Safe aurora hunting

Never stop along the road

Snow makes winter roads narrower, it is dark, and other drivers may see you too late. Drive into a car park, a rest area or a lay-by meant for parking before you stop.

1. Aurora while you drive?
2. Do not brake suddenly or stop. Aurora displays usually last a while or come back.
3. Make a safe stop at the next car park or rest area.

Park only where parking is allowed

• Car park or rest areaPark here
• Passing place (møteplass)Never stop
• Bus stopNever stop
• Along the roadNever stop
• Private yard or drivewayNever stop

This applies even if you stay in the car. A passing place (the blue M sign) is only for letting cars pass each other on a narrow road. Other lay-bys can be used for parking, unless a sign or road marking says otherwise. See parking in Norway (Statens vegvesen).

• Car park full? Drive on to the next one. Never make your own space at the roadside.
• Leave room for the snow plough. Do not block roads, gates or driveways.
• Once parked, switch off your headlights (dipped and full beam), so you do not blind others.
• Without car lights you are hard to see, so everyone should wear a reflector outside the car. The law only requires one reflective vest, for the driver. Buy reflectors for the others at a petrol station or shop.
• Never walk or stand on the road, not even to take photos. Hold children by the hand.
• Always check the signs where you park, even at the spots in our app.

Check the road before you drive

The roads in the north can be icy, narrow and dark. Some close in bad weather, and on some you have to drive in a convoy behind a lead vehicle.

• Vegvesen trafikk shows road reports, closed roads, convoy driving and road cameras. It is the website and app of Statens vegvesen, the Norwegian road authority.
• Driving on winter roads (Statens vegvesen) covers tyres, what to carry in the car, convoys and snow ploughs.
• Drive safely in Norway (Statens vegvesen) explains traffic rules, parking and emergency numbers for visiting drivers.
• Fill up or charge before you drive out. The cold drains batteries, and the next petrol station or charger can be far away.
• Drive slowly, let local traffic pass, and watch out for moose and reindeer on the road.

Respect the people who live here

• Keep out of gardens, yards and other private land, even to take pictures.
• Keep your voice down, and do not shine torches, headlamps or car lights at houses. Many people here get up early for work.
• Do not leave the engine running near houses. Norway's traffic rules forbid needless idling near homes because of the noise and fumes.
• Take all your rubbish with you. Do not light fires along the road or in car parks.
• On a guided tour, follow your guide's advice.
• Keep rest areas quiet too. Lorry drivers often take their required rest there. The northern lights guidelines from Visit Tromsø have more advice for visitors.
• Tromsø Municipality and the A-crime Centre in Troms and Finnmark have made a guide for responsible aurora tourism for tour operators.

Cold, snow and avalanches

• Dress for much colder weather than you expect, because you will stand still outside for a long time. Bring warm boots with ice grips, a hat, mittens, food, a hot drink and a charged phone.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back.
• Some roads and spots in the north are at risk of avalanches. Where we know of such a risk, the note under the spot says so. Check the avalanche warning (from 1 December) on Varsom (NVE) and stay at the car park. Never walk on or below steep slopes in the dark.
• On Svalbard, polar bear rules apply outside Longyearbyen. Go with a guide.
• Do not walk out onto frozen lakes, rivers or fjords. In the dark you cannot see where the ice is weak, and snow can hide thin ice. Keep away from the water's edge and slippery rocks by the sea.
• Going further on foot? Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene) from DNT and the Norwegian Red Cross.

Emergency numbers

• 112Police
• 113Ambulance
• 110Fire
• 02800Police, when it is not an emergencyFor example if you have hit a moose or reindeer. Not reporting it is an offence. Do not follow an injured animal. If 02800 does not work from a foreign phone, call +47 02800.
• +47 22 175 175Danger on the roadThe Traffic Control Centre (Veitrafikksentralen), for example for objects on the road or a broken-down car.

Car stuck, off the road or broken down?

1. Turn on the hazard lights. Put on the reflective vest before you get out.
2. Set up the warning triangle well behind the car (at least 150 m if you can).
3. If anyone is hurt, call 113. If the car blocks the road, call +47 22 175 175. Then call roadside assistance (the number from your rental company or insurer).
4. Keep warm and wait somewhere safe. Do not sit in a car that stands on the road. If you wait in the car with the engine running, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.

The numbers are from Statens vegvesen and the police.

About our spots

Where we could, we placed our viewing spots at public car parks. We found them in OpenStreetMap, the National Road Database (NVDB) of Statens vegvesen and other online sources. This information can contain mistakes, and things change. A car park can be closed, full of snow or private. Check the signs on site.

The note under a spot (see all our spots) tells you about things like small car parks, roads that can close and spots you can only reach on a guided tour.

AuroraChaser is independent. We refer to advice from Statens vegvesen, Varsom (NVE), DNT, the Norwegian Red Cross, Visit Tromsø, Tromsø Municipality, the A-crime Centre and the police, but they have not reviewed this page or our app.

Do you live near one of our spots? If it causes trouble for you or on the road, write to us at hello@aurorachaser.app and we will remove it.