Aurora Viewing by Season

Over 240 Nights of Aurora Per Year

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Aurora Viewing at Blachford

Blachford Lodge isn’t just remote, it’s remarkable. Located under the Auroral Oval and far from any light pollution, this fly-in wilderness lodge in Canada’s Northwest Territories offers over 240 nights of aurora visibility per year, making it one of the top aurora-viewing locations on the planet. From the comfort of your cozy log cabin, the steaming outdoor hot tub, or a wide-open frozen lake, you’ll witness the northern lights dance in vivid waves of green, purple, and pink, often right overhead. If you're chasing an unforgettable aurora experience, this is it.

Blachford Lodge sits directly beneath the Auroral Oval, offering some of the highest aurora activity on Earth. With no light pollution and wide-open skies, it’s one of the best places in the world to witness the northern lights, often overhead and in full colour.

From bush plane transfers to gourmet meals and guided activities, your stay includes everything you need to relax and enjoy the wilderness. Choose from cozy lodge rooms or private cabins, with packages designed for 3, 4, or 7 nights.

You’ll never miss a show. Our dedicated team monitors the sky throughout the night and will gently wake you when the aurora appears, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll catch the magic.

Watch the northern lights from a variety of unique settings: your cabin window, the outdoor hot tub, the lakeside sauna, the tipi, or while lying back on the frozen lake for a full-sky experience.

Learn how to capture the perfect shot with guided support from experienced aurora photographers. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, the clear skies and vivid displays offer an unbeatable setting for night photography.

Aurora Main Lodge Stars Purple Green_Martina Gebarovska_Winter-web

Fall Aurora Season

Mid August to Early October
Taku Kumabe - Fall Aurora
Crisp Air, Cozy Fires, & Fall Adventures

Fall at Blachford Lodge is a season like no other. The golden hues of autumn meet the vibrant dance of the Northern Lights in one of the most stunning aurora-viewing settings on Earth. Crisp air and clear skies create ideal conditions for nightly displays, while cozy fires and warm drinks await indoors after a magical evening under the stars.

Experience the raw beauty of Blachford’s wilderness as the landscape transforms with vibrant fall colours. From paddling across glassy waters at sunset to watching the aurora reflect on the lake, every moment is a celebration of autumn’s quiet magic.

Activities available:

  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Boating
  • Hiking
  • Sauna and hot tub
  • Bonfires
  • Wildlife watching
  • Fishing
  • Fat Tire Biking
  • Guided aurora viewing
  • Aurora photography sessions
  • Dream Catcher & Spruce Salve Making

Winter Aurora Season

December to Mid April
Aurora Beaver Cabin Behind_Martina Gebarovska_Winter
Embrace Winter's Beauty

When snow blankets the landscape and the lake freezes solid, Blachford becomes a remote Arctic wonderland. This is peak aurora season, with long nights, dark skies, and some of the most vivid and frequent northern lights displays on the planet. Whether you're soaking in the outdoor hot tub or lying back on the frozen lake, the aurora here is nothing short of unforgettable.

Winter and early spring adventures bring you deeper into the northern wilderness—through snowshoe trails, over frozen lakes by snowmobile, or building your own quinzhee under the stars. As the days begin to lengthen in March and April, you’ll enjoy a beautiful balance of sunlight and spectacular nighttime skies.

Activities Include:

  • Snowshoeing and kick sledding
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Hiking
  • Ice Hockey/ Skating
  • Bonfires
  • Snowmobiling and ice fishing
  • Fat Tire biking
  • Sauna and hot tub
  • Igloo and quinzhee building
  • Aurora photography tips
  • Dream Catcher & Spruce Salve Making

The Science Behind the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are the result of a fascinating interaction between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles from the sun. These lights are a visible display of space weather, a natural phenomenon that connects our planet directly to solar activity.

The process begins on the sun, where powerful solar storms release clouds of electrically charged particles known as the solar wind. When these particles reach Earth, they are guided by the planet’s magnetic field toward the polar regions.

As they collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen, energy is released in the form of light.

  • Green and yellow auroras come from oxygen molecules about 100 to 300 km above the Earth.

  • Red auroras occur from high altitude oxygen (above 300 km).

  • Blue and purple hues come from nitrogen particles.

Each colour reveals something about the type of gas and altitude where the collisions occur.

The aurora forms in an oval shaped zone around the magnetic poles called the auroral oval. In the Northern Hemisphere, this zone passes over regions like northern Canada, Scandinavia, and Alaska, making Canada one of the best countries in the world for consistent aurora activity.

Aurora visibility follows an 11 year solar cycle, during which the sun’s activity increases and decreases. During periods of solar maximum, when sunspots and solar flares are most frequent, auroras appear more often and can sometimes be seen farther south than usual.

We are currently nearing a solar maximum, meaning aurora displays are especially vivid and frequent, making this one of the best times to plan an aurora viewing trip.

Every aurora display is unique. The lights can shimmer, ripple, or form arcs across the sky, changing by the second. Scientists study them not only for their beauty but also to better understand the connection between the Earth’s atmosphere and the sun’s magnetic activity.

Reserve Your Escape to Blachford Lodge

Thank you for choosing to book your stay at Blachford Lodge, a remote fly-in retreat nestled in the heart of the Northwest Territories wilderness. Accessible only by bush plane from Yellowknife, Blachford offers an exclusive experience of comfort, nature, and northern hospitality.
Please complete the form to submit your booking request. Preferred dates are requested at this stage and will be confirmed by our team shortly after review of lodge and flight availability.

At Blachford Lodge, we take pride in offering warm northern hospitality, exceptional comfort, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of the Canadian wilderness. We look forward to welcoming you.

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Joelle R
Joelle R
Oct 2024
Peacefull retrea

I went to the lodge only for one night, but I wish I would've stayed longer. The location is amazing, and the accommodation are beyond expectation. I had a room in the main lodge with view over the lake, big window to enjoy the night sky. There are also cabins that looked great as well, to be more in nature. The staff is so great, the food is really good, the drinks are unique. We went on a fishing ride, and I never caught fishes that big, and it is catch & release which I like. In the morning, I felt at peace having a coffee in front of the lake, looking at the sun rise and the quietness of the forest.

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mimi peppe
mimi peppe
Sep 2024
One of our best Experiences ever!

Where do I begin? I wish I could give BLL more than 5 stars! Everyone did their best to make us feel welcomed and nurtured! Our room was clean & cozy, we chose to stay in the lodge as opposed to a cabin. It was more convenient and very comfortable- sometimes a little noisy- The food was amazing!!! Three creative and delicious meals a day! We stayed 4 nights but could easily have stayed longer! My hubby went fishing - I made a dream catcher and harvested spruce gems to make salves! Of course, the main attraction, the Aurora, did not disappoint! The hiking trails were moderate and the views spectacular! It was a dream come true! I cannot say enough good things about the whole experience!

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BeenandSeenTravel-JW
BeenandSeenTravel-JW
Sep 2024
Father-son trip to remember!

A father-son trip to remember! After enjoying this amazing lodge in the winter, I was able to take my son on a trip here in August. Blachford seems to be a dream in the summer and fall. The lake was beautiful for swimming, and the secluded cabin with modern comforts was lakefront, looking out into the northern wilderness in the evening as eagles hunted. We caught some huge fish and explored the lake by boat. The food is delicious, and the staff are wonderful, (thanks)We hiked a beautiful loop trail through the Boreal forest and listened from the hot tub as wolves howled across the lake and the sun gave way to dancing Aurora. ...Simply Spectacular.

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Danae D
Danae D
May 2024
Best Remote Lodge - once in a lifetime!!

Blachford is a very unique place that I would love to stay at again. The pressure of being awake for the Aurora is off as the staff will come and wake you, if you’d like them too! During the day they have so many activities to participate in, I was nervous about if there would be enough activity wise (I'm a pretty ancy person) and there absolutley was! They’re optional which is nice if you want to relax as well. The hot tub under a starry, sky was incredible and there were always snacks out incase you felt a little peckish. The Aurora was stunning, staff was friendly, and activities were engaging. Thanks again Blachford for such an incredible experience!

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Luke P
Luke P
May 2024
What an experience!

Fantastic trip. We went for a few nights in August on a bit of a spur of the moment idea. Of course the lights were spectacular, but the lodge and grounds blew us away too - swimming, wood fired hot tub, mountain bikes, fishing, etc. - with top notch meals as well. Can’t say enough about the staff too. A great team that made booking, getting around Yellowknife, and our stay, special (and easy!).

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Candice L
Candice L
May 2024
I heart Blachford.

I’ve been going to Blachford for years, both for business and for personal visits, and it’s one of my favourite places! The location is beautiful, the lake is stunning, the food is delicious, and the aurora views are amazing (even for a lifelong Northerner)! Blachford is a gem.

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Kaila
Kaila
May 2024
The Best

My favourite remote lodge ever. I have had the privilege of visiting during three different seasons and each one is so special. Fishing, hiking, northern lights, sauna, hot tub, swimming are all to be had here. The rooms and cabins are wonderful, the food has always been delicious. I highly recommend.

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