How to get informed
about the Arctic Circle Trail
As with any project, the best place to start is with research.
This page directs you to the best sources of information on preparing for the Arctic Circle Trail.
There are a limited number of guided hikes along the Arctic Circle Trail so it is a good idea to read as much as possible about the trail for yourself before starting out. This will give you a good indication of what to expect, confidence that you have the correct experience level for the trail, and assist you in determining what you will need to bring. One of the most important aspects of getting informed about the ACT is making sure you have the experience and the gear to hike the trail safely. Head to Chapter 10 for safety tips.
1) This Ultimate Guide to Hiking the ACT is one of the key resources on the web and we encourage you to read it from beginning to end and refer back to it as you prepare for your trip.
2) The Hiking in Greenland: The Arctic Circle Trail guidebook by Cicerone is currently being updated and provides a detailed description of the trail as well as general information about the region through which you will hike.
3) The Arctic Circle Trail spans 3 hiking maps – Kangerlussuaq, Pingu and Sisimiut. Purchasing these maps can help you with planning your staging for your hike, particularly if you are keen to camp away from the huts. These maps can be purchased online at Harvey Maps (UK) and Scanmaps (Denmark). In Kangerlussuaq itself, you can usually purchase these maps at Polar Lodge, Old Camp and at the souvenir shop inside the airport. There is also a map that spans the whole trail that can usually be found at Vivi’s Shop (directly opposite the airport exit) and at By Heart (the souvenir shop close to Pilersuisoq supermarket). In Sisimiut, you can purchase the 3 separate hiking maps at Hotel Sisimiut.
4) If you are a Facebook user, it is interesting to join the Arctic Circle Trail Facebook group where you can ask questions (though it is courtesy to search to see if your question has already been answered before asking again), and share photos and experiences. Some participants in the group have hiked the trail several times and have loads of knowledge about the area.
5) If you can’t find the answer to your question, you can ask Destination Arctic Circle (the regional destination management organisation) directly, by sending a message on their Facebook page, or emailing acb@acb.gl.
Article by: Lisa Germany
Lisa Germany is the trekking-mad writer and photographer who is responsible for providing much of the text and visual content for our Arctic Circle Trail powerpage. Her ACT blog is incredibly detailed and practical and broken down into daily instalments on the route from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut.
