The Northern Lights Might Be Visible From Colorado This Year

Have you ever wanted to see the northern lights? This rare natural phenomenon is on the bucket lists of almost everyone. I’ve wanted to see them ever since I was a child. And just like me, you might think that you need to travel to a far northern country or state to catch a glimpse of them, but that's not necessarily true! You can actually see the aurora borealis from anywhere north of the 40th parallel, and luckily for us, that latitude line cuts right through Colorado. If you head north to a designated dark sky park, you may be able to see them. Read on to learn more about the northern lights in Colorado in 2024! It's the once-in-a-lifetime event you don't want to miss this year.

The northern lights — also known as the aurora borealis — are an incredible sight to see. This natural wonder is created when particles from the sun hit the Earth's upper atmosphere at extremely high speeds.

The Earth's magnetic field redirects these particles to the poles, and amazing moving colors in the sky are created. Seeing the dancing ribbons of emeralds, blues, pinks, purples, and yellows across the Colorado night sky will leave you awestruck. When people talk about seeing the aurora borealis, most think interested individuals have to go to Canada, Scandinavia, Iceland, or Alaska to see them.

However, these lights are sometimes viewable from some of the northernmost states in the Lower 48 as well. In fact, people often report seeing them in the Dakotas, Maine, Vermont, Montana, and other northern states. Moreover, this year, the celestial phenomenon was seen in places like Pennsylvania and even as far south as Florida. Can you believe that?

And of course, it's possible to see them anywhere north of the 40th latitude line. Luckily for us, this line cuts right through Colorado. About a third of our state is above it, which means you should be excited to see these rare lights this year.

So, if you want to see the northern lights without going too far from home, wait for a clear night and then head to a dark place in northern Colorado. I recommend Dinosaur National Monument as it was officially designated as a dark sky park. There is limited light pollution here, so the northern lights will be easily visible. However, if you can't see the lights with the naked eye, be sure to have a really good high-definition camera, so that you can capture the colorful illuminated skies.

Always keep your eye on the night sky folks! You never know when the aurora borealis will show up. Due to longer nights during the winter months, your best chance to see the lights is between dusk and midnight from October to April. Also, don't forget to bring a camera to capture your own aurora borealis photos! You'll want to remember the night you witnessed the northern lights forever.

You may be able to check this bucket list item off your list this year! So, plan a trip to northern Colorado on a clear night and keep looking up. But for more accurate predictions, we recommend that you visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration webpage, which will help you to determine when the lights will be in our area. Good luck in glimpsing the northern lights in Colorado in 2024!

Looking for a place to stay near northern Colorado during your Northern Lights mission? We recommend a cozy vacation rental!