Trekking in Greenland - Arctic Circle Trail

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews

Three ‘Hiking Maps’ at a scale of 1:100,000 cover the Arctic Circle Trail, published by Greenland Tourism, with cartography by the Scottish company Harvey Map Services. The contour interval is 25m (82ft), which is enough to hide several significant ups and downs. The maps are waterproof, and the reverse is printed with additional useful information. Despite the limitations of scale the maps are excellent, and they are used as the basis for the maps in this guidebook; the route has been highlighted and extra route information added to correspond with the trail description in this guide.

Note the huge magnetic declination in this region before attempting to navigate with a map and compass. Read and understand the notes printed on the maps. Note the provision of blue grid lines indicating the direction of the magnetic north pole. Take sample bearings as early as possible to ensure you understand the system and are confident with its operation – before you find yourself in mist!

Purchase the required map sheets, ‘Kangerlussuaq’, ‘Pingu’ and ‘Sisimiut’, in advance of travel, though they are on sale in Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. The maps are available from Harvey Map Services, 12–22 Main Street, Doune, FK16 6BJ, tel 01786 841202, www.harveymaps.co.uk; Stanfords, 12–14 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9LP, tel 020 7836 1321, www.stanfords.co.uk; The Map Shop, 15 High Street, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, WR8 0HJ, tel 01684 593146, www.themapshop.co.uk; and Cordee, 11 Jacknell Road, Dodwells Bridge Industrial Estate, Hinckley, LE10 3BS, tel 01455 611185, www.cordee.co.uk.

Several ‘Saga Maps’ are available, with a selection of them covering the whole of Greenland at various scales, www.sagamaps.com. A series of 18 maps at a scale of 1:250,000 cover almost the whole western side of the country between the ice cap and the sea. Four more cover small parts of East Greenland. Sheet number 8, ‘Sisimiut Kangerlussuaq’, covers the area traversed by the Arctic Circle Trail. While it is a useful map in terms of offering an overview of the landscape on a single sheet, the map is not recommended for trekking, and the course of the Arctic Circle Trail is not shown.