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| Northern lights at Voyageurs National Park. Photo by Voyageurs NPS. |
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| Oberholtzer Trail |
One great day path to see the northern lights, as the aurora borealis is more commonly known, is the Oberholtzer Hiking Trail. The 1.7-miles round trip trail can be enjoyed during the day for its woodlands, lake view, and marsh, but at night its proximity to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center also makes it ideal for seeing these dancing lights.
To reach the trail, from International Falls take Minn. Hwy. 11 east to the park. Turn right/south onto County Road 96, aka Park Road; when Hwy 96 turns south, continue straight/east on Ut-342. Park in the lot for the Rainy Lake Visitor Center Public Boat Access, trying to find a space as close to the entry road as possible.
Walk along the side of the road toward the parking lot's junction with Ut-342; after a low, flat outcrop of rock but before the junction, look for the trailhead on the left/west.
The trail initially crosses an open area, running 0.35 miles to the beginning of its eastern loop. This stretch marks a great spot to stop and view the aurora borealis.
The light show occurs when charged particles from the sun strike the Earth’s magnetosphere, which deflects dangerous radiation and other magnetic waves from space. After being deflected, the striking particles flow around the Earth, as if water striking a stationary rock.
Sometimes the charged particles penetrate the magnetosphere, until smashing into nitrogen or oxygen atoms. Which one the particles hit and at what altitude this collision occurs determines the light show’s color.
Red lights means the particles are hitting oxygen, above 150 miles in altitude. If the particles hit oxygen below that altitude, they will be green. Purple is common when the particles contact nitrogen more than 60 miles above the surface. Blue occurs when hitting nitrogen below that height. Because of this, the northern lights can appear a variety of colors.
The aurora borealis will appear more intense in Voyageurs than at almost any other national park other than those in Alaska. That’s because the northern lights are more prevalent in middle to higher latitudes as approaching the pole. Sometimes at Voyageurs, it fills almost the entire sky.
The best time to see an aurora is during a solar storm on a clear night when there is little or no moonlight. An aurora forecast with maps is available online from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
If hiking the full trail during the day, go left/east onto it. Most of the rest of the way is wooded.
In 0.12 miles, you’ll come to a spur; go left/east into it, which in 0.05 miles leads to a bench overlooking Rainy Lake. All of Voyageurs’ lakes abound with walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass, and during daylight you’re certain to see fishermen on the waters.
Once taking in the view, head back on the spur; at the loop, continue left/west. In 0.1 miles, you’ll reach the junction with the main trail; go left/west onto it.
After 0.16 miles, the trail crosses County Road 96. Then in 0.06 miles, it reaches the western loop; go left/west on it.
The loop circles to the north and in 0.11 miles comes to a bench. In 0.03 miles from there, you’ll reach the end of loop; continue by retracing your steps back to the first loop.
Rather than going on the east loop again, stay left/northeast; in 0.04 miles, you’ll come to the other junction for loop. Keep left/north back and head back to the parking lot.
Oberholtzer Hiking Trail also is used as a snowshoe trail in winter.
Learn more about the park’s day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at Voyageurs National Park guidebook.
