Arctic Circle Trail

The Arctic Circle Trail is a 165-km point-to-point trail in west Greenland, running from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut and gaining roughly 2,400 m of cumulative elevation over 7 to 10 days. Rated moderate, it crosses treeless tundra, lake chains and river fords north of the Arctic Circle, making it one of the world's great long-distance wilderness walks.

About the Arctic Circle Trail

The Arctic Circle Trail (ACT) links the inland airport town of Kangerlussuaq with the coastal town of Sisimiut, Greenland's second-largest settlement. The full route runs about 165 km (103 miles), staying entirely north of the Arctic Circle. It was established as a marked footpath in 1998 and has grown into the most popular multi-day hike in Greenland, though it still sees no more than around 1,500 walkers a year — a fraction of the traffic on comparable European long trails.

This is not a mountain route. The highest point reaches only about 450 m above sea level, and there are no significant passes. Instead, the challenge comes from distance, remoteness and self-reliance: there are no towns, no shops and no resupply points between the two endpoints. Everything you eat for the week must be carried from the start, and the path crosses boggy tundra, exposed ridges and several rivers that must be forded. The first 17 km out of Kangerlussuaq follow a gravel road before the singletrack proper begins, marked sparsely with cairns and the occasional painted flash.

Roughly the eastern half of the trail passes through the Aasivissuit–Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, an Inuit hunting ground used for some 4,200 years. Walkers regularly see musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer (caribou) and ptarmigan, while the lakes hold Arctic char. The landscape is open, glaciated terrain that shifts from the dusty, ice-cap-edge interior to the greener, more dramatic coastal hills near Sisimiut.

Part of what makes the ACT so compelling is its scale of solitude. With no more than about 1,500 hikers spread across a three-month season, you can walk for a full day and meet only a handful of other people, or none at all. Mobile-phone coverage is absent for most of the route, there are no road crossings once you leave the gravel section, and the nearest help is days away on foot. That isolation is the trail's greatest reward and its greatest risk in equal measure, and it shapes every planning decision — from how much food you carry to how conservatively you judge a river crossing. Hikers should be comfortable with map, compass and GPS navigation, as the cairn markings thin out and disappear entirely in poor visibility or after snow.

Route Overview & Stages

Most hikers walk the trail east to west, starting at Kangerlussuaq, because the prevailing wind is then at your back and the scenery improves as you approach the coast. A typical itinerary breaks the route into nine days, overnighting at or near the primitive huts. Distances below are approximate; many walkers combine or split stages depending on weather and fitness. The terrain underfoot is rarely steep but often slow: tussock grass, ankle-deep bog, loose boulder fields and braided river channels all eat into your pace, so plan conservative daily distances rather than assuming flat-ground speed.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Russell Glacier & the ice sheet — reachable on a side trip from Kangerlussuaq, where the Greenland Ice Sheet calves into meltwater rivers; a classic add-on before the trek.
• Lake Amitsorsuaq — the longest lake on the route, with a free-to-use canoe scheme letting hikers paddle around 20 km of shoreline instead of walking it.
• Canoe Centre hut — a popular overnight beside Amitsorsuaq and the launching point for the lake paddle.
• Innajuattoq "Lake Hut" — widely regarded as the most beautiful shelter on the trail, a two-storey cabin set above Tasersuaq lake.
• Tasersuaq — a large, clear tundra lake holding Arctic char, a favourite spot for a swim and a rest day.
• Aasivissuit–Nipisat UNESCO site — ancient Inuit caribou-hunting grounds with archaeological traces along the eastern half of the route.
• Itinneq valley — a lush, sheltered river corridor near Nerumaq, a green contrast to the open tundra plateaus.
• Sisimiut — the colourful coastal finish, Greenland's second town, with a museum, supermarket and the airport for the journey home.

Best Time to Hike the Arctic Circle Trail

The viable hiking window runs from roughly mid-June to mid-September, when the route is largely snow-free. Outside this window the trail demands skis, snowshoes or snowmobile support and full winter mountaineering skills, and the river fords become dangerous or impassable.

Within the summer season the conditions shift noticeably. Late June and early July bring the longest daylight — near-24-hour light at this latitude — but also the heaviest mosquitoes, which on the boggy interior sections can be genuinely overwhelming without a head net. August sees the bugs fade, the air cool and the autumn tundra colours begin to glow, though river levels can rise after rain.

As of 2026, the single best month to walk the Arctic Circle Trail is August: temperatures typically sit around 5–15°C, the worst of the mosquito plague has passed, daylight is still long enough for big days, and the landscape takes on its red-gold autumn palette. Always carry layers for sub-freezing nights and wind even in midsummer, and check the latest fire and river-crossing advisories before you set out, as tundra fires have forced trail evacuations in recent dry summers.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The trail is dotted with around 10 free, first-come-first-served wooden huts spaced roughly a day apart, including Hundesø, Katiffik, the Canoe Centre, Ikkattooq, Eqalugaarniarfik, Innajuattoq, Nerumaq and Kangerluatsiarsuaq. These are basic shelters — sleeping platforms, a table and not much else — with no electricity, mattresses or staff, and no booking system, so they can fill up in peak season. There is no fee to use them. Because beds are never guaranteed, every hiker must carry a tent as backup; wild camping is permitted and free along the entire route. In Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut you will find paid options: hostel beds and guesthouses run from roughly €40–90 per night, with hotels higher. Budget around €0 for on-trail nights and your real costs for the town stays at each end.

Getting There & Back

The trailhead at Kangerlussuaq sits beside Greenland's main international airport, historically the country's primary long-haul gateway. From the terminal it is a short walk or taxi to the official start. At the far end, Sisimiut has its own airport with regular Air Greenland flights, plus the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ferry in season. The most common logistics are to fly into Kangerlussuaq, walk west, then fly out of Sisimiut — the Sisimiut–Kangerlussuaq hop takes well under an hour. Book flights early, as seats are limited and the route is the main link for trekkers. International travellers typically connect via Copenhagen or Iceland, so build in buffer days at each end: Arctic weather routinely delays or cancels flights, and you do not want a missed connection eating into your trekking window. Many walkers spend a night in Kangerlussuaq before starting, both to acclimatise to the logistics and to visit the ice sheet on a half-day tour.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike the Arctic Circle Trail and there is no charge to walk it or to use the huts. You should, however, register your itinerary with a trusted contact and consider Greenland's recommended practice of leaving trip details before departure, given the total absence of services en route. Comprehensive travel and rescue insurance is strongly advised, since evacuation from the interior is expensive and weather-dependent.

Gear & Packing List

Because there is no resupply, your pack must hold 7–10 days of food plus full self-sufficient camping kit, so a comfortable, well-fitted load-hauler is the single most important item. Ultralight-minded walkers often choose a frameless or composite pack such as the 3400 Windrider for the bigger food carry, or the smaller 2400 Windrider if their base weight is low. Walkers wanting a more structured, padded harness for the long food load often prefer the Abisko Hike 35 or a larger 50–60 L pack. For a deeper comparison see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026.

Beyond the pack, prioritise: a free-standing or sturdy tent that handles wind, a sleeping bag rated to around -5°C, an insulated mat, waterproof shell and trousers, sturdy trail shoes or boots plus dedicated river-crossing footwear, a reliable stove with enough fuel for the whole crossing, a head net and repellent for mosquitoes, and a water filter (lake and stream water is generally drinkable but filtering is wise). Plan calorie-dense meals carefully, since you carry every gram from the start — our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you size your food bag without over- or under-packing.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Arctic Circle Trail's mix of remote tundra and self-supported hut-to-hut walking appeals, you may also enjoy other rugged long-distance routes. For a greener, more mountainous multi-day adventure with village stops along the way, read our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania, a contrasting alpine classic that shares the ACT's sense of crossing a wild landscape on foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Arctic Circle Trail?
The season runs from mid-June to mid-September when the route is snow-free. August is the best single month: temperatures sit around 5–15°C, the heavy summer mosquitoes have largely gone, daylight remains long, and the tundra turns red-gold. Outside summer the trail needs skis or snowmobile support and full winter skills.

How difficult is the Arctic Circle Trail?
It is rated moderate. There are no high passes — the maximum altitude is about 450 m — and cumulative gain is modest at roughly 2,400 m over 165 km. The real difficulty is remoteness: no resupply, no services, river fords, boggy ground and full self-sufficiency for 7–10 days, which demands solid navigation and fitness.

How many kilometres per day will I walk?
Most hikers cover 15–21 km per day, completing the 165 km route in 7 to 10 days. A common nine-day plan averages around 18 km daily between huts. Fit walkers go faster — the fastest known time is under two days — but heavy food loads and boggy terrain make a relaxed pace more enjoyable and sustainable.

What accommodation is available along the trail?
About 10 free, basic wooden huts sit roughly a day apart, offering sleeping platforms but no beds, power or staff and no booking. They can fill in peak season, so every hiker must carry a tent; wild camping is permitted and free anywhere on the route. Paid hostels and guesthouses (around €40–90) are available only in Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut.

Do I need a permit to hike the Arctic Circle Trail?
No. The trail is free to walk, the huts are free to use, and no permit or fee is required. You should register your itinerary with a contact before departure and carry comprehensive travel and rescue insurance, because there are no services en route and evacuation from the interior is costly and dependent on weather and aircraft availability.

Official information: arcticcircletrail.dk · UNESCO World Heritage listing: Aasivissuit–Nipisat (UNESCO)