I had never seen the Northern Lights until I moved here – It was one of my bucket list items. Now I can just drive 5 min from my house to a prime viewing spot to see the Northern Lights in Green Bay.
Seeing the Northern Lights in Northeast Wisconsin is awesome, and entirely possible— but you have to know where to go. It requires clear skies, a high geomagnetic forecast (the Kp Index), and most importantly, escaping the light pollution of Titletown.
This guide will give you the exact locations near Green Bay where you can maximize your chances and, channeling our focus on high-quality visuals, show you how to capture them using just your iPhone.
The Three Golden Rules for Viewing the Aurora
Before you grab your thermos and lawn chairs, you need to check these conditions.
- Rule 1: The Kp Index: For Green Bay (and the surrounding areas like De Pere), you need a Kp Index of 5 or higher for a high likelihood of visibility. Anything above 6.5 is often visible to the naked eye. I use My Aurora Forecast to track in real-time.
- Rule 2: Get North, Get Dark: You must find a clear line of sight to the Northern Horizon. Light pollution will wash out the colors instantly. This means driving away from the city glow. Did you know your iPhone has a compass app?
- Rule 3: Clear Skies: Even a strong solar storm is useless if the sky is overcast. Check the local cloud cover forecast before you leave.
The 5 Best Aurora Viewing Spots Near Green Bay
These locations are all within a reasonable drive (under 60 minutes) of the Green Bay area and offer the dark skies necessary for viewing.
- Suamico/County Road Scenics: Drive northwest out of Suamico (or near New Franken) into open farmland. Find a county road with open fields facing north and pull safely to the side. Look for areas with a minimal concentration of farmhouses or street lights.
- Scrays Hill (Ledgeview/De Pere): While technically close to the city, the elevated vantage point of the Ledgeview area can sometimes provide enough height to clear the worst of the light dome. Pro Tip: Look North, away from Green Bay.
- Bay Shore Park (New Franken): Located on the Bay of Green Bay, this spot offers a relatively dark view over the water to the north. Water absorbs light, making the horizon a bit clearer.
- Door County (Newport State Park): The ultimate regional spot. While slightly farther, Newport State Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, making it the premier destination in Northeast Wisconsin. If the forecast is Kp 5 or higher, this drive is absolutely worth the investment for a truly spectacular view.
- UWGB Area Fields: Spots a few miles north or east of the UW-Green Bay campus offer some of the closest dark zones. Local fields provide a clear, low horizon ideal for catching the light show.
iPhone Photography for the Aurora (The Eric Visual Standard)
You don’t need a fancy DSLR camera to capture the Aurora in stunning detail—your iPhone can do it if you follow these rules (modeled on my core principle of high-quality visuals):
- Stabilization is Non-Negotiable: You need a tripod (even a mini one) or a perfectly steady surface. You will be using a long exposure, and any movement will ruin the shot.
- Activate Night Mode: If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, Night Mode will activate automatically in the dark. Tap the moon icon and slide the shutter speed to MAX (usually 10 seconds or 30 seconds on a tripod).
- Focus & Exposure: Tap and hold on a distant, bright object (like a star) to lock focus (AE/AF Lock). Then, slide down slightly to lower the exposure (a negative value, like −0.7) to prevent the bright aurora from washing out your dark sky.
- Turn Off Flash: Ensure the flash symbol is completely off.
Conclusion: Look Up, Green Bay!
The Northern Lights are a magical, often-missed part of the Green Bay experience. While you may have to sacrifice a few hours of sleep and endure the cold, capturing this elusive show is a perfect way to appreciate the unique beauty of Northeast Wisconsin.
Now you have the spots, the tools, and the technique. All that’s left is to wait for the next great solar storm. Happy chasing!
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