Quttinirpaaq National Park is a national park on the northeastern corner of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. Since October 2004, the park has been on UNESCO's tentative list for its ecosystem.
Quttinirpaaq National Park covers an area of 37,775 km² (14,585 sq mi), which is larger than Taiwan. It is the second largest park in Canada, after Wood Buffalo National Park. In Inuktitut, Quttinirpaaq means "top of the world".
Parks Canada maintains warden stations and gravel air strips at Tanquary Fiord Airport, Lake Hazen and Ward Island. Tanquary Fiord and Lake Hazen are the main access points for tourists. Beyond these warden stations, there are no facilities within the park.
In 2004, the park was one of nine sites added to Canada's tentative list of potential World Heritage Sites.
Contact the park office well in advance: +1 867-975-4673 , toll-free: +1-888-773-8888 , or email: nunavut.info@pc.gc.ca
You must attend a mandatory orientation and registration session when you arrive at the park.
The park was established in 1988.
Due to its high latitude and limited wildlife, there has never been any significant human presence within this part of Ellesmere Island. The pass from Tanquary Fiord through to Lake Hazen shows evidence of being used by Arctic people since about 5000 years ago. Tent rings and food caches show that the area was visited by pre-Dorset, Dorset and Thule people, the ancestors of modern Inuit.
The east and north end of the island was used as a starting point for various polar explorations. Fort Conger was an early Arctic exploration research base, and is now maintained as a Federal Heritage Building.
The land is dominated by rock and ice. It is a polar desert with very little annual precipitation.
Much of the highlands of the park are covered in ice caps. These ice caps, and the glaciers that descend from them, date back at least to the last episode of glaciation.
The park includes Barbeau Peak, which at 2,616 m (8,583 ft) is the highest mountain in Nunavut.
The park includes seven fjords, a variety of glaciers, and Lake Hazen, North America's largest lake north of the Arctic Circle.
Some wildlife, notably Arctic hares, lemmings, muskoxen and Arctic wolves reside in this national park, but sparse vegetation and low temperatures support only small populations. There is a very small Peary caribou population as well. Other animal inhabitants include ringed seals, bearded seals, walruses, polar bears, and narwhals. During summer months, birds nest in the park including semipalmated plovers, red knots, gyrfalcons and long-tailed jaegers. Common plants include dwarf willow and Arctic cotton, in addition to grasses and lichens. Plant and animal life is more concentrated in the Lake Hazen region, which has a milder climate than the surrounding ice cap-covered mountains and valleys.
Quttinirpaaq National Park is a polar desert: it is a cold region with little precipitation. Winters are very cold with some of the lowest temperatures recorded in Canada. Summers, though short, can be surprisingly warm, particularly in the Lake Hazen area. Coastal areas of the park are generally cooler and receive more precipitation than the interior. Winds throughout the park tend to be light, except on the ice caps. There are 24 hours of daylight from May to August and 24 hours of darkness from November to February. Weather in the Arctic is notoriously changeable and Quttinirpaaq National Park is no exception. Abrupt weather changes can affect temperature and visibility sometimes for several days. Whiteout conditions are possible any time of year. Be prepared for snow anytime.
Resolute Bay is the nearest commercial airline access point with flights from Iqaluit. From Resolute, a charter is required to reach Quttinirpaaq. Outfitters arrange participants’ flights, but solo travellers’ charter prices depend on fuel costs.
Weather dictates travel schedules so factor in time for delays. The best time to visit is from mid-May to mid-August, when park staff are on site.
Tours may be available from:
Northern Park Backcountry Excursion/Camping Permit valid at Quttinirpaaq, Auyuittuq, Ivvavik, Nahanni, Aulavik, Sirmilik, Tuktut Nogait and Vuntut National Parks (per person, 2018):
Fishing permit:
If you plan on travelling on Inuit-owned land, contact the Qikiqtani Inuit Association at +1-800-667-2742 for permission.
Permits for operating a business (guiding, outfitting), filming and commercial photography, research, landing an aircraft, establishing a cache or base camp, or for transporting a firearm through the park must be acquired through the Parks Canada office well in advance (some permits may take 90 days or more to be issued). Research permits are only issued in winter and spring.
There are no facilities in the park. Bring everything you need.
Water should be filter per (<0.5 microns), treated (iodine or chlorine in warm water), or boiled before drinking.
There is no lodging in the park. Prepare to set up camp, and practice no-trace camping.
Primary administrative division