Quttinirpaaq National Park Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Welcome to Quttinirpaaq National Park, a true wilderness in the Nunavut region of Canada. This remote and pristine park is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventurers seeking a unique and unforgettable experience.

Located on the northernmost tip of Ellesmere Island, Quttinirpaaq National Park is known for its rugged beauty and untouched landscapes. With its vast tundra, towering mountains, and icy fjords, this park offers a glimpse into the Arctic wilderness like no other.

One of the main attractions of Quttinirpaaq National Park is its incredible wildlife. Polar bears, muskoxen, arctic wolves, and narwhals are just a few of the species that call this park home. Visitors have the opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, providing an awe-inspiring and humbling experience.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Quttinirpaaq National Park offers a wide range of activities. Hiking is a popular choice, with numerous trails that lead to breathtaking viewpoints and hidden valleys. The park is also a fantastic destination for birdwatching, with a variety of migratory birds making their way through the region.

One of the highlights of a visit to Quttinirpaaq National Park is the opportunity to witness the midnight sun. During the summer months, the sun never sets, casting a magical light over the landscape and providing ample time for exploration and adventure.

It is important to note that Quttinirpaaq National Park is a remote and challenging destination. Visitors should be prepared for extreme weather conditions and limited facilities. However, for those willing to embark on this incredible journey, the rewards are truly worth it.

Alternative names: Established: 1988 (36 years ago)Area: 14584.98 mi²Elevation: 4114 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 82°11'25"N, 71°38'54"W

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NunavutCanada

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Quttinirpaaq National Park Top Attractions

Quttinirpaaq National Park Attractions - What to See and Explore

Quttinirpaaq National Park offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Arctic Cordillera, Lake Hazen, Barbeau Peak, Mount Whisler. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Natural attraction • Natural feature
Arctic Cordillera
The Arctic Cordillera is a terrestrial ecozone in northern Canada characterized by a vast, deeply dissected chain of mountain ranges extending along the northeastern flank of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from Ellesmere Island to the northeasternmost part of the Labrador Peninsula in northern Labrador and northern Quebec, Canada.
Natural attraction • Lake
Lake Hazen
Lake Hazen is often called the northernmost lake of Canada, in the northern part of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, but detailed maps show several smaller lakes up to more than 100 km farther north on Canada's northernmost island.
Arctic mountain with few ascents
Barbeau Peak
Barbeau Peak is a mountain in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. Located on Ellesmere Island within Quttinirpaaq National Park, it is the highest mountain in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic.

Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Whisler
Mount Whisler is a mountain of the British Empire Range on Canada's Ellesmere Island. It is the second highest peak of the British Empire Range, of Ellesmere Island, and of the Arctic Cordillera.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Commonwealth Mountain
Commonwealth Mountain is a mountain on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It lies in western Quttinirpaaq National Park, which is the most northerly extent of Canada, and is the second most northerly park on Earth after Northeast Greenland National Park.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Eugene
Mount Eugene is the highest mountain of the United States Range on Ellesmere Island. Originally named "Mount Arthur Eugene" in 1883 by the States Army Signal Service during their Lady Franklin Bay expedition.
Natural attraction • Lake
Turnabout Lake
Turnabout Lake is a lake in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located northeast of Lake Hazen on Ellesmere Island, It is drained by the Turnabout River which flows into Lake Hazen.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
United States Range
The United States Range is one of the northernmost mountain ranges of the Arctic Cordillera and in the world, surpassed only by the Challenger Mountains to the northwest.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Innuitian Mountains
The Innuitian Mountains are a mountain range in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada. They are part of the Arctic Cordillera and are largely unexplored, due to the hostile climate. They are named after the northern indigenous people, the Inuit.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Challenger Mountains
The Challenger Mountains are a mountain range on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. The range is the most northern range in the world and of the Arctic Cordillera. The highest mountain in the range is Commonwealth Mountain 2,225 m. The United States Range is immediately to the east of the Challenger Mountains.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Conger Range
The Conger Range, also called the Conger Mountains, is a mountain range in Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada, beginning about 16 km west of Mount Osborne.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Garfield Range
The Garfield Range is a mountain range on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. The mountains are made of Paleozoic rocks and rise to heights between 1,067 m and 1,433 m and are separated by valleys through which flow the major rivers fed by the ice fields and glaciers.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Disraeli Glacier
Disraeli Glacier is a glacier on northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It lies in Quttinirpaaq National Park, South-West of the Disraeli Fiord. It is believed to have been named after Benjamin Disraeli, a British politician in the mid 1800s.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Turnabout Glacier
Turnabout Glacier is located on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It is drained by the Turnabout River. The glacier, the river and Turnabout Lake were named in 1957–58 during the International Geophysical Year by the Hazen Camp party directed by Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith.
Natural attraction • Mountain pass
Glacier Pass
Glacier Pass is a mountain pass on northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Quttinirpaaq National Park on the northeastern corner of Ellesmere Island.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Boulder Hills
The Boulder Hills are a mountain range in northeastern Quttinirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It is associated with the Arctic Cordillera mountain system.
Natural attraction • Mountain pass
Piper Pass
Piper Pass is a mountain pass in the United States Range, Nunavut, Canada.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Osborn Range
The Osborn Range is a small mountain range located on the northwest flank of Tanquary Fiord on north-central Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Gull Glacier
Gull Glacier is a glacier in the Osborn Range of north-central Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It lies in the Tanquary Fiord in Quttinirpaaq National Park.