Kugluk Territorial Park (Kitikmeot): This
park is located nine miles (15-km) south-
west of Kugluktuk. The rough eight-
mile (13-km) trail crosses streams and
spongy tundra to the falls, created by
the Coppermine River (www.nunavut
parks.com/english/parks-special-
places/kugluk-bloody-falls-territorial-
park/overview.aspx).
Akshayuk Pass (Qikiqtaaluk): Experienced
adventurers take up to two weeks to com-
plete this challenging 60-mile (97-km)
hike, located in Auyuittuq National Park.
Backpackers encounter massive glaciers,
river crossings and spectacular scenery
in the narrow pass between Pangnirtung,
in the south, and Qikiqtarjuaq, in the
north. Go with a tour operator that han-
dles logistics or arrange pick-up and drop-
off with local boat operators (www.ex
plorerscorner.com/canadian-arctic-
auyuittuq-classic-traverse; www.pc.gc.
ca/eng/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index.
aspx).
MUST SEE, MUST DO
The coastal communities of Arctic Bay,
Mittimatalik and Kangiqtugaapik (for-
merly Clyde River) have licensed floe
edge (where the sea ice meets open
water) tour operators, who transport par-
ticipants by dogsled or snowmobile-
drawn sleds. You can spot polar bears,
seals, sea birds and beluga whales and jig
for fish through the ice.
Kayak past icebergs and glaciers on guided
expeditions to Ellesmere Island. On land,
view wildflowers and ruins of winter
house excavations inhabited by Thule
people (ancestors to today's Inuit) nearly
1,000 years ago (www.explorerscorner.
com/canadian-arctic-fjords-of-elles
mere).
Nunavut has excellent birdwatching.
Two huge colonies of thick-billed murres
occupy Coats Island and thousands more
nest on Bylot Island. As well, Coburg
Island has a colony of thousands of sea-
birds. Queen Maud Migratory Bird
Sanctuary has most of the world popula-
tion of Ross' geese. Vast numbers of
migratory birds, including Arctic loons
and sandhill cranes, arrive between late
May and early June and depart around
mid-August.
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Tour operators offer cultural experiences,
including community tours, homestays,
exhibitions of Inuit games and other trad-
itional activities. Arviat, in the Kivalliq
Region, offers visitors half-day to a three-
day programs featuring Inuit skills and
traditions. Activities include storytelling,
music, films and lectures on Inuit history.
Participants can visit artists, have tea with
Inuit elders, try country foods like Arctic
char and view spring caribou migration
( w w w . a r c t i c j o u r n a l . c a / i n d e x .
php/2011/05/the-arviat-community-
ecotourism-initiative).
The Nunavut Arts & Crafts Asso-
ciation represents artists and hosts annu-
al art festivals and exhibitions where you
can watch Inuit carvers coax spirits of
polar bears, muskox and birds from stone,
antler and whalebone (
www.nAcAarts.
org).
Explore Nunavut Travel Planner
lists arts and crafts shops and cultural tour
operators (www.nunavutTourism.com).
In Qaummaarviit Territorial Park, near
Iqaluit, visitors can examine winter semi-
subterranean house pits used by Thule
people between AD 1200 and 1700. Stone
rings mark the locations of skin tents occu-
pied by nomadic Inuit during the summers
(www.nunavutparks.com/english/
parks-special-places/qaummaarviit-
territorial-park/overview.aspx).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Nunavut has four national parks, four
heritage rivers, 13 territorial parks and
www.nunavut
tourism.com/plan
Special Events
2012
APRIL 1
Hamlet Day
Most communities
APRIL*
Nattiq Frolics, Kugluktuk
APRIL*
Nunavut Quest
Pond Inlet to Clyde River
APRIL 14-20
Toonik Tyme, Iqaluit
APRIL/MAY*
Pakallak Tyme, Rankin Inlet
MAY 19-23
Omingmak Frolics, Cambridge Bay
MAY/JUNE*
Spring Fest, Arviat
JUNE 21
National Aboriginal Day
Territory-wide
JUNE 29 - JULY 2
Alianait Arts Festival, Iqaluit
JUNE 29 - JULY 3
Northwest Passage Marathon
and Ultramarathon, Somerset Island
JULY 9
Nunavut Day, Territory-wide
EARLY AUGUST*
Kitikmeot Arctic Sports
Cambridge Bay
OCTOBER*
Inunariit Music Festival, Arviat
*To be determined. Contact
Nunavut Tourism prior to travel.
ENJOYING THE VIEW • NU TOURISM
180 2012 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA
NuNavut
