Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Sirmilik National Park spans glacier-covered mountains, tundra valleys, and coastal areas around northern Baffin Island and Bylot Island in Nunavut. Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay are its travel gateways. A short guided outing and a long backcountry expedition need different preparations, but both require registration and transport that fits local ice conditions.

Highlights of Sirmilik's glaciers and coast

• Arrange a Bylot Island day visit with a licensed local outfitter.
• Explore Borden Peninsula valleys on a self-reliant hiking trip.
• Plan an experienced sea-kayaking expedition in suitable parts of Oliver Sound.
• Learn about Inuit connections to this land and its surrounding waters.

Know before traveling to Sirmilik

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

The dates are approximate. Check seasonal travel advice with the park and your outfitter. Use the official fee page to confirm the charge for your trip category.

Prepare for polar bears, water, and mountain terrain

Polar bears, rapidly changing weather, difficult river crossings, and limited rescue capacity make this an expedition environment. Carry suitable emergency communications and plan for delays. A satellite phone or emergency device is part of a wider safety plan, not a guarantee of immediate rescue.

Glacier travel requires an experienced leader and crevasse-rescue knowledge. Arctic sea kayaking requires advanced skills, suitable cold-water protection, and competence in navigation and self-rescue. Floating ice, tides, wind, and cold water make an ordinary recreational paddling background insufficient.

Review the park safety guidance with your group before committing to a route. Use local expertise when planning ice travel or a floe-edge outing.

Respect Inuit places and tundra habitats

Leave archaeological features, natural objects, and existing cairns undisturbed. Do not build new cairns. Choose durable ground and keep camps away from archaeological sites, wildlife habitat, rockfall areas, and protected zones.

Pack out garbage and toilet paper. Fires and sport fishing are prohibited. Recreational drones are prohibited without special authorization. Keep pets and sled dogs under physical control; service animals must remain with their handlers and on a leash or harness.

Register every trip and arrange your orientation

Visitors must register in person before entering and de-register after the trip. Contact Pond Inlet at least 48 hours ahead to reserve the orientation. Confirm the appointment length and allow room for flight delays. De-register within 24 hours of leaving the park.

If you start from Arctic Bay, arrange your itinerary so registration and orientation can take place in Pond Inlet or Iqaluit. Provide your route, group details, outfitter, equipment, and emergency contacts. The visitor guidelines explain the process. Travel on Inuit-owned land may require separate permission from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

Maps, park sectors, and access

Sirmilik's main visitor areas include Bylot Island, Borden Peninsula, and Oliver Sound. These are separate coastal sectors. Do not plan them as a continuous roadside sightseeing route.

Fly to Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay, then arrange a licensed boat or snowmobile transfer according to season. Confirm both drop-off and pickup arrangements. Weather can delay either journey.

Obtain suitable maps before arrival. The park recommends 1:250,000 mapping for planning and appropriate 1:50,000 topographic sheets for navigation. Check the revision year and discuss the intended route with staff. The maps and publications page identifies the planning material.

Other Arctic parks for a separate expedition

No road links connect these parks with Sirmilik. Each needs its own transport, registration, and travel plan.

• Auyuittuq National Park: On southeastern Baffin Island, reached through Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq, followed by a boat or snowmobile approach.
• Qausuittuq National Park: On Bathurst Island, reached by charter aircraft through Resolute. It is an alternative High Arctic expedition, not a day trip from Pond Inlet.

Choose a day visit or a longer wilderness trip

With a day or two available, ask an outfitter about a Bylot Island visit or an outing toward Sermilik Glacier. The route depends on weather, transport, group ability, and the day's conditions.

Longer hiking trips can explore Bylot Island terrain or the broad valleys of Borden Peninsula. There are no designated travel routes. Plan navigation and camps rather than expecting trail signs and a fixed circuit.

Spring ski touring provides another way to travel through the glacier landscape. Oliver Sound offers boating and experienced sea kayaking in season. Ask the operator whether each proposed activity lies within the park and which permits or arrangements apply.

Backcountry facilities and gateway accommodation

The official planning page states that the park has no visitor facilities, services, or campgrounds. Overnight visitors must bring a complete backcountry camp and suitable supplies. Do not expect a reservable hut or a serviced campsite.

Arrange community accommodation in Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay separately. Confirm supplies and fuel before flying north. Discuss individual access needs with park staff and the outfitter.

About Sirmilik National Park

Inuit connections and cooperative management

Inuit and their ancestors have lived in and traveled through this region for thousands of years. Cultural sites remain part of a living landscape, not abandoned objects for visitors to rearrange.

Sirmilik was established under the Canada National Parks Act in 2001. Inuit and Parks Canada manage it cooperatively. The Joint Park Management Committee advises on park management under the Nunavut Agreement and the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement.

Seabirds, tundra animals, and marine life

Bylot Island's cliffs support nesting seabirds. Tundra, wetlands, and coastal waters support animals ranging from lemmings and foxes to polar bears, seals, and whales. Narwhals and belugas occur in the surrounding marine environment.

Wildlife movement and nesting areas can affect a safe route. Watch without approaching, feeding, or blocking animals. Sightings vary with season and conditions.

Contact Sirmilik National Park

Call the Pond Inlet office at 867-899-8092 or email [email protected]. The listed emergency number for the park is 1-780-852-3100. Confirm emergency communications during registration.