Best things to do on Baffin Island

Baffin Island Essentials

Baffin Island’s landscape is defined by the granite peaks of Auyuittuq National Park and the ancient Barnes Ice Cap, Canada’s oldest ice mass. This list includes Mount Thor, featuring the world’s steepest vertical drop at 1,250 meters, and the igloo-inspired architecture of St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit. From the narwhal-rich waters of Milne Inlet to the massive freshwater expanse of Nettilling Lake, these sites represent the extreme geography of the Canadian Arctic.

Peter Morgan / CC BY 2.0

Mount Thor

Mount Thor, officially gazetted as Thor Peak, in Nunavut, Canada, is a mountain with an elevation of 1,675 m located in Auyuittuq National…

Ansgar Walk / CC BY-SA 2.5

Mount Asgard

Mount Asgard is a twin peaked mountain with two flat-topped, cylindrical, rock towers, separated by a saddle.

Ansgar Walk / CC BY-SA 2.5

St. Jude's Cathedral

St. Jude's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada.

Ansgar Walk / CC BY-SA 2.5

Nettilling Lake

Nettilling Lake () is a cold freshwater lake located toward the south end of Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada.

Jeff Schmaltz / Public domain

Barnes Ice Cap

The Barnes Ice Cap is an ice cap located in central Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.

Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park

Located near Iqaluit, this coastal park features the Sylvia Grinnell River and its waterfalls. It contains Thule archaeological sites and tundra hiking trails where caribou and Arctic foxes are frequently sighted.

Alan Vernon / CC BY 2.0

Turner Glacier

A massive valley glacier located within Auyuittuq National Park, situated near the twin peaks of Mount Asgard. It is a prominent feature for climbers and hikers traversing the Akshayuk Pass.

Amadjuak Lake

Amadjuak Lake is a lake in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. Along with Nettilling Lake, it is located in south-central Baffin Island…

Astro Hill Complex

The Astro Hill Complex is a four building structure in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, and includes the W. G.

Milne Inlet

A deep-water inlet on northern Baffin Island known as a primary summering ground for one of the world’s largest narwhal populations. It serves as a key waterway near the community of Pond Inlet.