Alerts and trail status

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Alerts and trail status

We update the main information on arcticcircletrail.gl every February based on issues reported by hikers and work completed the previous summer. This Alerts and Trail Status section is updated more regularly with urgent items – as soon as hikers or locals report them to us.

Please help us by reporting any urgent issues or threats you encounter by emailing act at acb.gl

We also recommend that you join the ACT Facebook Group, as hikers regularly report on the current trail conditions in that forum.

The following are the currently active alerts for the Arctic Circle Trail.

Summer ACT webinar

Effective: 1 March 2026

Until: 31 Dec 2026

The latest information about the Arctic Circle Trail from its manager. For those thinking of hiking the ACT in 2026 or 2027.

New bridge over the Itinneq River

Effective:

27 June 2025

Until: TBD

Details:

The new Itinneq Bridge is finished and ready for use.

Coordinates: N 66o 59.49 W 52o 19.58

Coordinates: 66.9915, -52.3263

You can download the GPX of the suggested route between the ACT and the new bridge from our Navigation and GPX page

Notes:

  • Check the bridge is stable before crossing.
  • Parts of the route follow an old riverbed, which may be muddy early in the season or after heavy rain. If it’s wet, walk along the edge of the silty area.
  • Cairns are used to mark the route wherever possible.
  • Some sections cross untouched vegetation with no visible trail. In these areas, there are no cairns due to the lack of rocks, so you need to know how navigate without trail markers.
  • The new bridge over the Itinneq River along Greenland's Arctic Circle Trail
  • One of the cairns in the old Itinneq River bed showing the route to the Arctic Circle Trail
  • Route through the Itinneq Valley to the new bridge from the ACT
  • The new bridge over the Itinneq River along Greenland's Arctic Circle Trail

Charger at Canoe Centre not working

Effective: 7 July 2025

Until: TBD

Hikers are reporting that the charging station at the Canoe Centre is not working. We are following up with the Municipality, but suspect it will not be able to be fixed before end of 2025 due to lack of access.

Charging Station at the Canoe Center with insert panel showing the switch

Status of the ATV Track / Arctic Circle Road

Effective:

1 March 2026

Until: TBD

Details:

The ATV track between Sisimiut and Kangerluarsuk Tulleq is open. There is not much traffic, and what does exist is generally between Sisimiut and Kangerluarsuk Tulleq, and just the first couple of kilometres out of Kellyville.

There will likely be further work done on the trail in 2026.

A few options:

Note: Even if you hike the Southern Route (ONLY for very experienced backcountry hikers with strong navigation skills), you will still need to hike this section of trail. The only way to avoid it is sailing to Sisimiut from the fjord.

Person riding an all terrain vehicle (ATV) along the rough, dirt track between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut along the Arctic Circle Trail
Photo: Lasse Kyed – Destination Arctic Circle

Gas cannister disposal

Effective: 1 January 2025

Until: TBD

Details:

Please do NOT leave any gas cannisters in the huts along the trail. You must carry all of them out with you.

  • If they are empty or there is very little gas left – deposit them in the red containers located outside the Pilersuisoq in Kangerlussuaq and the Brugseni in Sisimiut.
  • If there is still a usable amount of gas left in them – hand them in at your accommodation at either end of the trail.
Image showing where to dispose of gas cannisters in Kangerlussuaaq and Sisimiut

ACT Winter Expedition info webinar

Effective: 15 October 2024

Until: TBD

Details: The first webinar dedicated to those considering an ACT Winter Expedition

The Trails Manager and Ernst Rietzschel (who has done the trail twice in winter) present:

  • summary of the trail
  • requirements before undertaking the trail in winter
  • expectations of trail users
  • detailed information about doing the ACT during winter based on 2 years of experience. requirements and expectation.
  • Q&A session

Make sure you check out the new webpage: https://arcticcircletrail.gl/homepage/winter-act/

Crossing to Sarfannguit – Southern Route

Effective: 28 August 2024

Until: TBD

Details:

For those wishing to cross to Sarfannguit – hoist the flag opposite the settlement and, if someone is available, they will come and get you. You should expect to pay a small fee for this service, so make sure you have some small Danish Kroner with you.

Note: it is likely the boat owner will NOT be licensed to carry passengers. It is up to you if you want to risk the crossing and hail them.

There is also no guarantee there will be someone available.

Current Status: ACT Southern Route

Effective: 25 July 2024

Until: TBD

Details: Last week, 8 of us hiked the Southern ACT to improve the markings along the route. While this work has added a lot more waypoints to the route (soon to be published on the website), the route is still not well marked and you MUST know how to navigate well in wilderness before attempting it.

Read our Southern Route page

A reminder – the Southern Route is much more physically demanding than the original route, there is no trail tread to follow, and even with these additional markings, you often cannot see the next marker from the one you are at. You must navigate to the next waypoint.

With the help of experts from the US National Parks service (who are out here helping us this season through the https://www.facebook.com/DOI.ITAP program) – we are now drawing up a full program of works that needs to be executed in order to make the Southern Route an equivalent alternative to the original trail. This will include:

  • the construction of many, many, many more cairns
  • essential works to make several very tricky areas much safer

Unfortunately, this work is likely to take at least a couple of more years.

While we understand the ATV track is a little frustrating between Eqalugaarniarfik and Sisimiut, we stress that if you do not have extensive backcountry navigation experience then you really must follow the original ACT route.

Please don’t place yourself at risk and add undue stress on our limited search and rescue capability.

A million, billion thanks to the 5 volunteers who helped us in this endeavour. Your enthusiasm and perseverance in challenging circumstances was exceptional ðŸ˜ƒ

Better route descending from Kangerlussuaq to Katiffik

Effective: 20 June 2023

Until: TBD

Details:

If you are approaching Katiffik hut from Kangerlussuaq, most people follow the grey dashed route in the image opposite. Certainly the cairn that leads you off that way is the most visible.

However, a better route is the solid red line. You still get amazing views and there is a trail to follow, but it is nowhere near as steep as the other. I have not yet hiked the dot-dash line, but suspect the views will not be as good.

I will be making it clearer that hikers should go this direction when I hike the trail at the end of August – but until then, something to keep in mind.

I have updated the GPX track with the suggested route.

Aggressive foxes

Effective: 9 Mar 2023

Until: TBD

Details:

There have been a few reports of aggressive foxes – particularly in the Eqalugaarniarfik hut area. These animals likely have rabies. It is important for hikers to protect themselves at all costs if they encounter one by using hiking poles (or other implements) to keep the animal at a distance.

If you do encounter an aggressive fox- please let us know ASAP when you are back in contact. Tell us where you encountered it so that we can then dispatch local hunters to shoot the affected animal.

Although encounters are not very common, hikers may want to consider getting rabies shots before their ACT hike.