With five dark sky preserves with zero light pollution, stargazers in Alberta will witness something many others never will – seeing the stars with the naked eye.
One of these, Jasper National Park, is home to the Jasper Planetarium Experience, which transports visitors to the edge of the universe inside the dome theatre.
Then add on a Telescope Experience or enjoy a Stargazer’s Lakeside Dinner at Pyramid Lake Resort. Some of the best places to stargaze in the park include Medicine Lake, Pyramid Lake, Maligne Lake and Lake Annette.
Waterton Lakes National Park, another Dark Sky Preserve in the southwest corner of the province, is the only place you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Peace Park, Dark Sky Park and Biosphere Reserve rolled into one destination.
Some of the best places to spot constellations include the Red Rock Parkway and Cameron Bay. Learn from an expert with a Dark Sky Guides tour and try out telescopes, binoculars and stargazing equipment for the best view.
At Métis Crossing Dark Sky Preserve, explore how the Indigenous Métis used the stars and sky to navigate, how the sky was used as a clock and a calendar and how it provided critical instructions for understanding when to plant, hunt and work the land. To elevate the experience, a Legendary Night Sky Package ican be booked, while onsite accommodation options include sleeping under the stars at a luxury Sky Watching Dome.
When to sell
The long, dark nights from October to March offer the best chance to see the northern lights. Advise clients to monitor weather and geomagnetic conditions through an app, such as My Aurora Forecast, SpaceWeatherLive and hello aurora.
Home to the second-largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world, Jasper celebrates all things dark sky, especially during the annual Dark Sky Festival in October, making it an ideal time to visit. Elk Island National Park, also a Dark Sky Preserve, is an ideal place to enjoy night sky experiences. A guided Snowshoe and Stargaze tour during winter winds around the picturesque Astotin Lake before learning all about the night sky around a campfire.
How to sell
Make clients aware that some of the most magical nights can be found in places you might not immediately think of.
For example, the Stars and Stories tours at Dinosaur Provincial Park pair ancient landscapes with the wonder of the night sky, while the Star Sessions at Jasper SkyTram combine stargazing and dining under a canopy of glittering stars.
While there can be times when you can see the Aurora Borealis from Alberta’s big cities such as Calgary and Edmonton, to optimise the stargazing experience, travellers should head to places with little light pollution. Book clients away from the city as much as you can and advise them to choose clear nights.
The opportunity to take incredible photos is another great sell. Newer smartphones can capture decent photos of the northern lights, but the best bet is a DSLR camera.
