Into the wilderness
Leave stress and manmade confinement behind in the material world. Walk into the realm where the earth and skies and your own heartbeat set the pace. Immerse yourself in a remote universe. Renew your love affair with the sounds of silence.
The Arctic Circle Trail, a land of one hundred lakes, is one such place. Let the wilderness seeker and nature lover inside you find happiness in this stretch of fresh air and wide landscape that exudes Greenlandic beauty.
The road less traveled
The Arctic Circle Trail is a breathtaking expanse of Greenland backcountry. The low Arctic vegetation climbs up the sides of mountains as the terrain grows steeper near the coast. Clean rivers and trickles from the rock beg you to quench your thirst. A faint trodden trail quietly lead you along your way.
A small, simple hut inconspicuously placed every once in awhile gives the only evidence that anyone has crossed these hills before, though most still opt for sleeping in a tent, or even under the open sky, to maintain the feeling of being connected with nature.
The Arctic Circle Trail is a special place on Earth where the fact that things are missing is the selling point. No cars. No buildings. No stresses. And nearly no people. This is because Greenland is a land for pioneers, travelers who explore places that few others dream of.
This trail is for physically healthy people. It is a natural terrain trail and typically takes 9-11 days to complete. Most people walk from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut, although there are some who walk the other way or even walk both ways. The trail gains elevation from east to west.
Update 2022: A 126 kilometre ATV dirt track has recently been completed, and intervenes with the Arctic Circle Trail from Eqalugaarniarfik (Oles Lakse Elv) to Sisimiut. You may meet an ATV every once in awhile along this stretch. Taking this into account, a new southern route has been established to provide the total isolation that the ACT is so well known for, starting at Eqalugaarniarfik and ending at Kangerluarsuk Tulleq.
About the Arctic Circle Trail
- The ACT is 160 km long and stretches between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut.
- Please follow the unspoken ACT code of conduct – Leave No Trace! Take all waste with you for the duration of your journey.
- There are 8 simple huts at various points along the trail that typically sleep 4-6 persons. Some have restroom facilities.
- The ACT and its huts are free to use by all hikers and Greenlanders.
- June – August: summer season. Warm temperatures, high sun, mosquitos and wet ground.
- August and September: autumn season. Cool temperatures and overnight snow in the mountains.
- December – February: winter season. Cold temperatures, snow and very short days.
- March – April: spring season. Cold temperatures, snow and lengthening daylight.
Diverse trail experiences
All good hikes, especially one as long as the Arctic Circle Trail, beg for a bit of spontaneity, so create your own adventure whenever you please. Take the abandoned canoe you stumbled upon for a spin. Bring your lightweight fishing gear and aim for fresh trout for dinner. Play nature photographer when reindeer, small Arctic fox, and hare skitter past.
When the toes need a bit of relief, and the back a break after days with a heavy pack under the warmth of the eternal summer Midnight Sun, take a day’s pause from walking to enjoy your own company. The breath of fresh air will energize you anew.
A trail for all seasons
When Northern Lights in the dark sky followed by waking to the sight of snow-capped mountains signal autumn’s onset, the Arctic Circle Trail begins its transformation into a winter adventure thoroughfare.
Dog sledding mini-expeditions from Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq guide you across the same landscape in just a few nights’ time.
The huts, which are often passed up in exchange for sleeping in tents in summer, are a welcome sight on the winter horizon when it is 20 below.
Otherwise, amp up the volume to keep your blood pumping with more active modes like cross-country skiing or even snowmobiling.
The deafening silence of the Arctic Circle Trail is calling out to you… Are you coming?
