Best Places To See Perseid Meteor Shower Now In Minnesota

From July to August each year, the Earth passes through debris in space left from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. When this debris enters the Earth's atmosphere, it burns up, creating a meteor shower that is actually quite predictable. The meteor showers start around July 17th and hit their peak activity in mid-August.

Fortunately, Minnesota has some very remote and beautiful spots to observe the meteor shower. We are lucky enough to have several dark sky locations in the state. Dark Sky locations and sanctuaries are designated areas that have very little or no light pollution at all. Light pollution from cities and developments can make it difficult to see stars or meteors, so getting remote is key.

purple and black starry night

Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park was designated as a Dark Sky location in 2020. I've had the chance to camp on an island at Voyageurs and see the stars for myself. It's a breathtaking, beautiful experience.

The peak activity for the Perseids Meteor Shower happens August 12th and 13th. The best time to see the meteors is from Midnight to pre-dawn hours. On a clear night, you can expect to see 50 to 100 meteors per hour. That's a lot of wishes on shooting stars.

There's a new moon on August 12, which will help with visibility as the sky will be pitch black, with the stars shining bright. Now we just have to keep our fingers crossed for good weather.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area

The BWCA is a Dark Sky sanctuary. The remote wilderness has very little light pollution and offers dazzling stars and glimpses of the Northern Lights. Be advised, there are still wildfires burning in some sections, but the partial reopening of the BWCA is underway in the central and eastern sections.

Minnesota  North Shore

There are plenty of lake overlooks along the North Shore of Lake Superior, and there's no open sky quite like it. There are also plenty of campgrounds and State Parks for you to stay overnight to get a good look.

State Parks And State Forests

For Minnesotans who can't find the time to drive North to places like Voyageurs or the BWCA, there are State Parks and Forests across the state that allow overnight camping.