Northern lights in Idaho tonight

A vast lava field in central Idaho designated an International Dark Sky Park. The monument sits at 1900 m elevation on the Snake River Plain with minimal horizon obstruction in all directions. Bortle 2-3 in the monument core. The flat lava landscape gives 360-degree open sky. Accessible from Arco on US-20. At around 50° geomagnetic latitude (the latitude measured from Earth's magnetic poles, which governs where aurora reaches) the monument sits well south of the usual auroral oval, but its darkness helps during a major storm. The NPS maintains a designated stargazing area. At Kp 6, the monument gives one of Idaho's best aurora platforms.

The largest lake in Idaho, 60 km south of the Canadian border near Sandpoint. The lake's north shore faces across 80 km of open water toward the Selkirk Mountains. At 48.3°N geographic latitude and around 50° geomagnetic latitude, this is Idaho's highest-latitude major dark sky position. Light pollution from Sandpoint is minimal on the north and east shores. The Hope Peninsula on the north shore gives an elevated north-facing position over the water. A 3-hour drive from Boise or 1.5 hours from Spokane.

A remote national forest in north-central Idaho covering 1.6 million acres of roadless wilderness east of Lewiston. Open ridges on the Bitterroot divide give north-facing sky at 1800-2000 m elevation. Bortle 2 in the deeper wilderness sections. The Powell Ranger District along US-12 gives highway-accessible positions. Minimal light pollution from any direction - no significant city within 100 km. The elevation reduces atmospheric haze, improving aurora visibility during active events.