Across the Arctic Circle on Foot on Baffin Island
My introduction to Baffin Island wasn’t a warm one – as far as the temperature was concerned. And it didn’t really get much better for several days. Fortunately though the scenery did. Our plan was to hike along the Weasel River to the high point at Akshayuk Pass by Summit Lake, crossing the Arctic Circle in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island in the process.
Although distances were short, the hiking was slow because of the 50 – 60 pound loads we were carrying. Most days we hiked only 10 or 11 kilometres of hiking – a far cry from what I normally hike In the mountains – but with a heavy load it was slow going.

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What it’s like to backpack in Auyuittuq National Park
From the Weasel River to the high point at Akshayuk Pass by Summit Lake it would take us about a week. Our days fell into a rhythm pretty quickly. Coffee at 7:45 AM, breakfast at 8 AM and hiking between 9 and 9:30 AM. We’d stop for lunch around noonish with lots of boulder breaks to rest our bodies along the way.
Most days we’d finish hiking on foot across the Arctic Circle between 4 PM and 5 PM. Then we’d set up the tents. We all had that down to a fine art in a hurry. Inside the roomy tent everything had its place too – or you’d be hunting for stuff all the time.
Photos of hiking above the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island in Auyuittuq National Park










Crossing the Arctic Circle on foot on Baffin Island
Somewhere around here – we will have crossed the Arctic Circle at a latitude of 66 degrees and 33½ minutes. That means that on June 21st any point above it has 24 hours of sunlight and on December 21st and point above it has 24 hours of darkness.



























Could you see yourself backpacking across the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island?
For more information on Auyuittuq National Park, visit the park website.
Further reading related to travel in the North
- The Ivvavik National Park Base Camp Experience
- 9 Things to Do in Inuvik, Northwest Territories
- Packing List for a Remote 2 Week backpacking Trip
- Visiting Iqaluit, Nunavut on an Airport Layover
- A Backpacking Trip in Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut
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I’m gobsmacked!!!! What an amazing scenery. Thanks for sharing your photos of this incredible place.
@Angela It’s one stunning part of Canada.
Wow, this is really amazing. Just yesterday I found out and heard for the first time of Baffin Island and Mount Asgard. I really want to get there – it is just cool, same with your photos. Probably hiking is the best – but climbing is also very interesting, but also dangerous. I think I have to practice it for some years.