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3 Best Places To View The Solar Eclipse In Minnesota This Year

An annular solar eclipse will be partially visible in Minnesota on October 14, 2023, with several recommended viewing spots.

Published Jul 17, 2023

Written by 

Trent Jonas

On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in the United States. In the Upper Midwest, we will only see a partial eclipse - about 40 to 50 percent coverage - but it's still a pretty cool phenomenon to witness. Read on for more details and some suggestions about where to the observe the eclipse in Minnesota.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun and obscures the sun for a short time.

A solar eclipse with the moon partially covering the sun, creating a glowing halo effect around it.
Trent Jonas/Google Photos

This October, an annular eclipse - when the edge of the sun is still visible around the shadow of the moon - will be visible in the United States.

The October 14, 2023, eclipse's path of annularity (to the left on this NASA map) will pass across the western and southwestern United States.

Map showing the paths of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses across the United States, with key locations and timings.
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

The eastern part of the country, including Minnesota, will be treated to a partial solar eclipse - which is still pretty cool!

Silhouette of the Statue of Liberty against a sunset with a partial solar eclipse in the background.
Anthony Quintano

In the Twin Cities, the partial eclipse will begin around 10:30 a.m., peak just before noon, and end just after 1 p.m. These times will vary in different parts of the state. There are several sites, like ​​TimeAndDate.com, that can help you pinpoint the time in your area.When it comes to watching the eclipse in Minnesota, these are our top suggestions:

1. Bell Museum - St. Paul

Modern building with wooden exterior and large glass windows, surrounded by landscaped greenery under a clear blue sky.
Umesh Ghimire/Google Reviews

The University of Minnesota's ​​Bell Museum is hosting an eclipse-viewing event on October 14. The museum's astronomy team will be on hand to explain the phenomenon, help you observe safely, and answer questions you may have.

2. Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve - Duluth

A vibrant sunset over the ocean, with a large sun partially obscured by clouds and a dark silhouette of trees in the foreground.
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr

​​Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve offers an elevated, unobstructed viewing area that looks east-southeast - i.e., toward the morning sun - out over Lake Superior. As a bonus, the eclipse occurs during fall bird migration, so you may be able to witness migrating raptors, as well, when you're not watching the moon cross in front of the sun.

3. Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge - Odessa

A serene wetland scene with calm water reflecting clouds and blue sky, surrounded by green fields and distant trees.
Brett Whaley/Flickr

For similar reasons, we like Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in western Minnesota. It's located on the western side of a large lake and wetlands area. So, you have open views eastward and upward. There are also wildlife viewing platforms in the refuge that would work well for observing the eclipse. And again, you get the bonus fall bird migration, to boot.If you've never seen an eclipse, I really encourage you to make an effort to do so. It's an amazing phenomenon that you ought to experience firsthand. By way of illustration, here's my shaky iPhone video of an eclipse I observed in 2017: