Wilderness State Park | Surrounded by the Northern Lights

If you follow any aurora-chasing groups or have northern lights alert apps, your phone was probably blowing up on March 23rd, 2023—and for good reason! That night was one for the books. I’ve been chasing the northern lights for over a decade, and with the latest tech making alerts easier, I’ve never seen my phone light up as much as it did that night. And let me tell you—it did NOT disappoint!

UPDATE: After receiving so many messages, I’ve put together a detailed guide: Chasing the Northern Lights – A Guide to Seeing the Aurora in Northern Michigan. This covers app and group recommendations, location scouting, aurora etiquette, and tips for photographing the northern lights. Be sure to check it out if you're looking to witness magic in the sky for yourself!

A Night to Remember at Wilderness State Park

March 23rd is forever etched in my brain—it was electric, unreal, and hands down one of the most incredible aurora displays I’ve ever seen. If it hadn’t been so cold, I might have stayed out until sunrise, just soaking it all in.

My initial plan was to head north along Lake Superior, somewhere between Grand Marais and L’Anse, but the aurora had other ideas. Before the sun had even fully set, I found myself at Wilderness State Park, with the northern lights already glowing bright and high in the sky. Game on!

From the moment my eyes adjusted, I knew this was a special one. Shades of green swirled above, shifting into brilliant purples and reds visible even to the naked eye. As I set up my camera, the aurora stretched higher, reaching for the glowing moon and creeping over the treetops. By 9:30 PM, STEVE was making an appearance above Venus, but the sky was alive—waves of color dancing and shifting further and further behind us.

Then, the real show began.

By 10:30 PM, it didn’t matter where you turned—she was there. The northern lights were everywhere. The moon dipped below the horizon, and the aurora exploded into shimmering ribbons, twisting and pulsing in every direction. It was impossible to leave. My plan to chase further north? Gone. There was no way I was walking away from this display. Instead, I stayed put along the shores of Lake Michigan at Wilderness State Park, watching in absolute awe.

At one point, I completely forgot about my camera. I lay back in the snow, speechless, watching the aurora dancing across the sky like a heartbeat. These are the moments that make chasing the northern lights worth it—the kind of night that stays with you forever.

Witnessing the Northern Lights in Mackinaw City

If this was your first time seeing the Mackinaw City northern lights, you were both blessed and cursed. Blessed because—WOW—what a first show to witness! Cursed because… well, good luck topping that! It set the bar HIGH.

With the solar maximum upon us, now is the time to keep your eyes on the skies. Here’s to the late nights, the wild magic above, and the auroras that set our souls on fire. May the sun keep dazzling us, one spectacular display at a time!