4 of the best spots near Calgary to see the northern lights

As winter approaches and the nights get longer, there is no better time to head out of Calgary and try to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Luckily, you don’t have to drive too far to escape the city lights and find dark skies perfect for spotting them.

Find a quiet trail, a roadside pullout, or a scenic viewpoint and get ready for a fantastic light show. We’ve rounded up four of the best spots near Calgary to see the northern lights.

Big Hill Springs Provincial Park

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Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is located just north of Cochrane and offers wide-open skies and rolling foothills. Its open landscapes and elevated views make it one of the best places near Calgary to catch the northern lights without the glow of the city.

Where: 10 kilometres north of Cochrane 

Dark Sky Country

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If you’re up for a drive, head west on Highway 22x to Dark Sky Country, where minimal light pollution lets the sky shine bright. Vast stretches of prairies and rolling hills offer the perfect views of the northern lights. You can ride pullouts along the road or find a safe place to park and watch as the sky puts on a show.

Where: West on Highway 22x

Bragg Creek Provincial Park 

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Just under an hour from Calgary, Bragg Creek has a lot to offer. From dense forest trails to scenic rivers and open spaces, there’s already a lot of nature to take in; add the northern lights, and it becomes a magical destination. The mix of landscapes and flowing water creates the perfect scenery to watch the aurora dance in the sky.

Where: 31107 Highway 758, Bragg Creek

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

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Located between Cochrane and Calgary, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is one of the best spots near Calgary to catch the northern lights. With wide, unobstructed views of the sky away from the city lights, it offers excellent vantage points to take in the whole sky and everything it has to offer.

Where: 255001 Glenbow Rd., Cochrane 

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