Akshayuk Pass

The Pass is roughly 97 kilometers from the northern coast at Qikiqtarjuaq down to the Pangnirtung Fjord. Over the course of nearly two weeks, you’ll hike through valleys, over riverbeds, and along the edge of glaciers.

Although you can start either from the south and head north or vice versa, we like to begin on the northern side of the park. After flying to Qikiqtarjuaq on a Twin Otter plane with your guides & group and taking a boat to the trailhead, you enter a landscape of tundra plains and granite walls. The early days of the hike are mostly hiking in the classic U-shaped glacial valleys and the first freezing-cold rivers that you’ll need to cross as a team.

That’s one of the reasons why travelling as a group is so important.

As you move deeper into the Pass, the difficulty ramps up. First, you’ll have views over Mount Asgard, and then you’ll walk south towards the base of Mount Thor, famous for having the tallest vertical drop on the planet. The landscape here is dominated by big boulders, morraines & tundra terrain.

Further south, the terrain changes again. Glacial debris gives way to wider river plains, and the valley opens toward the coast. The perfect campsite here is always difficult to find as they are set in small pockets of tundra.

The final section of the trail brings you to the southern end of the Pass, where the valley meets the ocean at Pangnirtung Fjord. Here, after days of remote wilderness, a boat picks you up for the ride to the small village of Pangnirtung.

From Pangnirtung, you’ll rest, warm up, and celebrate the crossing after nearly two weeks in one of the purest wilderness corridors on Earth. It is an expedition in the truest sense of the word.

The best time to hike the Akshayuk Pass is during the Arctic summer, from mid-July to early September. Early in the season, the rivers are colder and sometimes higher due to snowmelt, but the landscape is fresh and dramatic with lingering snow on the peaks. This is also when the rivers are at their most manageable, although floods remain a real risk. Warm spells and heavy rain can raise water levels quickly, and a safe crossing in the morning can become impossible by the afternoon.

July and early August are the most balanced weeks with milder temperatures, long days, and generally clearer conditions. By late August & early September, the air becomes cooler, which gives the valley a quieter, more autumn-like feel. Outside this summer window, the conditions become too harsh, the snow returns, and the pass is no longer suitable for a full backpacking expedition.

Preparation is everything on the Akshayuk Pass. You will need to bring layerable, quick-drying clothing, a waterproof shell, waterproof boots, gaiters, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The nights are cold, so use a sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C and an insulated pad. Carry a reliable stove, spare parts, a lightweight water filter, and basic meds and blister care.

There are no gas cylinders available at the northern communities, only white gas for MSR stoves & similar.

For hazards, your guide should carry river and technical gear. Navigation and comms are mandatory: a map, compass, the downloaded GPX, and a satellite messenger or phone plus a personal locator beacon.

Wildlife protocols are enforced. Guides run food security, watch rotations, and teach safe behaviour around animals due to the polar bear presence in the park.

Before departure, you must meet park rangers for permit checks, an official briefing on river levels and weather, and confirmation of your communications and insurance. Practice river-ferrying and packing with weight before you arrive.

The Akshayuk Pass is rated as strenuous because the reality of the expedition demands a lot from you, both physically and mentally. Days are long, often between six and ten hours on the move, and you will carry a heavy pack with personal gear, food, and shared equipment. There are no porters, no huts, and no shortcuts. The weight and duration alone already make the route demanding.

The terrain adds another layer of difficulty. Even though the route follows a valley, the ground is anything but simple. You walk over loose moraine, endless boulders, uneven tundra, and wide riverbeds that change every season. Many days involve crossing cold glacial rivers.