Where ice, wildlife and living culture meet
West Greenland National Park stretches across more than 22,000 km² of fjords, tundra, wetlands, glaciers and coastal landscapes. From Disko Bay in the north to the Arctic Circle region around Kangerlussuaq, the park brings together some of the most varied nature in Greenland.
This is a place shaped by ice, weather and time. It is also shaped by people.
For thousands of years, Inuit communities have travelled through, lived with and depended on this land. Hunting, fishing, gathering and seasonal movement are part of the story here, not only in the past, but still to this day. The park preserves both natural wonders and living cultural traditions, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience Greenland at its most authentic and unspoiled.
A Greenlandic way to care for the land
The initiative to establish West Greenland National Park came from Qeqqata Kommunia and Kommune Qeqertalik, in collaboration with the Wild Nature Foundation.
The aim is to protect rare and vulnerable ecosystems while creating a framework for responsible and sustainable tourism.
The park reflects a distinctly Greenlandic approach to nature conservation: protecting landscapes and biodiversity, supporting continued traditional use of the area and its resources, and welcoming visitors who travel with care and respect. Traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering continue alongside research and recreation, ensuring that the land remains both protected and lived in.
Why visit West Greenland National Park?
West Greenland National Park is for travellers who are drawn to open space, quiet movement, deep history and nature on its own terms.
Walk through landscapes shaped by time
The park holds some of the oldest exposed landscapes on Earth, formed from ancient Precambrian bedrock. Polished rock surfaces, fjord walls, moraines, meltwater rivers and vast outwash plains all tell the story of the Greenland Ice Sheet’s advance and retreat since the last Ice Age.
Near Kangerlussuaq, visitors can get close to the edge of the Ice Sheet and see how glacial landscapes continue to change. In the southern part of the park, some areas overlap with the UNESCO World Heritage Site Aasivissuit – Nipisat, where natural and cultural history are closely connected.
Follow the stories left in the land
People have moved through this region for more than 4,000 years.
Archaeological sites show traces of Saqqaq and Dorset cultures, followed by Thule Inuit, who developed highly adapted hunting traditions based on the seasons, the animals and the routes through the land.
Old camps, hunting structures and travel routes still mark the landscape. They remind us that this is not an empty wilderness, but a place of memory, movement and knowledge passed through generations.
Let the landscape set the pace
The park invites unhurried travel.
Open tundra, bird-rich wetlands, meltwater valleys and fjords connecting land and sea offer space to move quietly. Walking and hiking are among the best ways to experience the area’s scale, sounds and small details.
Non-motorised travel also helps reduce disturbance to wildlife and fragile habitats. In a place like this, travelling slowly is not a limitation. It is often the best way to arrive.
A living cultural landscape
West Greenland National Park is not separate from local life.
Hunting, fishing and gathering remain important to communities in and around the area. Visitors may encounter cabins, camps, work areas or people travelling through the landscape as part of daily life.
Observing these traditions respectfully helps ensure that culture, nature, and tourism can coexist.
Places and experiences
Different parts of the park offer different ways into the landscape.
- Near Kangerlussuaq, visitors can step close to the Greenland Ice Sheet and witness glacial retreat and newly emerging land.
- In the central fjords, geology, bird cliffs and long waterways show how closely land and sea are connected.
- Near Disko Bay, cultural heritage sites include Qeqertasussuk, an important Saqqaq culture site known for exceptionally well-preserved organic remains from Greenland’s earliest settlements.
Wildlife and vegetation
The park protects large, connected ecosystems and includes two internationally recognised Ramsar sites.
- Naternaq Ramsar site is one of the most important wetland complexes in western Greenland. Its moss mats, dwarf scrub heath and wetlands support species such as long-tailed duck, caribou and the nationally endangered Greenland white-fronted goose.
- Eqalummiut Nunaat and Nassuttuup Nunaa Ramsar site lie along the margin of the Ice Sheet. Here, plateaus, grass steppes, marshes, lakes and meltwater rivers provide important breeding, moulting and staging areas for waterbirds, including globally endangered species.
Beyond the Ramsar sites, the park supports Arctic char, caribou, musk ox and rare plant species. The harbour seal, critically endangered in Greenland, has also been observed, and special measures help protect vulnerable species during sensitive life stages.
Finding your way to the park
West Greenland National Park is remote, but several towns and settlements nearby act as natural gateways. These are connected to the rest of Greenland by domestic flights and coastal sea routes.
From there, access to the park depends on the season, weather and location. Travel may be by boat, snowmobile or on foot.
Local operators and residents hold important knowledge of routes, conditions and safety. Travelling with local guidance is one of the best ways to experience the park responsibly.
Getting around the park
There are almost no roads inside the national park. The exception is a short road near Kangerlussuaq that provides access towards the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Elsewhere, movement follows the land, the fjords and the seasons. Boats provide access to coastal and central areas when waters are open. In winter, snow and ice create other routes, always depending on local conditions.
To protect wildlife during sensitive periods, temporary rules may apply in clearly defined areas. These can include restrictions around:
- Harbour seal breeding sites
- Goose staging areas in spring
- Dea duck moulting areas
- Caribou calving grounds
During these times, there may be limits on motorised travel, sailing speed, flight altitude or drone use. Outside these areas and periods, visitors can experience the park as usual.
These measures help ensure that wildlife continues to thrive for local communities, for future visitors and for the land itself.
Sleeping under Arctic skies
There are currently no permanent accommodation facilities inside the national park. Camping is allowed.
When camping, choose durable surfaces and avoid fragile vegetation. If you notice signs of wear or erosion, move your tent to another spot. There are no fixed limits on how long you can stay in one place, but the responsibility is simple: leave the area as you found it.
Because this is a living cultural landscape, avoid camping close to cabins, camps, hunting sites or work areas. Give people space to carry out their activities undisturbed.
Archaeology
More information about archaeological sites and cultural heritage in the park will be added.
Let local knowledge be your guide
More information about local guides, operators and practical travel planning will be added.