Northern lights in Glacier National Park tonight

On the park's east side near Babb, the Many Glacier Valley faces north across the Swiftcurrent Lake chain toward the Canadian border. At 48.8°N geographic and surrounded by peaks rising to 3000 m, the valley gives a dramatic mountain foreground with Bortle 2 conditions. The north-facing opening of the valley channels the view directly toward the auroral oval. Many Glacier Hotel and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn both give lakeside positions. The valley road typically closes in autumn but camping and lodge access extends into September. One of the most photographed aurora locations in the park.

The largest lake in the park, on the west side near the Apgar Village. Lake McDonald gives a long open reflection surface facing northwest with the Garden Wall peaks behind. The north end of the lake near Apgar gives the best sky access with the mountains as backdrop. Bortle 2-3. Accessible year-round from Apgar Village on US-2. The lake's glassy surface in calm conditions gives lake-reflection photography opportunities. The west side of the park near West Glacier is accessible when Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed.

A quieter valley on the southeast corner of the park near East Glacier. Two Medicine Lake faces northwest with the Lewis Range as backdrop. Bortle 2. Less visited than Many Glacier but equally dark. The valley access road closes in winter. The combination of the lake, the peaks, and the north-facing position makes Two Medicine an excellent aurora photography location during the September-October shoulder season before the road closes.

The approach road to Many Glacier along US-89 north of Babb passes through open prairie that faces directly north toward the Canadian border with Chief Mountain as a distinctive landmark. At 48.9°N geographic and with 360-degree open sky on the prairie approach, this corridor gives excellent aurora access even when park campgrounds are full. The Saint Mary Lake area at the east park entrance gives similar conditions with lake foreground.