8 Excellent Spots to See the Northern Lights Near Bozeman

Experts predict a strong geomagnetic storm, and the aurora borealis could put on quite the show for Montanans on Thursday and Friday night.

Partly cloudy skies are in the forecast for the rest of the week in Bozeman, so hopefully things clear up enough to see the Northern Lights. A strong geomagnetic storm is predicted on November 30 - December 1. The best chances for viewing will be between 1:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m. on Friday, December 1.

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Northern states are expected to get the best show, but according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, the Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.

When is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Montana?

As mentioned above, the Aurora is expected to peak between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Friday, so you'll need to stay up late to get the best show.

The best way to see aurora borealis is to head as far north as possible. Clear skies make for the best viewing. Find a place that's relatively dark and free from artificial light pollution. Give your eyes time to adjust.

If you've never seen the northern lights, they are incredible, and can often be seen from many places in Montana. I've been fortunate to see them a few times in my life. The first time I saw them, I thought I was getting abducted by aliens.

The further north you travel in Montana, the higher your chances of getting a good view of the aurora borealis. For those living in the Bozeman area, it's best to get as far out of town as possible. The city lights in Bozeman make it difficult to see the night sky.

To help, we put together a list of places near Bozeman that will give you the best shot at watching the northern lights.