The best camping near Auyuittuq National Park

On Baffin Island in Canada’s Nunavut territory, Auyuittuq National Park draws serious adventurers to its Arctic terrain, where polar bears roam, and river crossings and rock falls are part of the challenge. The park’s most popular backpacking destination is Akshayuk Pass, a 60-mile glacial valley lined with granite cliffs and jagged mountains. Inuktitut for “Land that Never Melts,” Auyuittuq has no defined campsites, so you can camp anywhere except in certain protected areas or wildlife habitats. Outfitters in Iqaluit, in Pangnirtung, the community closest to the park’s southern area, or in Qikiqtarjuaq, access point for the park’s northern regions, can assist with trip planning, guiding, and gear.

• Best for dramatic mountain views: Mount Thor base camp
• Best for camping above the Arctic Circle: Summit Lake
• Best for spotting icebergs: Coronation Fjord

1. Visitors must contact the park office in either Pangnirtung (known as “Pang”) or Qikiqtarjuaq at least two weeks before a trip to discuss travel plans and reserve a mandatory three-hour orientation session. You must complete the orientation before you enter the park.
2. If you’re planning to set up a base camp for day trips in Auyuittuq, you need to apply for a permit from Parks Canada. Park staff recommend applying for permits at least 90 days in advance.

The best times to visit Auyuittuq National Park are in spring (March and April), when you can reach the park by snowmobile, skiing, or snowshoeing, or in summer (late July through September), when access to the park is by boat, and hikers and campers can travel across much of the terrain. Park staff advise against visiting in June through mid-July when the sea ice break-up makes travel to the park hazardous, and in October through February during the dark, frigid winter.

• Unless you’re an experienced Arctic adventurer, Parks Canada suggests working with a local outfitter or guide service to plan your trip, since park conditions can be challenging, and wildlife, including polar bears, may be present. Extremely high winds are common, and it can snow at any time!
• No roads connect Nunavut’s communities, so you’ll need to fly to Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq via Iqaluit.
• There are grocery stores in Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, and Qikiqtarjuaq. Expect more limited availability and far higher prices than in “the south.” 
• The park maintains nine emergency shelters with outhouses and emergency radios along the Akshayuk Pass. Carry wilderness first aid supplies and a satellite phone.