Menu

Northern lights in Colorado

Yes, but only during strong-to-extreme geomagnetic storms, and usually low on the northern horizon. In May 2024 the aurora was seen throughout Colorado, including from the Denver area, and the eastern plains give the most open view north.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Colorado needs

The farther a place is from the magnetic pole, the stronger the geomagnetic storm needed to push the aurora into view. These levels come from each city's geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's storm scale, which says how far south aurora is usually seen at each level. They are for aurora low on the northern horizon from a dark spot; overhead displays need more. Across Colorado the level ranges from Kp 7.4 (G4) in Fort Collins to Kp 7.9 (G4) in Montrose.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Fort Collins48.1°Kp 7.4 (G4)
Denver47.3°Kp 7.5 (G4)
Boulder47.5°Kp 7.5 (G4)
Castle Rock46.9°Kp 7.6 (G4)
Colorado Springs46.4°Kp 7.7 (G4)
Grand Junction46.3°Kp 7.7 (G4)
Pueblo45.8°Kp 7.8 (G4)
Montrose45.7°Kp 7.9 (G4)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Colorado

Colorado lies between NOAA’s examples for strong storms (Illinois and Oregon) and severe storms (Alabama and northern California). Northern Colorado may see a low glow during strong storms, which come on roughly 130 days per 11-year solar cycle. Most of the state needs a severe storm. The table above shows each city’s level against tonight’s forecast.

Where to watch

  • Jackson Lake State Park: a certified International Dark Sky Park on the northeastern plains, where the land is flat and the view north is wide open.
  • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve: on the Park Service’s list of aurora-viewing parks, and a certified International Dark Sky Park. The open San Luis Valley helps.
  • Dinosaur National Monument: a dark, remote International Dark Sky Park in the northwest corner of the state.
  • Colorado’s other dark-sky places: the state has about two dozen certified sites. Pick one with an open northern horizon.

Notable sightings

During the rare May 10–11, 2024 storm, Denver7 reported that the aurora could be seen throughout Colorado. Its reader gallery included photos from Littleton and Wheat Ridge in the Denver area, Sterling on the plains, and mountain spots such as Echo Lake and Breckenridge.

Tips for Colorado

  • Mind the mountains. The aurora stays low in Colorado, so a ridge to the north can hide it completely. Plains, wide parks and reservoirs are better.
  • Escape the Front Range glow. The corridor from Fort Collins to Pueblo lights the sky for many miles.
  • Use your camera. At Colorado’s latitude the aurora is usually faint to the eye and bright in a long-exposure photo.
  • Look near midnight. NOAA says activity usually peaks within an hour or two of midnight.

Local resources

Browse certified dark-sky places and read how to see the northern lights. Neighbors: Wyoming and Utah.

Dark-sky places near Denver

Certified dark-sky places are among the best spots to watch for aurora: little light pollution and, often, open views to the north.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights from Denver?

During the biggest storms, yes, mostly in photos. The Front Range glow hides faint displays, so drive east onto the plains or into dark foothills with an open northern view.

Are the mountains good for the aurora?

Mountain towns have dark skies, but peaks often block the low northern horizon where the aurora appears in Colorado. Wide-open basins or high spots with a view north work better than narrow valleys. Denver7's May 2024 gallery included photos from Echo Lake and Breckenridge.

Does the National Park Service list any Colorado park for the aurora?

Yes. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is on the Park Service's list of places where the aurora may be glimpsed when conditions are right.

Other states

Sources