Viewing the Northern Lights in Michigan

There is no need to venture all the way to the frozen North to glimpse the Northern Lights.

It’s possible during March in Michigan.

March is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights because of Michigan’s long, dark nights and relatively low light pollution in some areas.

There are several places to take in this celestial wonder, including:

The Headlands, Lake Michigan

In 2011, the Headlands became the sixth International Dark Sky Park in the United States and the ninth in the world. This 600-acre parcel of old-growth forest sits on more than two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline in Emmet County. Here you will find the darkest of skies, undiluted by light pollution and preserved in perpetuity by Emmet County. Free Dark Sky Park programs and special events are held at the Beach House and on the shoreline. Signs in the park direct visitors to designated Dark Sky Viewing areas. No camping is allowed, but the park is open 24/7 year-round, with five miles of trails throughout the property. The park provides a dazzling night sky for photographers, astronomers, and dark-sky enthusiasts.

Port Crescent State Park – Port Austin

Nestled in the Blue Water Area, on the tip of the Lower Peninsula’s thumb in Port Austin, is Port Crescent State Park. The park has a designated area where no electric light exists for miles, giving star-gazers an unobstructed view of the night sky. The dark sky preserve is located in the day-use area where there’s a charge for parking, but no overnight reservations are needed. Consider a day filled with kayaking to Turnip Rock, and then sitting back and enjoying the wonders of the universe in the evening.

Remote spots on Lake Superior – Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula is blessed with hundreds of miles of shoreline along the south shore of Lake Superior, which provides some of the best northern lights viewing in the lower 48.  When looking north over Lake Superior, you can see right down to the horizon and take in a 180-degree unobstructed view of the night sky.  Having a dark night sky with little light pollution is necessary when looking for the northern lights, as the light of the aurora is equal to the brightness of starlight.

To learn more visit www.michigan.org 

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