Living in New Hampshire means experiencing a typical Northern climate, complete with some rough winters and beaches that feature chilly water even in the midst of a warm summer. But, it’s not all bad! We’ve got the chance to enjoy cozy fireplaces for a bit longer than many other states and if you’re a snow lover you’re in one of the best places in the country! While the list of things we love about the Granite State’s New England location is long, one of the most beautiful benefits is the chance to see the Northern Lights if you’re in the right place at the right time.

The Northern Lights — also known as the Aurora Borealis — appear when the Earth's atmosphere is filled with gas particles in that collide with charged particles coming from the sun's atmosphere.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube
One of the things you probably know about the Northern Lights — even if you've never seen them before — is the fact that so many colors can be seen throughout the sky. And, these colors are dictated by the type of gas particles that are colliding.

In order to see things best you'll need to be in a place with zero light pollution. Lucky for New Hampshire, Mount Washington is perfect!
The summit also offers the perfect view, along with almost complete darkness.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube
After the sun goes down, if the conditions are just right, you'll begin to see faint signs of the dancing light.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube

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This can intensify to show clear greens and blues.
gsfc / Flickr
There have been some reported sightings (included the one captured here!) with the pinks and purples that have made this natural phenomenon so sought after.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube
While it's not easy to be at the summit of Mount Washington unless you're stationed there, we love knowing that something this magnificent can be seen from here. And it's easy to watch it through shared live videos by the Mount Washington Observatory.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube
The lights dance through the night sky until the sun comes up, making the entire experience feel like a dream.
Mount Washington Observatory / YouTube

To see when and where the Northern Lights are most visible, we recommend visiting the NOAA 30-minute forecast here.

To experience the Northern Lights a bit more vividly without having to hike to the top of the coldest place in the state, check out this video courtesy of the Mount Washington Observatory:

While not entirely natural, you might also want to check out the twinkling, colorful lights at this Christmas lights display in Enfield.

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