Arctic Circle Trail

Information

Distance

165.0 km

Duration

7–12 days

Max elevation

500 m

Country

Greenland (GL)

Difficulty

Strenuous — trail without infrastructure in the remote Arctic tundra; narrow path (≤30 cm) often lost in peat bogs; unpredictable weather (can snow in midsummer); fully self-sufficient from start to finish of the trek

Best Season

June–September (peak: late June–mid August; midnight sun available June–July)

Permits & Fees

No permit required; nine basic huts along the trail are free and run on a first-come, first-served basis; it is recommended to report your itinerary to the local police in Kangerlussuaq or Sisimiut before starting; you must be fully food self-sufficient throughout the trek

Description

The Arctic Circle Trail is Greenland's most iconic long-distance hike, stretching 165 km from the inland settlement of Kangerlussuaq to the coastal town of Sisimiut — both reachable by Air Greenland flights from Copenhagen or Reykjavik. The entire route crosses uninhabited Arctic tundra with no settlements in between, only nine simple first-come-first-served huts available free of charge. Trail conditions are demanding: the path is often no wider than 30 cm and regularly disappears into boggy ground, while weather can swing from 30°C sunshine to midsummer snowstorms — soaked feet for 8–10 days are nearly guaranteed even in the best waterproof boots. Most hikers complete the trail in 7–10 days, though some take up to 12 to savour the endless glacial lakes, Greenlandic wildlife (caribou, musk ox, white-tailed eagles), and profound silence of the Arctic wilderness. No permits are required, but hikers must carry all their own food for the full duration and are advised to report their itinerary to local police before setting out.

Trail Highlights

Vast Arctic tundra with no human presence between the start and end points; hundreds of mirror-blue glacial lakes; dramatic fjord views on arrival in Sisimiut; native Greenland wildlife (caribou/reindeer, musk oxen, white-tailed eagles, Arctic foxes); the midnight sun phenomenon in summer; one of the most remote and silent hiking trails on Earth reachable by regular commercial flight