A Dark Sky Preserve as an area in which no artificial lighting is visible, and active measures are in place to educate and promote the reduction of light pollution to the public and nearby municipalities. Sky glow from beyond the borders of the preserve will be of comparable intensity, or less, to that of natural sky glow.

As a Dark Sky Preserve, Wood Buffalo national park has made a special commitment to protect and preserve the night sky and to reduce or eliminate light pollution in all its forms.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Wood Buffalo National Park the world’s largest Dark-Sky Preserve in 2013. 

This designation preserves habitat for almost a dozen owl species, bats and other nocturnal animals. Restricted artificial light also benefits as constellations come to life and the Milky Way spills across the horizon. 

Flare activity on the sun can spread the reds and greens of the Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) across the night sky. Late August and September offer longer – but still warm! – nights for Aurora viewing. The cold, often crystal clear nights of December, January and February also offer amazing viewing opportunities.

Campers enjoy a vast night sky filled with constellations. Wolves, owls and loons are often heard as visitors gaze at this astronomical portrait far from the urban glare.

The sky gets plenty dark in the North through fall, winter and spring until, that is, the Milky Way spills across the sky like a starry river. If you’re lucky, the Northern Lights will light up the night sky. 

According to pc.gc.ca