The best spots to see the Geminid meteor shower in and around Calgary

A dazzling meteor shower will appear in skies across Canada this week, and luckily, we have an abundance of locations in Alberta where you can get the best seat in the house.

With more than a few dark sky preserves in and around the province, our region is one of the very best in Canada to spot this stunning natural phenomenon.

Active from Dec. 1 to 21, 2025, the Geminid meteor shower is considered one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year, and it reaches its peak this weekend. According to NASA, the Geminids came from an asteroid or potential “rock comet” called 3200 Phaethon.

When will the show reach its peak?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Geminids will reach peak visibility on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. NASA pits things even earlier, on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. That will make for a nice weekend screening of the best night sky light show around.

It’s best to view the meteor shower from 9 or 10 p.m. or later in the evening, when the Gemini constellation is in its prime position. Meteors will streak through the sky every minute or two, leaving light trails that can be captured on camera.

The best place to view the meteor shower is in a dark sky preserve, which we have several of here in Alberta. These are spots where light pollution is managed, which makes them prime for astral viewing.

The best star viewing locations

Many of Alberta’s dark sky preserves are within driving distance of the city of Calgary. Inner city, elevated spots with reduced light activity will be the best place to observe the astral event. Within the city’s limits, Nose Hill and Fish Creek Provincial Park are good choices to observe the meteor shower.

Outside of Calgary, the opportunities to get prime pictures and viewings of the astral event through a telescope open up. There’s a dark sky preserve over Jasper National Park, and Waterton Lakes National Park is also one of the best places in North America to ponder the universe.

There are plenty more places where you can look up at this exciting event taking place in the skies overhead. Here are a few in and around Calgary:

• Beaver Hills (encompasses Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area and Elk Island National Park)
• Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
• Lakeland Provincial Park

With low temperatures expected over the weekend, you’re best off making the road trip in an RV if you’re looking to take advantage of some of these stellar dark sky preserves around the province. Happy skygazing!

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