Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut Trail

Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut Trail (hiking route) is the Arctic Circle Trail (ACT) in western Greenland, a long-distance, point-to-point wilderness hike from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut. Expect about 160–165 km total and a typical completion time around 8–11 days, depending on pace and how long you stay in hut/camping areas.

The route is extremely remote with very limited infrastructure. There are no towns or emergency exits along the way, so plan as a true self-supported multi-day backpack: navigation, communications redundancy, and medical readiness are part of the trip, not an afterthought.

Trail character is narrow and often disappears into wet ground. In summer it’s largely snow-free, but boggy terrain is a recurring issue—8–10 days of soaked feet can be common even with waterproof boots. Markers rely heavily on cairns (often with red markings), and trailblazing visibility is noted as bad in places, so don’t assume you’ll always see the tread clearly in poor weather.

Expect wet conditions to drive gear choice: carry systems that manage constant moisture, and plan to air/dry what you can at camp knowing huts are tiny. Summer huts are first-come-first-served and unheated, so you need to be able to sleep and function with damp clothing and gear. Scout/inspect the route ahead of time where you can (and be ready to adjust plans) because “wrong place, wrong time” turns bogs and crossings into real time losses fast.

This is also a seasonally constrained route. The commonly usable hiking window runs mid-June through September; outside that, travel requires specialized winter skills and/or equipment. Even within the window, weather swings can be large, including rain-for-days and occasional snow impressions in mid/late summer.

Infrastructure on the line includes basic shelters: there are 9 basic huts along the trail. They’re not a guaranteed backup plan (they can fill), and you should carry a sturdy 4-season tent for your own nights and contingency options.

Navigation and safety gear matter because help isn’t readily reachable on the route. Bring GPS with offline maps, topographic maps, and a satellite communicator/PLB mindset rather than relying on cell service.

Kangerlussuaq-to-Sisimiut logistics: start just outside Kangerlussuaq—walk a first portion along the gravel road (commonly described as the first ~16 km) or use local transfer—and then transition fully onto the cairn-marked wilderness. Finish in Sisimiut with a return to lodging and services, since that’s where the long trek ends.

More information: Wikipedia, Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Kangerlussuaq to Eqalugaarniarfik, A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Arctic Circle Trail - The Hiking Life