Overview
For very experienced multi-day, extreme winter trekking adventurers ONLY
Please read this entire official website, as it contains a wealth of important information about the trail that is relevant to both summer and winter adventures. What follows is specifically for those considering a winter expedition.
Recently, there has been growing interest in traversing the ACT in winter. Such an expedition is possible (northern route only) but only for adventurers who have previous experience with unsupported, multi-day, extreme winter trekking expeditions.
Given its remoteness, the extremely low temperatures, and the highly changeable weather, the ACT should not be your first winter trek.
If you are considering undertaking the ACT in winter, please read the following pages carefully and make an honest assessment of your prior experience, knowledge, and skills before committing to the journey.
This should be read in conjunction with the rest of the information on this Official ACT website.
Required experience
Do not attempt the ACT as your first unsupported, multi-day, extreme winter trekking adventure.
We emphasise this for your own safety!
While we know the photos are stunning and the adventure sounds exciting– it is a very remote trail with brutally cold temperatures in a country where Search and Rescue Services are extremely limited or impossible if you get into trouble during a storm.
It is not a journey to be taken lightly. Remember – you will be out there, in the middle of nowhere, with no support! Watching someone else’s video, reading their blog, or attending a talk is not sufficient to prepare you! This is winter in the Arctic, and you should have real, personal experience of multi-day trekking and camping in very cold winter conditions. Frostbite is not fun!
If you lack this experience of entirely self-sufficient winter trekking, please consider the following options:
- join one of the winter ACT adventures led by a company with experienced guides
- learn essential skills through an on-the-ground training course in another country. These courses are available in many places, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand
- Undertake your first unsupported winter expedition on a less remote trail with more robust Search and Rescue services, such as in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, or Alaska.
Areas of critical knowledge, skills, and experience you need for a safe winter ACT expedition
When to do the winter ACT
Recommended months: March and April
The season for a winter ACT experience is short and is only recommended in March and April. Conditions can vary significantly from year to year, with adventurers potentially encountering anything from deep snow to almost no snow at all in certain areas. It’s important to note that weather and snow/ice conditions have become extremely unpredictable in recent years, so adventurers must be prepared for all possible conditions.
March and April are recommended due to:
Ice stability
The route crosses fjords, lakes, and rivers, all of which must have a thick layer of surface ice to ensure safety. This typically occurs by the end of January, although in 2024, it didn’t happen until the end of February. The ice generally becomes unstable again around mid- to late April, marking the end of the winter season.
Adventurers should be especially cautious at the intersection of land and water, particularly at tidal fjords, regardless of the time of season. However, this caution is even more critical from mid-April onwards as warmer temperatures become more consistent.
Temperature
February is the coldest month of the year in Greenland. Temperatures can often be as low as -35 degrees Celsius (-31F) in Kangerlussuaq and -28 degrees Celsius (-18.4F) in Sisimiut, with windchill making it feel much colder. It is not unknown for temperatures to drop below -40 degrees Celsius (-40F) and can reach below -50 degrees Celsius (-58F).
March and April can be more manageable from a temperature perspective with the following minimum temperatures typical:
| Location | March | April |
|---|---|---|
| Kangerlussuaq | -32C (-25.6F) | -25C (-13F) |
| Sisimiut | -26C (-14.8F) | -21C (-5.8F) |
However, as with all weather in the Arctic, it can be much colder – and every year, there are rescues off the trail due to frostbite.
For your own safety, you must have previous experience camping in temperatures this low and managing your body temperature between periods of intense activity and rest. There are no guarantees that there will be space in the huts for you, and the huts are NOT heated.
For more general information about safety in Greenland, have a look at Visit Greenland’s How to travel safely in Greenland page.