Northern Lights in Michigan – Best Time and Places

The northern lights in Michigan are a magnificent sight to behold. One might think traveling to Alaska or Iceland is necessary to see the Aurora, but with some knowledge on how to interpret the northern lights forecast and a touch of luck, you too can view these arctic wonders in the not-so-arctic Great Lakes region!

I’ve spent the past four years exploring and photographing the northern lights in Michigan, learning how to interpret northern lights forecasts, and finding the best locations and the best dates to photograph the northern lights in Michigan.

In this guide, you will gain knowledge about all that is needed to appreciate and photograph the northern lights in Michigan.

• • Optimal time to view the northern lights in Michigan
  • Best places to view the northern lights in Michigan
  • How to photograph the aurora borealis in Michigan
  • Calendar for observing northern lights in Michigan
  • Prime recommendations for viewing the northern lights in Michigan
  • Notable photos of the northern lights seen in Michigan

Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Michigan

The best months to see the northern lights in Michigan are September to April. However, as the midnight sun is not a problem for mid-latitude places like Michigan, the aurora borealis can be viewed all year!

Each month has its own unique conditions. Keep reading to discover the optimal moments to see the northern lights in Michigan:

• • Late summer and fall are both periods where seeing the northern lights in Michigan is favorable. Being closer to the fall equinox while days grow shorter provides more opportunities to witness the aurora borealis in Michigan. Temperatures remain mild and pleasant during this time, with the added beauty of changing fall foliage as a bonus!

• • November, December, and January – Lengthy, chilled, nights and wintery landscapes take hold . This is also the cloudiest portion of the year for Michigan, making chasing northern lights in Michigan problematic. However, with low humidity, and freezing temperatures, those nights that are clear tend to be spectacular.

• • The months of February, March, and April – Spring continues to be fairly cloudy, but is an improvement over Winter. Late winter and early spring highlights include icy caverns, snowy landscapes, and frozen waterfalls. The Spring Equinox can amplify the Aurora.
• • May, June, and July – Seeing the northern lights in Michigan in summer can be a bit more difficult because of the brief nights, but not impossible. The insect problem is the worst in May and June, and less so in July and August.

Download our free comprehensive e-book on how to take pictures of the northern lights, where you’ll find everything required to know to capture amazing photos of the northern lights!

Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Michigan

Knowing when to photograph the northern lights in Michigan is only part of the fun and process. To take inspiring northern lights photos, you also need to know the best locations to photograph the northern lights in Michigan. This state has some breathtaking locations which aren’t widely known.

1. Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls state Park

Nested along the shores of Lake Superior, this lighthouse and beach are an easily accessible location to view the northern lights in Michigan. The north-facing shore paired with extremely dim skies, makes detecting the faint glow quite simple! Just be watchful for the people rock-hunting.

Located south of Whitefish Point is Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Between the river access points, campgrounds, and numerous waterfalls, there is an abundance of scenic subjects!

2. Marquette

Marquette is certainly one among essentially probably essentially the Upper Peninsula’s largest cities. The rewards of searching for the northern lights in metropolis are that you simply`re by no means distant from comfort and consolation. So for brand model spanking new chasers, that is perhaps the place you need to start.

If you wish to engage in activities that are slightly more daring, you can head over to Presque Ile,Little Presque Ile park, or hike up to Sugarloaf Mountains and soak in the 360-degree perspectives of Lake Superior. The disadvantage is light air pollution.

3. Straits of Mackinac / Wilderness State Park

Mackinaw City is another popular travel destination. As such, you’ll often find stores, hotels, and fueling stations nearby. Mackinaw City has a slightly brighter atmosphere than Marquette due to light pollution, yet it remains fairly luminous. However, Michigan`s remarkable five-mile long bridge, a source of great state pride, consistently offers memorable photo opportunities and easy access via Fort Michilimackinac Park.

If you seek a more dimly lit area, head over to Wilderness State Park. You`ll instantly notice a difference in ambient lighting! The Headlands holds the designation as an International Dark Sky Park, but it mostly faces away from the direction needed for a clear perspective of the Aurora.

4. Upper Lower Peninsula – Leelanau Peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes

While many of my recommendations are located in Michigan`s Upper Peninsula – where the night skies are at their darkest – the Lower Peninsula also offers some excellent spots for those in that region to explore the stars!

The areas with least ambient light will be on the Leelanau Peninsula and Grand Traverse Bay. These locations will minimize the light pollution from Traverse City and allow for an unobstructed view northwards. Leelanau State Park, Mission Point Lighthouse, and Good Harbor beach are excellent starting points from which to observe the night sky.

Heading farther west and along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, you’ll have the opportunity to view the lovely sand dunes and beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. While not all facing north along the coast, there are some prime locations to witness the northern lights. D.H. Day Farm is a beautifully restored barn that is often featured. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is another popular viewing area.

5. The Keweenaw Peninsula

The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan is my most cherished place to witness the northern lights. It is arguably Michigan’s wildest and remotest location, with the darkest evening skies. A few towns are scattered across the peninsula north of Houghton, and each maintains an old-fashioned charm.

Copper Harbor reminds me of a “little Alaska ” in the look and feel of this harbor town on Lake Superior. You truly get a sensation of being at the edge of the world once you reach the end of US-41. Some of my favorite places to hunt for the aurora borealis in the Keweenaw are Eagle Harbor Lighthouse,Esry Roadside park,Hunter’s Point Park, and Brockway Mountain Drive.

If you have a reliable 4X4 vehicle and are feeling somewhat more adventurous, head out to High Rock Bay or Horseshoe Harbor. Be advised – it’s remote, and the road is truly rough.

6. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Are you a trekker who enjoys cascades and nights camping in the woodlands? Then Pictured Rocks is for you! While there are some quite easy spots to access – like Hurricane River,Miner’s Beach,Sand Point, and 12-mile beach.

However, those seeking a more daring experience could consider hiking to Chapel Beach, where Chapel Rock can be viewed – a magnificent tree clinging to the shore via roots after erosion removed a portion of the coastline. It is unique and fascinating! Other potential destinations are Mosquito Beach (aptly named at certain periods of the year!), the Coves, and Au Sable Lighthouse.

7. Porcupine Mountain State

Known affectionately as “The Porkies”, this park is home to over 31,000 acres of forest and wilderness. The park houses the largest stand of old-growth northern hardwood in North America west of the Adirondack Mountains!

The remote and wild nature of this park attracts many hikers, backpackers, and campers annually. Areas like Union Bay appeal to people searching for the aurora borealis due to easy access. Lake of the Clouds overlook presents a spectacular setting for photographing the Milky Way.

If the Aurora is strong enough, it can be viewed from here as well. The overlook is not entirely north-facing, so it’ll be more off to the side in your images. You could spend a few days hiking down to Mirror lake, or perhaps camp at Presque Ile campground and take in the lights as well .

How to Photograph the Northern Lights in Michigan

Photographing the northern lights in Michigan is fairly straightforward by pursuing these simple steps. Read our article on how to photograph the northern lights to gain additional in-depth understanding about this topic.

This provides a summary of what is necessary to photograph the northern lights in Michigan:

• • Prepare your gear. The most important thing you can do is make sure that you have a suitable camera to photograph the Northern Lights.
  • Mount your  tripod.
  • Set your focus on your subject so you capture clear images.
  • Photograph in RAW if you want to edit your pictures later.
  • Adjust the ISO setting as needed for your camera`s detector.
  • Completely open the aperture of your lens entirely to admit more light and get better outcomes.
  • Use different shutter speeds. Longer exposure for weaker Aurora; shorter for strong Aurora
  • Consider the composition when photographing the aurora with the many lakes, trees, and rock formations !

Michigan Northern Lights Calendar

While the Northern Lights nearly occur daily, they primarily confine within the Auroral Oval. This oval explains certain areas` appeal, as a quality show requires no intense activity.

Mid-latitude regions require decent levels of solar activity for unaided eye viewing. Levels classified KP4 and above are generally sufficient enough to see them with the naked eye. However, they`ll be dim and confined to the horizon with possibly one or two streamers. The Northern Lights at these lower levels will appear as a whitish-gray on the horizon; comparable to light pollution. But this light moves!

If you wish to witness a magnificent spectacle with the naked eye, focus your efforts on nights when strong geomagnetic storm activity of G1 (KP5) or higher is predicted. G2 and above would be ideal. I have personally observed them overhead at latitudes of 47 degrees during an event rated at the G2 level . You can find out more about anticipating the Northern Lights in our article on methods for predicting the Northern Lights.

Best tips to see the Aurora in Michigan

Searching for the northern lights in Michigan can be exciting, but it can also become frustrating if you don’t know where to start. I’ve been photographing the northern lights in Michigan for several years, and I’ve learned a few helpful things along the way.

• • Familiarize yourself with apps likeSpaceWeatherLive. You don’t need to comprehend the real technical facets, just to know what type of trends you necessitate to see for a show to occur. I.e. A detrimental BZ is necessitated to charge up the lights. But you don’t need to know WHAT BZ signifies.

• • Compare weather predictions from multiple sources. Download weather apps like Windy,WeatherUnderground, and Clear Outside, which are among my preferred options. In this area, I`ve found European weather models tend to be more accurate overall.

• • Have a backup plan. Chasing northern lights in mid-latitudes is much more difficult than in the Arctic. We do require decent activity to view them. I always keep a Milky Way photo idea or another astrophotography project in mind for those times when the data is unsatisfactory, and the lights do not appear.

• • Observe the moon cycle! A full moon at mid-latitudes will obscure any faint luminous activity. The lone exemption would be if a major occurrence was anticipated: think KP8 or 9. G3 or higher. You can use our Milky Way Calendars to identify the darkest nights to venture out.

• • Prepare for variable climate. Northern Michigan’s temperatures shift vastly between day and night. I always pack a set of gloves, hand/toe warmers, and additional socks, as well as a knit hat .

Best Images of Northern Lights in Michigan

My passion to pursue the northern lights started in 2018, when I saw them in my rearview mirror while driving back from Tahquamenon Falls in Paradise, Michigan – I think it’s not a coincidence I saw them in “Paradise” 😉. I’ve also devoted many hours on the road and in the field experimenting with equipment and tweaking settings for diverse effects.

Some of the best sights of the northern lights in Michigan I’ve witnessed over the years include:

Best Northern lights hotels/campgrounds/accommodations in Michigan

If you are planning an overnight stay, you should check out the best accommodations Michigan has to offer to see the northern lights.

This lists the best accommodations for viewing northern lights in Michigan.

• • Keweenaw Mountain Lodge – As of June 2022, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge gained its IDA Dark Sky place designation! This place offers monthly night sky programs and is also currently setting up an all-sky camera to monitor for Aurora!
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  • Roam Inn
  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • American Inn – Ontonagon
  • Fort Wilkins State Park
  • Porcupine Mountains State Park
  • Tahquamenon Falls State Park
  • Wilderness State Park

Northern Lights Tours in Michigan

Finding a expedition to see the Northern Lights in Michigan isn`t as straightforward as in other Auroras destinations such as Iceland or Norway. However, feel free to contact me if you are interested in a Night Sky/Aurora centered workshop! I am open to private and group adventures!

You can find me here:

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Northern Lights in Michigan FAQ