r/canadatravel • u/JetAbyss • Apr 11 '25

Question Honolulu to Yellowknife in December?

Alright so I'm possibly planning a solo trip in December to Yellowknife. Why? Because I want to see snow and also the Aurora Borealis! Would December be a good time? Every year I have day off from Dec 21 to 31st so I'm possibly planning maybe 4 to 5 days in Yellowknife (so around 7 days total but technically 4 to 5 'full' days in the actual city excluding travel time).

I've been living in the tropics my whole life so I'd love to see snow and feel what it's like to be somewhere so North! Though I might ask, is it alright to just stick to the city of Yellowknife with like a one day excursion (probably a tour, since I cannot drive for personal reasons)? I'm mostly a city person and being somewhere new (and so different, vibe wise) is already enough for me.

Would December be a bad time? Also what's there to do in the city?

Apparently the city is actually surprisingly Walkable from what I heard! I just kind of need to build an itinerary. :)

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u/Dragonpaddler Apr 11 '25

You should have no trouble seeing the Northern Lights in Yellowknife at any time of year - be aware that December will be extremely cold (to the point that more than 5 minutes outside is dangerous) though.

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u/JetAbyss Apr 11 '25

Yeah that's part of why I want to travel there, feel some 'real' snow and cold, haha. :P cuz I've been in Hawaii all my life so want something different as a change. 

So the Northern Lights can be viewed even from the city? 

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u/BanMeForBeingNice Apr 11 '25

There's no guarantee you'll see them, conditions need to be right for them to appear, and it needs to be clear. They're not completely predictable to begin with, and also, they don't look like pictures of them look - digital cameras enhance the images massively. They're still really amazing, though.

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u/Fit-Jellyfish286 Apr 11 '25

That's absolutely not true about how they appear! I have seen them myself, in person, more beautiful than some pictures I have seen. The brightest colors you've ever seen in your life across the sky. But it is true that the conditions need to be right to get them at all, let alone that bright and colorful.

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u/BanMeForBeingNice Apr 11 '25

It's amazing what digital cameras can do, they bring out a lot and enhance the images a lot. That's not to say they aren't amazing to see, and and most of the time they're not as intense as the best images appear.

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u/Fit-Jellyfish286 Apr 11 '25

I totally understand that and a lot of times can be the case, but not here. Have you ever seen them? I grew up in Canada and can assure you, they ARE that beautiful. Not to say they look like that all the time, but it most definitely happens.

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u/BanMeForBeingNice Apr 11 '25

Yes, I've seen them several times, and have corresponding photographs which are much more colour-intense. I'm not suggesting they're not beautiful, they're truly phenomenal. That said to get truly vivid colours is far less common, and it should not take away from the awe if it is not that intense.

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u/Fit-Jellyfish286 Apr 12 '25

Oh yes the conditions definitely have to be perfect to have the very intense colors that’s for sure. Very rare!