#canadatrip
Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory, may be small, but it’s the perfect place to witness the Northern Lights. From October to March, the skies are dark and clear, almost free from light pollution. When we arrived, the air smelled of snow, the streets were quiet, and by 8 PM, darkness had already settled over the town.
First Night – A Glimpse of Green
Our first night, we drove over an hour to a remote observation camp. There was nothing but snow, wooden cabins, and a crowd of shivering people. At first, only stars dotted the sky, and everyone was quiet. Then someone shouted, “There it is!” – a faint green glow appeared on the horizon, slowly spreading, twisting, and arching across the sky. It wasn’t like a photo – it was a soft, flowing light, almost emotional. The aurora lasted only about twenty minutes, but it left a memory that will last forever.
Second Night – The Sky Comes Alive
During the day, we tried dog sledding – the speed and the cold wind rushing past our ears were exhilarating, and the dogs were pure joy. That night, the sky was clear and the aurora stronger. Green ribbons danced overhead, occasionally streaked with purple. With long-exposure photos, it looked like the lights were burning right behind us. The aurora lasted nearly an hour, and though it was freezing, nobody wanted to leave.
Third Night – Gentle and Romantic
In the morning, we soaked in a hot spring surrounded by snow – the water at 40°C warmed us while our hair froze into icy strands. That evening, clouds partly covered the sky. We only saw faint light bands, but the quiet, patient wait under the winter sky was beautiful in its own way. Sometimes the aurora explodes with color, sometimes it’s subtle – both moments are magical.
Final Morning
On the fourth day, we flew back to Vancouver, ending three nights of aurora chasing. We didn’t sleep much, but every night was completely worth it. Whitehorse isn’t just a destination – it’s where the sky shows you its quiet, breathtaking magic.