Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail: An Enthralling Journey Beyond the Ice

Have you ever imagined a place where the sun sets at the stroke of midnight, where icebergs calve with the force of thunder, and where the silence is so profound you can hear your own heartbeat? Welcome to Greenland, a land that defies the imagination and beckons the adventurous soul to its vast, untouched wilderness.

Embarking on the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland is not merely a hike; it’s an odyssey through a landscape that is as brutal as it is beautiful, as desolate as it is teeming with life. It’s here, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, that I found myself, a speck on the ice cap, smiling as snowflakes kissed my cheeks and the trail beckoned me westward.

Before setting foot on this epic trail, I, like many, harbored the misconception that Greenland was an endless expanse of snow and ice. But as I would soon discover, Greenland is a kaleidoscope of colors, a narrow strip along the coastline bursting with hues of green, red, purple, and yellow. It’s a country that’s not just white but wonderfully vibrant.

Greenland is also the least densely populated country on Earth. To put it into perspective, it has more landmass than Mexico but only 50,000 inhabitants compared to Mexico’s 122 million. This means there’s an abundance of pristine wilderness to explore, and the Arctic Circle Trail offers just that—an intimate encounter with nature in its purest form.

The journey begins in the small town of Kangerlussuaq, where Greenland’s largest international airport is located. After a four-hour flight from Copenhagen, Denmark, I found myself at the gateway to one of the world’s best long-distance hikes.

The Arctic Circle Trail stretches up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the edge of the ice cap to the fishing town of Sisimiut on the west coast. It’s a trek that can take anywhere from 7 to 12 days, depending on fitness levels and the chosen route. Along the way, basic wooden huts offer shelter from the unpredictable weather, but a tent is an essential companion.

With only 300 people hiking the trail each year, it’s possible to spend days in solitude, immersed in the vastness of the Arctic. The best time to hike is from June to August, and I chose mid-August to avoid the notorious mosquito swarms of the earlier summer months.

Hiking the Arctic Circle Trail requires self-sufficiency. With no towns between the trail’s start and end, hikers must carry all their food and survival gear. There’s also no cell phone reception outside the towns, a welcome reprieve from our hyper-connected world.

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind,” said Seneca, and this journey was a testament to that. It was a chance to test my survival skills and disconnect, to be alone with my thoughts and the raw power of the Arctic.

Day 1 of my hike was marked by an exploration of the ice cap. The midnight sun cast a surreal glow, and the ice, solid and miles deep, offered a unique experience that few places on Earth can. As I ventured further, wildlife sightings began with an arctic hare and a reindeer, setting the stage for the many encounters to come.

The following day, I was awestruck by the Russell Glacier, a colossal wall of ice that creaked and groaned as it calved into a glacial river. The power of nature was palpable, and I spent hours marveling at the spectacle. As I continued, the landscape transformed into an arctic desert, and I caught glimpses of musk ox and an elusive arctic fox. The remnants of an American air base and a crashed Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star served as reminders of human endeavors in this remote land.

By Day 3, I was truly immersed in the wilderness, leaving behind the last vestiges of civilization. The trail was now my home, and I was ready to embrace whatever adventures lay ahead. The Arctic Circle Trail is more than a hike; it’s a journey of self-discovery and connection with the environment. It’s a place where the silence speaks volumes, and the beauty of the Arctic is both humbling and inspiring.

As you consider your next adventure, let Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail be a siren call to the wild within you. It’s a path less traveled, a challenge to be met, and a story to be told for years to come. Are you ready to answer the call?

Related posts:
Trekking Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail (My Trip Report)
12 Most Beautiful Places in the Arctic Circle to Visit
A Long View of the Arctic