dressing warm or wearing proper clothing and bug spray to avoid mosquitos.
Find more tips for stargazing across Minnesota.
A bike ride beneath the Northern Lights / Credit: Travis Novitsky
What about seeing the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are a peerless show of atmospheric proportions, handily eclipsing the quaint efforts of 4th of July fireworks and holiday light displays. And, as the northernmost state in the lower 48, Minnesota's skies can be admired in their full glory.
Planning a trip around the aurora borealis is notoriously tricky, and no matter how much planning goes into your trip, there’s no guarantee you’ll see the northern lights. But you can still tip the odds in your favor.
There’s no decisive consensus over the best time of year to view them, but given the longer, clearer skies of fall and winter, your odds of catching them get better from September through March.
The sky also needs to be clear and dark enough to be visible, which requires getting far away from any traces of light pollution. Venture into the northernmost reaches of Minnesota for the best viewing spots, including the aforementioned Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park, Lake of the Woods and all of Cook County.
Learn more about the Northern Lights and stargazing across Minnesota.