Explore 13 places across Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia through Dre Erwin’s northern lights, coastal photographs and travel stories.

Saskatchewan northern lights photography, fine art prints and books by Dre Erwin. Discover stories of hope and therapeutic photography for youth. Finding light in the darkness "Photography Saved My Life!" I’m not an expert giving a lecture from a distance. I’m a front-line nurse who had to use the land and a lens to survive first—and now, I’m taking those tools back to where they are needed most. Dre Erwin, BScN, RN-AAP, MSM Share Meet Dre Photographer, nurse, and children's book author with a passion for capturing the beauty of northern Saskatchewan. My photography is about finding light in the darkness—helping young people notice the beauty around them and find hope in their own communities. My Story Chase the Lights with Me Get my latest camera settings, aurora alerts, and behind-the-scenes updates Subscribe You're in. Get ready for exclusive limited drops, northern stories, and the real magic behind the lens. 02 Weeks as a Top 10 Bestselling Author. 2 43 Youth Empowered through Therapeutic Photography Workshops. 01 Meritorious Service Decoration from the Governor General of Canada. Books Prints Schools & Youth 01 CBC Award-Winning Documentary. 02 Critical Medical Infrastructure Grants Secured for Remote Care. 01 Community Champion Award. (Embracing Life Initiative) success Money friends focus on what you want in life Grit therapeutic photography level up happiness FEATURED IN While You Were Sleeping: My latest captures from the field, matched with live data for your next hunt. Load More *Updated regularly—because the sky doesn’t care about my sleep schedule* LIVE NOW: NORTHERN LIGHTS FORECAST Data updates automatically. Latest News October 21, 2026 at 11:59:02 PM When the Sky Danced Is Almost Ready The last edits are in, and I’m waiting for the final printed proof. If it checks out, the book could be ready before Halloween. Read More Latest Blog Finding Light Together: A Pinehouse Photography Club Moment Under the Northern Lights A quiet northern lights moment from the Pinehouse Photography Club, where photography helped create space for connection and young voices. Dre Erwin 1 hour ago 1 min read Read More Posts

Contact Dre Erwin about photography prints, therapeutic photography workshops, speaking engagements and starting a club in your community. Contact For General Information, Contact: Dre Erwin 319 Sangster Blv Regina Saskatchewan, Canada 1-306-690-4554 dreerwinphotography@gmail.com Availability: As a specialized service, consultations and phone calls are available by appointment only. Inquiry Response: We check and respond to emails and contact forms daily. You can expect a personalized reply within 1-2 business days. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting! Meet Dre Erwin I'm Dre Erwin, a Saskatchewan photographer, children's book author and registered nurse (RN-AAP). Get to know the person behind the photographs and stories. Learn more about Dre

Yes, you can see the northern lights in Regina and the surrounding countryside. For a better view of a faint display, look for an open northern horizon away from the city glow. When activity becomes strong, the lights can reach overhead and sometimes be visible from within the city. I was born and raised in Regina, but it took moving back from northern Saskatchewan for me to appreciate what was happening above my own hometown. I had spent so much time looking for the lights in the North that I had underestimated the skies closer to home. This guide brings together that experience, photographs from my original Regina aurora story, and practical planning advice. It is a starting point for your own night outside, with enough room for the sky to surprise you. The quick answer: where should you look near Regina? North and northwest of Regina: research the Condie area and the countryside toward Lumsden and Craven, choosing an open view with as little city glow as possible. Within Regina: Wascana Centre and Douglas Park hill can offer an accessible city option during a strong display, although urban lighting makes faint aurora harder to see. At every location: confirm current access, gates, parking and any closure notices. A place mentioned in a photography story is not automatically open for overnight use. For the broader provincial picture, see my guide to five northern lights viewing areas in Saskatchewan. 1. Condie Nature Refuge and the area northwest of Regina Condie is part of my own Regina aurora story. On one outing, we nearly left before the display became really good. Waiting a little longer gave us the photographs and the memory we would otherwise have missed. Tourism Saskatchewan lists Condie Nature Refuge northwest of Regina, off Highway 11 at Exit A. It has designated parking areas and a reservoir setting. Its listing also says pets are not permitted. Year-round access does not establish overnight opening hours. I could not confirm after-dark gate access for this guide. Check with the site operator and obey the posted hours before planning an aurora visit; keep gates and access roads clear. Check the current Tourism Saskatchewan listing for Condie Nature Refuge before travelling. 2. Lumsden, Craven and the Qu’Appelle Valley area The countryside toward Lumsden and Craven gives Regina residents another area to research for darker skies. The important detail is the view from your exact position: valley walls, trees, nearby lights and the city glow can all affect what you see. Look for a clearly permitted public place with an open sky. Scout it in daylight and confirm where parking is allowed. Rural roads, fields, farm approaches and bridges are not interchangeable with designated viewing areas. Get permission before entering private land and keep well clear of traffic. These are regional suggestions, rather than promises about a particular roadside spot. Tourism Saskatchewan’s Regina-area photography guide is useful background when planning a daytime scouting trip. 3. Wascana Centre and Douglas Park hill A strong aurora can sometimes be visible without leaving Regina. Tourism Saskatchewan’s local photography guide identifies Douglas Park hill in Wascana Centre as a place where northern lights may occasionally be seen when the display is strong. It is a city option, with city lighting. A faint band near the horizon may be washed out even while a camera records some colour. Check current park access and notices, choose permitted paths and parking, and keep away from the water and ice. If the lights become active overhead, remember to look beyond the northern horizon. You can miss a lot by staring in only one direction. When is the best time to see northern lights near Regina? You need darkness, a sufficiently clear sky and aurora activity that reaches your viewing area. Longer autumn and winter nights give you more dark hours; cold temperatures themselves do not create the lights. A display can happen outside those seasons too. Around midnight is often a useful viewing window, but it is not an appointment. Activity can build earlier, fade quickly or return later. Give your eyes time to adjust and check conditions again rather than relying on a single alert. How to decide whether tonight is worth heading out Check the aurora outlook and the time shown on the forecast. Old screenshots and yesterday’s photographs can be misleading. Check cloud cover around Regina and along your route. An active aurora above thick cloud will not give you a clear view. Choose your location before leaving, including permitted parking and a way home. Use local sightings as an extra clue, paying attention to when and where the photograph was taken. Start with NOAA’s aurora dashboard and the Canadian Space Agency’s viewing advice. Treat Kp as a broad activity indicator, not a guarantee that a display will start at a particular time in Regina. A forecast helps you decide whether to try. The sky still gets the final say. Simple phone and camera tips Using a phone If your phone offers Night mode, try it with the phone supported on a tripod or another stable surface. Keep it still until the capture finishes. On supported iPhones, Night mode adjusts for low light and offers exposure options; the exact controls vary by model and software. A phone photograph can reveal colour in a faint aurora that looks grey or subtle to your eyes. That does not mean every display will look as bright in person as it does on a screen. Using a camera Bring a sturdy tripod, use a wide aperture, and focus carefully on a star. Take a test photograph and inspect it. The Canadian Space Agency gives 10–25 seconds as an exposure starting range, while noting that moving aurora can blur during a long exposure. Adjust for the brightness and movement you actually see. For a fuller walkthrough, visit my northern lights photography guide. You do not have to learn every setting before enjoying your first outing. A short checklist before you leave Warm layers, gloves and footwear suitable for the conditions. A charged phone, spare power and a light for finding your way safely. A tripod or stable support, if you want photographs. Current weather and road-condition checks, plus confirmed access and parking. Let someone know your plan, especially when heading into the countryside. Set up your camera before your hands get cold. Use only the light you need around other viewers, and avoid shining a flashlight into someone else’s photograph. The part that keeps me going back We nearly left Condie before the lights really appeared. That night stayed with me because it reminded me how easily we can leave before noticing what is right above us. There is something about stepping outside the rush, waiting, and paying attention. Sometimes you come home with a photograph. Sometimes you come home with a quieter head and a story. Either way, you made space to look. That is the idea behind finding light in the darkness. You do not need the most expensive camera to begin noticing what is beautiful around you. Frequently asked questions Can I see the northern lights from inside Regina? Sometimes, especially during a strong display. City lighting makes faint aurora harder to see. An open view away from bright lights improves your chances, but no location guarantees a sighting. Do I have to drive hours north? No. My original Regina photographs were made much closer to home. Northern locations can offer different opportunities, but an evening near Regina can still be worthwhile when the conditions line up. Is Condie definitely open for late-night aurora viewing? I have not confirmed overnight access. Check current gates, hours and notices with the operator before visiting, and use another permitted location if access is closed. Can I photograph the northern lights with my phone? Yes, many recent phones can capture aurora in low light. Night mode and a stable support can help. Results depend on the phone, the conditions and the strength of the display. Keep exploring Browse photographs by location on my interactive map, or bring a piece of Saskatchewan’s night sky into your home. For stories and creative activities to share with children, visit my books page. Sources and planning links Local access and astronomy references checked in October 2026. Confirm current conditions before travelling. Tourism Saskatchewan: Condie Nature Refuge Tourism Saskatchewan: Photographing Regina and Beyond Canadian Space Agency: Aurora viewing tips Canadian Space Agency: Photographing the aurora NASA: Finding and photographing auroras Apple: Taking Night mode photographs

Updated October 22, 2026. Location guidance, official resources and photo descriptions reviewed; the original article was published April 24, 2023. Saskatchewan has room to get away from city lights, with prairie horizons in the south and lakes and forest farther north. The best place to see the northern lights depends on where the sky is clear, how active the aurora is, and where you can stop safely. No destination can promise a display. This guide brings together places to consider, what to check before leaving, and photographs from my Saskatchewan aurora collection. Start with a location you can reach comfortably, then let the weather and current conditions guide the evening. What makes a good northern-lights viewing spot? Look for a dark location with an open view of the sky and legal, safe access. A lake shoreline or prairie horizon can give a clear view, but a photograph is not proof that a particular shoreline, field or road is open to visitors. Check access before travelling and stay off private land unless you have permission. Northern locations generally improve your chances, while strong activity can bring the aurora much farther south. Bright city lighting can hide a faint display. Look around the whole sky rather than watching only the northern horizon. When can you see the northern lights in Saskatchewan? Aurora can be seen in Saskatchewan throughout the year when it is dark enough and conditions line up. Longer autumn and winter nights offer more darkness; summer outings need to account for late twilight, especially farther north. Cold temperatures do not cause the aurora. There is no dependable start time. The Canadian Space Agency notes that displays often become more intense around midnight, but they can appear earlier or later. Clouds can hide even an active aurora, and bright moonlight can make faint detail harder to see. Plan for patience rather than a fixed appointment with the sky. Canadian Space Agency: aurora viewing tips Check the forecast before you drive Use Space Weather Canada for current geomagnetic conditions and forecasts, then compare that with the local weather forecast. Check the time shown on each forecast. An aurora alert is a reason to look outside, not a guarantee that a particular town will have a visible display. Space Weather Canada: conditions and forecasts Before leaving, check cloud cover, road conditions, park notices and seasonal access. Choose a backup plan close to your destination rather than chasing every alert over a long distance. Where to see the northern lights in Saskatchewan Prince Albert National Park and Waskesiu Parks Canada recommends South Bay and Paignton Beach along Narrows Road for open night-sky views. They are useful places to investigate around Waskesiu when access and conditions allow. Confirm current road and visitor notices before going. Prince Albert National Park offers stargazing opportunities, but it should not be labelled an officially designated Dark-Sky Preserve in this guide. Parks Canada: stargazing in Prince Albert National Park La Ronge and Lac La Ronge Provincial Park La Ronge is a base for exploring the surrounding lake country. Look for an accessible shoreline with a clear view and limited nearby lighting. Check with the park or your accommodation about access, operating seasons and current conditions rather than assuming every campground or launch is available after dark. Lac La Ronge Provincial Park visitor information Pinehouse Lake Pinehouse sits beside Pinehouse Lake in northern Saskatchewan. This recovered photograph from my CBC documentary photo collection shows a red-and-white tent beneath green northern lights reflected in the water. It is a reminder of the photographs that came out of our time there, not a marked public campsite or a promise of conditions on your visit. Confirm local access and choose a safe viewing spot on shore. Respect the community and private property, and arrange any camping or overnight stay in advance. Pinehouse community and visitor information Meadow Lake Provincial Park Meadow Lake Provincial Park offers lakes and boreal-forest scenery to consider for a night-sky trip. The practical question is whether you can reach an open, safe viewing area during your visit. Check seasonal services and park notices first. The earlier version of this article incorrectly called Meadow Lake an official Dark-Sky Preserve; that claim has been removed. Meadow Lake Provincial Park: current visitor information Hudson Bay area If you are staying around Hudson Bay, consider a nearby dark location with permission to park and a clear view of the sky. Treat this as a regional option, not a verified viewing platform or a guaranteed aurora destination. Scout your route in daylight and confirm local access. Regina and Saskatoon You do not always need a northern road trip. During stronger activity, the lights can be visible around Regina and Saskatoon. Moving away from direct streetlights can help, but use an established public place where stopping is permitted. Do not park in traffic lanes, block farm entrances or walk into an unfamiliar field in the dark. My local guide: northern lights near Regina Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills For an officially designated dark-sky destination, consider Grasslands National Park or Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Tourism Saskatchewan identifies these as the province’s two Dark Sky Preserves. Their dark skies are valuable for stargazing even if the aurora does not appear. A designation protects the night-sky experience; it does not guarantee northern lights. Tourism Saskatchewan: stargazing and Dark Sky Preserves Plan for a safe night outside Bring warm layers, a charged phone, a light and enough fuel for the return trip. Let someone know where you are going. Check current park restrictions before camping or lighting a fire; the campfire and tent photographs in this article are images from my collection, not instructions to camp at those exact locations. Stay on safe ground. Do not step onto lake ice simply to improve a photograph, and do not assume ice is safe because it looks frozen. When visibility, access or road conditions are uncertain, choose another night. Bring a camera, but leave time to look A tripod can help keep a camera steady during longer exposures. Keep bright lights away from other viewers and give yourself time to enjoy the sky without a screen. A camera may record colour and detail differently from your eyes, so a photograph should not be treated as a promise of what every display will look like. Start with a clear sky, a safe place to stop and realistic expectations. Some nights give you a photograph. Others give you a quiet view of the stars. Explore more of my northern-lights photographs and guides

The Pinehouse Photography Club — Inspiring Creativity, Building Confidence, and Capturing Memories in Northern Saskatchewan Members of the Pinehouse Photography Club celebrate beneath the breathtaking northern lights along the shores of Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan—a moment of friendship, discovery, and shared experiences that captures the spirit of the club. Some photographs capture a beautiful moment. Others tell a story that extends far beyond the image itself. This photograph, taken beneath the northern lights in northern Saskatchewan, represents something much greater than a remarkable night sky. It reflects a shared experience, a sense of community, and the opportunities that photography can create for young people. Looking back at this image brings back some of my most meaningful memories from the Pinehouse Photography Club, an initiative I founded to introduce youth to photography and encourage them to explore the world around them through a different lens. A memory from my Pinehouse Photography Club days A fresh edit of a photograph from my Pinehouse Photography Club days. Cold nights, northern lights and good company. Photograph by Dre Erwin. Getting outside, learning photography and spending time together were a big part of the club. I founded the Pinehouse Photography Club, but I no longer lead it. I am sharing this photograph as a memory of my time there. The Beginning of the Pinehouse Photography Club Pinehouse Photography Club youth enjoying a campfire during a photography retreat at Norberg Falls, northern Saskatchewan. When I established the Pinehouse Photography Club, my vision was to provide young people in the northern Saskatchewan community of Pinehouse Lake with opportunities to learn photography, develop creative skills, and discover new interests. Photography is about much more than understanding camera settings, composition, or lighting. It encourages curiosity, patience, creativity, and a greater appreciation for the environment. For young people, it can also provide a meaningful opportunity to build confidence, express themselves, and develop a sense of accomplishment. The club was built around these principles, creating opportunities for youth to learn through hands-on experiences while exploring the remarkable landscapes surrounding their community. Pinehouse Photography Club members exploring nighttime photography on a frozen northern Saskatchewan lake under the moonlight. A Night Beneath the Northern Lights Northern Saskatchewan is home to some of the most spectacular night skies in Canada. Far from the light pollution of larger cities, the aurora borealis can transform the landscape into an extraordinary display of color and movement. For those of us who have spent considerable time in the North, the northern lights are a familiar sight. Yet even after witnessing them countless times, there are moments when their beauty remains impossible to describe. This photograph captures one of those moments. Standing together along the shoreline, beneath a sky illuminated by brilliant green auroras, the young photographers raised their arms in celebration. It was a spontaneous moment of excitement and connection, surrounded by the natural beauty of northern Saskatchewan. While the northern lights provided an incredible backdrop, the most important part of the photograph was the group of young people standing beneath them. Their enthusiasm and shared experience are what make this image particularly meaningful to me. Photography as an Opportunity for Growth The Pinehouse Photography Club van beneath the Milky Way, capturing the beauty of northern Saskatchewan's dark skies. Throughout my involvement with the Pinehouse Photography Club, I came to appreciate how photography could become a powerful tool for learning and personal development. A camera offers young people an opportunity to explore their surroundings, recognize beauty in familiar places, and tell stories from their own perspectives. Pinehouse Photography Club members gathering for a group photograph during one of their outdoor photography adventures in northern Saskatchewan. Whether photographing the northern lights, wildlife, landscapes, or everyday life in their community, each experience presented an opportunity to develop new skills. Equally important were the friendships, conversations, and shared memories created along the way. Some of the most rewarding moments had little to do with producing a technically perfect photograph. They came from watching young people become excited about their work, discover their creativity, and take pride in what they had accomplished. Those experiences reinforced my belief that photography can offer something valuable beyond the images themselves. The Pinehouse Photography Club van beside Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan, beneath green northern lights. Photograph by Dre Erwin. The Beauty of Northern Saskatchewan One of the greatest privileges of photographing northern Saskatchewan is experiencing its remarkable natural environment. The aurora borealis dances above the boreal forest, reflecting across the still waters of northern Saskatchewan. The region offers endless photographic opportunities, from expansive boreal forests and peaceful lakes to dramatic night skies and the constantly changing northern lights. For the young photographers of Pinehouse Lake, these landscapes were more than scenic locations. They were part of their home, their community, and their everyday lives. Photography provided another way to appreciate and document that connection. Through the camera, familiar surroundings could become extraordinary subjects, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty and unique character of northern Saskatchewan. Looking Back, Moving Forward Over the years, I have captured thousands of photographs, but some of the most meaningful images are not necessarily those with the most dramatic lighting or perfect composition. They are the photographs that bring back memories of people, places, and experiences that made a difference. This image is one of them. Although I have not been as active in photography in recent years, revisiting photographs from the Pinehouse Photography Club reminds me why I became passionate about photography in the first place. It was never simply about capturing beautiful images. It was also about sharing experiences, encouraging creativity, and helping others discover what they could accomplish. The photographs remain, but so do the memories of the people and moments behind them. I hope that the experiences shared through the Pinehouse Photography Club continue to hold meaning for the young people who participated, wherever their journeys have taken them. More Than Just a Photograph When I look at this photograph today, I see much more than silhouettes beneath the aurora borealis. I see friendship, excitement, opportunity, and a group of young people sharing an unforgettable experience beneath the northern sky. It is a reminder that the true value of photography is not always measured by the images we produce, but by the experiences we share and the memories we leave behind. Sometimes the greatest thing we can capture through a camera isn't the light in front of us, but the light we help inspire in others. Dre Erwin Photographer and Founder, Pinehouse Photography ClubNorthern Saskatchewan, Canada