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Sirmilik National Park sits on the northern tip of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada — not Greenland, which is a separate autonomous territory of Denmark. The park encompasses roughly 22,200 square kilometres of Arctic landscape, including Bylot Island, the Borden Peninsula, and Oliver Sound. Its name comes from the Inuktitut word for "place of glaciers," a fitting description for a park dominated by ice fields, tidewater glaciers, and sea ice that persists well into summer.
The park is managed by Parks Canada in partnership with the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization, reflecting its deep ties to Inuit culture and the community of Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), the only settlement that serves as a gateway. Bylot Island, nested within the park, is a migratory bird sanctuary of global importance — hundreds of thousands of thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, and other seabirds nest on its coastal cliffs each summer.
This is genuinely remote wilderness. Infrastructure is minimal, weather is unpredictable, and self-sufficiency is expected. However, for travellers willing to plan carefully and respect the environment, Sirmilik offers landscapes and wildlife encounters that are essentially impossible to find anywhere else on Earth.
Before You Go
Permits and Registration
Entry to Sirmilik National Park requires a valid Parks Canada park permit. Backcountry travellers must also register with the Parks Canada office in Pond Inlet before departing. Check the Parks Canada official website (pc.gc.ca) for current fee schedules, permit requirements, and any seasonal closures — details change and should always be verified directly.
Visas and Entry to Canada
Sirmilik is in Canada, not Greenland. Visa and entry requirements depend on your nationality. Visit TravelerPulse's Visas section for general guidance, and verify your specific requirements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at canada.ca before booking.
Physical and Logistical Readiness
- Previous experience in cold-weather, multi-day wilderness travel is strongly advised.
- Most visitors hire a local Inuit guide through Pond Inlet outfitters — this is strongly recommended for safety and for enriching cultural context.
- A comprehensive travel and evacuation insurance policy is essential. Medical evacuation from this region is expensive and can be delayed by weather.
- Bring all prescription medications, repair equipment, and emergency supplies. Nothing can be sourced in the park itself.
Gear
Layering systems rated for sub-zero temperatures are necessary even in summer. Waterproof outer layers, bear spray, a satellite communicator (such as a personal locator beacon), and water purification are non-negotiable items.
Getting There
Reaching Pond Inlet
The gateway to Sirmilik is Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), a small Inuit community of roughly 1,600 people on northern Baffin Island. Pond Inlet is served by scheduled flights from Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut. Iqaluit is in turn accessible by air from Ottawa, Montreal, and other southern Canadian cities. Canadian North and First Air (verify current operators, as airline services in Nunavut change) have historically served these routes.
Flight schedules, availability, and prices vary significantly by season and should be booked well in advance — sometimes months ahead for summer travel. Confirm all connections and re-confirm closer to departure, as weather cancellations are common in the Arctic.
From Pond Inlet into the Park
There are no roads connecting Pond Inlet to the park's interior. Access is by chartered boat or snowmobile depending on the season. Sea-ice conditions in spring permit snowmobile travel across Eclipse Sound to Bylot Island. In summer, zodiacs and small charter boats navigate the open water. Arrange transportation through local outfitters in Pond Inlet — Parks Canada staff can provide a list of registered operators. Verify costs and logistics locally, as these vary considerably.
Getting Around
There are no roads, maintained trails, or mechanised transport within Sirmilik. Movement inside the park is on foot, by snowmobile (in winter and early spring), or by small boat along the coast in summer.
On foot, travel involves navigating tundra, glacial moraines, river crossings, and coastal terrain. Distances are deceptive and progress is slow. GPS navigation is essential; paper topographic maps are a reliable backup. Bylot Island's bird cliffs are accessible by boat from the southern shore, with short hikes across firm ground.
All travel plans must be filed with Parks Canada in Pond Inlet before departure. Conditions change rapidly — river levels, sea ice, and weather can all affect routes within hours. Flexibility and conservative decision-making are crucial.
Where to Stay
There are no lodges, huts, or commercial accommodation inside Sirmilik National Park. All overnight stays within the park are in tents carried by the traveller. Cold-rated, four-season tent systems are necessary.
In Pond Inlet, there is limited accommodation — a small number of guesthouses and hotel-style facilities serve the community. Availability is limited and should be booked well in advance, particularly for peak summer weeks when research teams, tour groups, and individual travellers compete for the same beds. Verify current options and rates directly with Pond Inlet's local tourism contacts or through Nunavut Tourism (nunavuttourism.com).
Some guided expedition operators offer package itineraries that include accommodation in Pond Inlet before and after park access, which simplifies logistics considerably for first-time visitors.
Things to See & Do
Wildlife Viewing
Bylot Island hosts one of the largest seabird colonies in the Canadian Arctic. Thick-billed murres nest by the hundreds of thousands on dramatic sea cliffs. Greater snow geese breed in large numbers on the island's coastal flats. Narwhal are frequently seen in Eclipse Sound and Oliver Sound during summer — Pond Inlet is considered one of the best places in the world to observe them. Polar bears are present year-round; never approach one and always travel with a guide and bear protection.
Glaciers and Ice
The park contains active tidewater glaciers that calve directly into the sea. Views from a small boat of blue-green ice walls and floating bergs are among the park's most memorable experiences. Walking on glaciers is possible with proper equipment and experienced guides only.
Hiking and Backcountry Travel
There are no designated trails. Experienced wilderness travellers undertake multi-day routes across the Borden Peninsula or around Bylot Island's coast. All backcountry plans must be discussed with Parks Canada staff.
Cultural Engagement
Pond Inlet itself is a meaningful destination. Visitors can engage with the community, learn about Inuit land use and traditional knowledge, and visit local co-operatives. Always ask before photographing people or entering private spaces.
Food & Drink
There is no food service of any kind inside the park. All food must be carried in and all waste packed out. Bear-resistant food storage is essential — both for safety and to comply with park regulations.
In Pond Inlet, a small Northern Store (a chain common across Nunavut) sells groceries, though selection is limited and prices reflect the cost of Arctic supply chains. Visitors should bring as many shelf-stable supplies as possible from southern Canada. Fresh produce and specialised outdoor food items are difficult to source locally.
Community members may share country food — traditional Inuit foods such as Arctic char, muktuk (beluga whale skin and blubber), and caribou — in a social context. If offered, accepting graciously is appropriate; this is a gesture of hospitality, not a commercial transaction.
Practical Information
Communications
Cell service is absent in the park and extremely limited even in Pond Inlet. A satellite phone or a two-way satellite communicator (e.g., Garmin inReach or similar) is essential for backcountry travel. Inform someone reliable of your full itinerary and expected check-in schedule.
Medical
Pond Inlet has a health centre with nursing staff. For serious emergencies, medical evacuation to Iqaluit or further south is required. Weather frequently grounds aircraft for multiple days. Travel insurance with high-value evacuation coverage is not optional — verify the specifics of your policy before departure.
Money
Bring sufficient Canadian cash. Card payment infrastructure in Pond Inlet is limited and unreliable. ATMs, if present, should not be relied upon. Confirm locally.
Time and Light
In June and July, the sun does not set at this latitude (approximately 72°N). This is spectacular but disrupts sleep — a quality eye mask is useful. In winter, the reverse applies: extended polar darkness.
Leave No Trace
Pack out all waste including human waste in many backcountry zones. Confirm current regulations with Parks Canada. Tundra vegetation is slow-growing and extremely fragile; stay on rock or firm ground where possible.
Safety
Sirmilik is a genuinely hazardous environment and demands serious preparation. The primary risks are polar bears, cold-water immersion, hypothermia, sudden severe weather, and remoteness from medical care.
Polar Bears
Polar bears are present throughout the park year-round. Never travel in the park without bear spray (carried accessibly, not in a pack) and, ideally, an experienced local guide. An electric fence perimeter around camp is advisable for multi-night stays. Learn how to use all bear safety equipment before you arrive.
Cold and Weather
Temperatures can drop below freezing in any month of the year at this latitude. Sudden whiteouts, Arctic storms, and fog can materialise with very little warning. Never extend a day trip beyond a conservative turnaround time. Have a shelter-in-place plan for every outing.
Water Travel
Sea ice and open-water boating carry distinct risks. Cold water immersion is rapidly fatal without a survival suit. Confirm that any charter operator provides appropriate safety equipment and has local experience. Never travel on sea ice without local knowledge of current conditions.
Emergency Contacts
For emergencies within the park, use your satellite communicator to reach the appropriate rescue coordination centre. Verify the correct emergency contact numbers with Parks Canada in Pond Inlet before departure — do not rely on numbers found in general travel guides, as these can be outdated.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Pond Inlet and the surrounding lands are the traditional and current home of the Mittimatalik Inuit. Their connection to this territory spans thousands of years, and the park's management explicitly reflects Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit — Inuit traditional knowledge — as a foundational element alongside western science.
Visitors should approach this place with humility and genuine curiosity. Hiring Inuit guides is not only a safety measure but an act of respect and a direct contribution to the local economy. Listen more than you speak, ask before photographing, and recognise that you are a guest on land that communities have stewarded for generations.
Inuktitut is widely spoken. Learning a few words of greeting is appreciated. The community has its own pace, priorities, and relationship to time — flexibility and patience are cultural assets here as much as practical ones.
