This Is The Absolute Best Place To Witness This Summer's Perseid Meteor Shower In Minnesota
By Trent Jonas|Published June 10, 2023
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Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with an MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. Rhubarb is Trent's favorite kind of pie.
Minnesota is home to a certified Dark Sky Park and one of the world’s largest Dark Sky Sanctuaries, but for the Perseids, you need not only a dark but also a wide-open sky, the latter of which is not guaranteed at densely-wooded Voyageurs National Park or in the Boundary Waters – not without a boat, anyway. Zippel Bay State Park is the place you want to be to see the Perseid meteor shower in Minnesota. Read on to find out why.
Zippel Bay State Park lies on the southern shore of Lake of the Woods, near the Canada's border with Minnesota.
Zippel Bay State Park is named for the small natural bay on the west side of the park that has been modernized into a public access and small boat harbor.
Importantly, the north-facing beach affords stargazers an unobstructed view of 180 degrees of sky - with almost no light pollution.
You'll likely want to spend the night to maximize your meteor chasing. The park has four campgrounds with a total of 57 sites. The Lady's Slipper campground is closest to the beach, and it has several secluded sites with plenty of shade.
At its peak, the Perseids can fall at a rate of 50 meteors per hour or more.
In 2023, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on August 11, 12, and 13. While you’re in the area, take some extra time during the day to explore the Lake of the Woods region. Hop on over to Franz Jevne State Park, the smallest unit in the system; and pop into the charming, historic town of Warroad – it’s the only U.S. city on Lake of the Woods.
Where will you watch the Perseid meteor shower in Minnesota this year?
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