Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen, Canada. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
- Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Country
- Canada
- Biome
- Polar desert tundra (0–2,600 m)
- Best season
- July – August
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Desert Hiking
- Canyoneering
- Sea Kayaking
- Beachcombing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Winter Camping
Key takeaways
- Biome: Polar desert tundra (0–2,600 m)
- Best season: July – August
- Difficulty: moderate
- Top activity: backpacking
Photos of Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
Topic summary
Canada's northernmost land — barren Arctic tundra and thermal oases on Ellesmere Island.
Key takeaways
- Difficulty: moderate
- Best season: July – August
Intended uses
backpacking
Climate suitability
Polar desert tundra (0–2,600 m)
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
- Layering CalculatorCold-season miles: layer for climbs and camp.
Plan with verified data
Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen trip tools
How to get there
Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen is in Nunavut, Canada, Canada. Its center point is 81.8000, -71.2500. Use these links for live turn-by-turn directions from where you are, then confirm road, trailhead and access conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
- Camp Hazen
A northern-shore research camp and geographic planning landmark. Visitor access, transport arrangements and facilities are not established here; confirm these before treating the camp as an arrival point.
- Ruggles River outlet
The lake’s drainage connection to Chandler Fjord and an area associated with Thule archaeological remains. This is a geographic orientation point, not a confirmed landing site or trailhead. Strong current has historically resisted freezing near the river.
Popular pursuits at Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Desert Hiking
Water carries and heat management drive the plan.
- Canyoneering
Narrows, downclimbs, and flash-flood timing.
- Sea Kayaking
Coastal crossings, tides, and protected camps.
- Beachcombing
Tide-line walking between camps.
Animals around Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
Maps, GPS & compass for this trip
Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.
Waterproof topo maps
- Waterproof topographic map — Quttinirpaaq — Lake HazenAmazon search for waterproof, tear-resistant topo maps covering this area.
- National Geographic Trails IllustratedThe waterproof Trails Illustrated series — check for a sheet covering this area.
- Waterproof map case & compass lanyardKeep a paper map readable in rain, spray and a swamped boat.
Fishing at Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
Planning to fish Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen, Nunavut? Fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits in Nunavut are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.
Do I need a fishing licence at Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen?
- A Nunavut fishing licence is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
- Read the current Nunavut fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
- Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.
Hunting near Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
Thinking about hunting Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen, Nunavut? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in Nunavut are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.
Is hunting allowed at Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen?
- Confirm the land around Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen is open to hunting and which management unit it falls in.
What do I need to hunt in Nunavut?
- A Nunavut hunting licence — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
- Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
- Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.
A large lake in the High Arctic
Lake Hazen lies in Quttinirpaaq National Park on northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, well north of the Arctic Circle. At 74 km long and up to 12 km wide, it is a substantial landscape feature rather than a compact lakeside destination. Its 185 km shoreline sits 158 m above sea level, with the Arctic Cordillera flanking the lake. By volume, it is the largest lake north of the Arctic Circle; by surface area, it ranks third. The lake stretches southwest to northeast and contains several islands, including long, narrow Johns Island. For trip planning, the important distinction is between a geographic objective and an established route: the lake’s dimensions describe its scale, not a marked trail, practical shoreline circuit, or confirmed means of access.
Warm ground, persistent lake ice
The land around Lake Hazen forms a thermal oasis within a polar desert, with summer temperatures reaching up to 20 °C. That warmth does not mean the lake is reliably open water: ice covers it for about ten months of the year. Plan clothing for changing conditions rather than treating the summer maximum as a dependable forecast, and do not assume either safe ice travel or an ice-free lake. Glaciers in the surrounding Eureka Uplands feed the basin, especially the Henrietta Nesmith and Gilmour Glaciers. North of the lake, those uplands rise to 2,500 m. Water leaves through the Ruggles River and flows into Chandler Fjord. This combination of persistent ice, glacier-fed water and high surrounding terrain calls for conservative objectives matched to conditions on arrival.
Inuit history and scientific work
Lake Hazen’s human history includes evidence of Thule occupation near the Ruggles River. Archaeological finds include the remains of a stone dwelling and discarded fish bones, suggesting an overwintering fishing camp where strong current resisted freezing. The Thule were ancestors of the Inuit. Treat such remains as cultural sites, leaving stones, bones and other material undisturbed. The lake also supports two forms of Arctic char, one larger and one smaller. Scientific studies and Inuit traditional knowledge differ on whether these fish migrate to the sea. On the northern shore, Camp Hazen was established in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year and has subsequently been used by scientific parties. Its research history should not be read as confirmation of visitor accommodation, supplies or transport services.
Route options
- Lake Hazen shoreline exploration
A potential planning objective along the lake rather than a documented trail or established circuit. Select any walking itinerary only after confirming access and local conditions; the lake’s full shoreline measurement is not a hiking distance.
- Ruggles River corridor
A geographic corridor linking Lake Hazen with Chandler Fjord, not a confirmed walking or paddling route. Obtain local guidance before developing an itinerary. Strong current and archaeological remains near the river require particular care.
Sample itineraries
- Lake Hazen shoreline observation · 1 day
A suggested day at Lake Hazen, after access has been arranged: focus on shoreline observation, the lake’s scale and views toward the surrounding Arctic Cordillera. Keep movement conservative and dependent on local conditions; this is not an established trail itinerary.
- Two-day thermal oasis study · 2 days
With access and an overnight arrangement confirmed, spend one day observing Lake Hazen’s polar-desert setting and another examining the contrast between its warmer surroundings and persistent lake ice. Use locally confirmed walking options rather than assuming a marked route or a usable shoreline circuit.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Before summer warming
Lake Hazen is ice-covered about ten months each year. Plan for a largely frozen lake, but do not treat ice cover as proof of safe travel. Confirm local conditions before choosing any shoreline outing.
Summer
Summer warming period
The area around the lake forms a thermal oasis within a polar desert, with summer temperatures reaching 20 °C. Warm air does not guarantee open water: the lake remains ice-covered for most of the year.
Fall
After summer warming
Prepare for cold conditions rather than relying on the summer thermal-oasis effect. The lake’s long annual ice season makes current ice and shoreline conditions more useful for planning than assumptions about open water.
Winter
Winter ice season
Plan for a frozen, polar-desert setting. Ice cover alone does not establish a safe crossing. Strong current near the Ruggles River has historically resisted freezing, making assumptions about continuous ice especially unsafe there.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Before summer warming | Lake Hazen is ice-covered about ten months each year. Plan for a largely frozen lake, but do not treat ice cover as proof of safe travel. Confirm local conditions before choosing any shoreline outing. |
| Summer | Summer warming period | The area around the lake forms a thermal oasis within a polar desert, with summer temperatures reaching 20 °C. Warm air does not guarantee open water: the lake remains ice-covered for most of the year. |
| Fall | After summer warming | Prepare for cold conditions rather than relying on the summer thermal-oasis effect. The lake’s long annual ice season makes current ice and shoreline conditions more useful for planning than assumptions about open water. |
| Winter | Winter ice season | Plan for a frozen, polar-desert setting. Ice cover alone does not establish a safe crossing. Strong current near the Ruggles River has historically resisted freezing, making assumptions about continuous ice especially unsafe there. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current permits, access requirements and trip arrangements with the agency managing Quttinirpaaq National Park before planning travel.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Persistent lake ice: Lake Hazen is covered about ten months annually. Do not assume that visible ice is safe to cross.
- Strong current near the Ruggles River has historically resisted freezing. Avoid treating the outlet area as reliably frozen.
- Cold exposure remains a planning concern in this polar-desert setting, even though summer air temperatures can reach 20 °C.
- Large distances complicate shoreline plans: the lake is 74 km long and its shoreline measures 185 km. Do not assume a short or straightforward circuit.
What to pack for Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen
- Insulating layers appropriate for polar conditions
- Windproof outer layer
- Warm hat and gloves
- Sun protection for exposed terrain and ice
- Detailed map and compass
- Navigation device with spare power
- Emergency communication device
- First-aid kit and emergency shelter
- Drinking water and a treatment method
- Food with a contingency supply
- Binoculars for distant landscape observation
- Camera or field notebook
Wildlife you may see
- Lake Hazen supports two forms of Arctic char, one larger and one smaller.
- Whether these char migrate to sea is disputed: studies from the 1990s and Inuit traditional knowledge differ.
Quttinirpaaq — Lake Hazen FAQ
- Where is Lake Hazen?
- Lake Hazen lies in Quttinirpaaq National Park on northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada, north of the Arctic Circle. Its northeastern end is 118 km southwest of Alert; that measurement is not an access route.
- How large is the lake?
- Lake Hazen is 74 km long, up to 12 km wide and up to 269 m deep. It is the largest lake north of the Arctic Circle by volume, though not by surface area.
- Does summer mean ice-free water?
- No. The surrounding thermal oasis can reach 20 °C in summer, but the lake is ice-covered about ten months a year. Confirm actual conditions rather than planning around an assumed ice-free period.
- What feeds and drains Lake Hazen?
- Glaciers in the surrounding Eureka Uplands feed the lake, notably Henrietta Nesmith and Gilmour Glaciers. The 15 km Ruggles River drains it into Chandler Fjord.
- Is Camp Hazen a visitor campground?
- Camp Hazen was established on the northern shore in 1957 for scientific work and has subsequently served scientific parties. Do not assume it provides visitor camping, accommodation or supplies; confirm arrangements with the park’s managing agency.
- What cultural history is associated with the lake?
- Thule artifacts near Lake Hazen include stone-dwelling remains near the Ruggles River and fish bones suggesting an overwintering fishing camp. The Thule were ancestors of the Inuit. Leave archaeological features and objects undisturbed.