Arctic Circle Trail: GPX, map & 8 stages
169 km in Greenland · 8 stages · 3,260 m ascent · 4/8 stages with public transport · best Jul–Aug
Plan Arctic Circle Trail with the full GPX download, 8 stage GPX files, map, elevation profile, and 4/8 stages with public transport. Choose a stage, open it in Planner, or download GPX before you go.
An automatic guide. TrailSplits built it from OpenStreetMap and cut it into 8 stages at roughly even distances, 2 of the 7 breaks at a public-transport stop. They are not the official stages or checked overnight stops, and TrailSplits has not checked the stays, water or closures. Check them with the trail's operator before you go.
169km
Total Distance
8
Stages
3,260m
Total Ascent
32
Transit Stops
Full Trail Map
Elevation Profile
Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents and access in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Sisimiut
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-01
About 0 min in
168.6 km remaining
+3260 m remaining
Climb
7.5 km
224 m climb
4.7 km at 4.7% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-01
About 1h 59m in
161.2 km remaining
+3061 m remaining
Descent
13.1 km
341 m descent
3.1 km at 11.1% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-01
About 3h 30m in
155.5 km remaining
+2797 m remaining
Climb
35.7 km
288 m climb
8.4 km at 3.4% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-01
About 9h 32m in
132.9 km remaining
+2500 m remaining
Descent
70.8 km
433 m descent
7.8 km at 5.6% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-01
About 18h 53m in
97.8 km remaining
+1721 m remaining
Climb
81.3 km
399 m climb
3.8 km at 10.6% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-01
About 21h 41m in
87.4 km remaining
+1690 m remaining
Finish
168.6 km
Kangerlussuaq
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-01
About 44h 59m in
0 m remaining
Plan Arctic Circle Trail
Arctic Circle Trail covers 169 km from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq with 3,260 m of ascent. Use the mapped GPX, stage GPX files, elevation profile, and public transport stops to choose a hiking, trail running, or fastpacking schedule.
- Best season
- July to August· from climate averages
- GPX coverage
- Full route plus 8 stage GPX files
- Transit access
- 4 of 8 stages start or finish by public transport
- Stage options
- 8 days hiking / 4 days trail running / 5 days fastpacking
- Route coverage
- Complete mapped route
- Field use
- Route tools available
How the stages are cut
We split Arctic Circle Trail into 8 stages. 4 of them start or end at a transit stop — look for the 🚌 icon in the stage directory below.
Stage Directory
Browse the stages — swipe to compare
Sisimiut → Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord
Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord → Km 40
Km 40 → Km 60
Km 60 → Km 80
Km 80 → canoes
canoes → Km 130
Km 130 → Gl. Leir.
Gl. Leir. → Kangerlussuaq
| # | Stage | Distance | Ascent | Time | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sisimiut → Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord | 20 km | +493m | 5h 38m | — |
| 2 | Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord → Km 40 | 20 km | +228m | 5h 15m | — |
| 3 | Km 40 → Km 60 | 20.1 km | +313m | 5h 24m | — |
| 4 | Km 60 → Km 80 | 19.9 km | +215m | 5h 23m | — |
| 5 | Km 80 → canoes | 29.9 km | +730m | 8h 23m | 🚏 |
| 6 | canoes → Km 130 | 20 km | +117m | 5h 09m | 🚏 |
| 7 | Km 130 → Gl. Leir. | 36.5 km | +559m | 9h 54m | 🚌 |
| 8 | Gl. Leir. → Kangerlussuaq | 2.1 km | +8m | 32 min | 🚌 |
| Total | 168.6 km | +3,260m | 44h 59m |
Draft day-by-day itinerary
Arctic Circle Trail grouped at mapped section boundaries. Overnight accommodation and access are not verified. Review each day's effort and book suitable stops before using this as a hiking plan.
6 days in this draft — about 28.1 km/day, 168.5 km and 2,663 m of ascent total.
- Day 1 Stage 120 km · +493 m · ~5h 36m
- 1. Sisimiut → Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord 20 km · +493 m
- Day 2 Stages 2–340.1 km · +541 m · ~10h 42m
- 2. Km 20, near Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Nord → Km 40 20 km · +228 m
- 3. Km 40 → Km 60 20.1 km · +313 m
- Day 3 Stage 419.9 km · +215 m · ~5h 24m
- 4. Km 60 → Km 80 19.9 km · +215 m
- Day 4 Stage 529.9 km · +730 m · ~8h 24m
- 5. Km 80 → canoes 29.9 km · +730 m
🚌 Nearby transit: canoes (not an accommodation recommendation)
- Day 5 Stage 620 km · +117 m · ~5h 12m
- 6. canoes → Km 130 20 km · +117 m
- Day 6 Stages 7–838.6 km · +567 m · ~10h 24m
- 7. Km 130 → Gl. Leir. 36.5 km · +559 m
- 8. Gl. Leir. → Kangerlussuaq 2.1 km · +8 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Gl. Leir. (not an accommodation recommendation)
Want a downloadable GPX for each day, or a different number of days? Open the Multi-Day Itinerary Builder →
How Long Does It Take?
Comfortable pace with time to enjoy the scenery. 8 days.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (sea level) and high point (458 m)…
Month by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (sea level) and the highest point (458 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Mixed | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Stages rated good on typical weather | 0/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 | 5/8 | 8/8 | 8/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 | 0/8 |
| High point, day / night | -13°/-19° | -14°/-21° | -13°/-20° | -5°/-12° | 3°/-3° | 11°/3° | 13°/5° | 10°/4° | 4°/-1° | -1°/-5° | -7°/-12° | -9°/-15° |
| Low point, day / night | -11°/-18° | -12°/-19° | -10°/-18° | -3°/-10° | 6°/-1° | 13°/5° | 15°/7° | 13°/5° | 6°/1° | 1°/-4° | -4°/-10° | -7°/-13° |
| Rain, mm | 28 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 34 | 53 | 66 | 60 | 46 | 38 | 30 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | – | Possible | Likely | Likely | Likely |
| Daylight | 3 h 49 | 7 h 58 | 11 h 31 | 15 h 24 | 19 h 34 | 24 h | 22 h 20 | 17 h 18 | 13 h 21 | 9 h 39 | 5 h 38 | 1 h 52 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Transit Stops Along the Trail
Bus and train stops within 2 km of the trail, sorted by distance along the route. Tap a stop to see it on the trail map or get directions.
Take Arctic Circle Trail offline — free
Most trail guides are just a page to read. TrailSplits is a free app you install straight from your browser — download the whole Arctic Circle Trail map to your phone and follow the route with no signal, in multi-day battery mode. No app store, no account, no subscription.
- ✓ Offline map for the full route
- ✓ Turn-by-turn navigation
- ✓ Download before losing signal; carry backup power
Long route — you can download it stage by stage to save space.
Download for offline — pick your stages
Save the sections you'll walk, or download the whole route. Each selection saves its map and GPX in My Hikes. Stages are not necessarily overnight stops. Before leaving signal, reopen and test your downloads on this device.
Trail route lab
Turn this trail into your own route
Open a planning copy, adjust the line, then share the version you would actually run or hike.
Share this trail
Send it to your hiking crew — they’ll get the route, elevation profile & GPX.
Planning ahead?
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The Arctic Circle Trail is a 169 km long-distance hiking trail in Greenland. This guide breaks it into 8 stages; 1 of them start and end at a public transport stop.
Arctic Circle Trail — frequently asked questions
How long is Arctic Circle Trail?
Arctic Circle Trail is a 169 km long-distance route from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq, presented as 8 stages with map, full GPX download, elevation profile, Planner handoff, and 4/8 stages with public transport.
How many days do you need for Arctic Circle Trail?
The distance-based examples cover 4-8 days for 169 km. They are not verified overnight itineraries. Choose days around your ability, ascent, accommodation and current conditions, not distance alone.
When is the best time to hike Arctic Circle Trail?
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Arctic Circle Trail is usually best from July to August. Snow is likely at the high point (458 m) in October to May. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them and current conditions for your dates.
Can you reach Arctic Circle Trail by public transport?
This page lists 4/8 stages with public transport in Greenland as planning references. Nearby stops do not guarantee a walkable connection. Check access paths, operating dates and current timetables before relying on public transport.
Can I download GPX files for Arctic Circle Trail?
Yes. TrailSplits has a full GPX and 8 stage GPX downloads for Arctic Circle Trail — load them on a Garmin, Suunto, COROS, or your phone, or open any stage in the Planner.
How hard is Arctic Circle Trail?
Arctic Circle Trail is rated epic: 169 km with roughly 3,260 m of total ascent, with a high point near 458 m. The elevation profile, per-stage climb, and surface breakdown on this page help you judge each section.
Ready to hike Arctic Circle Trail?
Pick your first stage below and download the GPX. Transit notes are marked on 4 of 8 stages.
More long-distance trails to explore
🗂️ Open data source: Arctic Circle Trail on OpenStreetMap (relation 8350961). Transit stops from OSM.