Dawson Creek is getting some recognition for its dark skies, landing among the top Canadian cities for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
New research from Spin Casino ranks Dawson Creek fifth among Canadian cities for aurora viewing in 2026.
The study looked at factors including distance from the North Pole, the amount of clear skies throughout the year, light pollution and overall night-sky brightness.
Dawson Creek moved up two spots from last year’s ranking, according to the research.
The city’s relatively dark skies and low levels of light pollution helped earn it the fifth spot, with the study noting its wide-open skies as another advantage for aurora watchers.
Fort St. John also made the list, ranking ninth among the Canadian cities included in the study.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, topped the list, followed by Cold Lake, Alta., Meadow Lake, Sask., and Yellowknife, N.W.T., rounding out the top five.
The research uses the Bortle Scale, which measures sky darkness from one to nine, as well as the Sky Quality Meter scale, which measures the brightness of the night sky.
A spokesperson for Spin Casino said finding the right location can make all the difference when trying to see the aurora.
“Catching the Northern Lights in Canada is an unforgettable experience and one that doesn’t come around all the time. Visiting the right location under ideal conditions can turn the moment into something extraordinary, and Dawson Creek is one of the best places to do just that.”
The rankings are based on data collected for Canadian cities, including sky brightness, sky quality, annual hours of clear skies and distance from the North Pole.
