Difficulty Levels for Hiking Routes in Greenland
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Difficulty levels of hiking trails
On this website, the difficulty level of the hiking routes in Greenland is listed on a five-step scale, with ●○○○○ being the easiest and ●●●●● being the most difficult:
●○○○○
Easy route along marked paths, tracks or gravel roads. The trail may have uneven ground and minor ascents and descents, but requires no special skills.
●●○○○
Moderately easy route along marked trails, which may lack markings in places. The route is more hilly than ●○○○○ and the surface is more uneven.
●●●○○
Moderately difficult route along paths that are only marked in places and in some stretches disappear completely. There may be rough terrain with scrub, boulders or marshy ground, which slows down the walking speed. You may have to cross rivers by jumping from rock to rock or wading in water at knee height. There may be longer ascents and descents, including climbing passages where hands are required to assist.
●●●●○
Difficult route in unmarked mountain terrain where orientation can be difficult. Occasional fragments of paths can be seen. Stubborn willow and birch scrub can occur over long stretches. You may have to cross rivers by wading in water up to thigh height. It is recommended to bring hiking poles for this purpose. There may also be many ascents and descents, boulder fields and difficult climbing passages but no special equipment is required.
●●●●●
Very difficult route in unmarked and desolate mountain terrain where orientation is often difficult. Hard-to-pass scrub and boulder fields may be encountered over long stretches. You may have to cross rivers by wading in water up to waist height. Hiking poles are required. Difficult climbing passages may occur. Additional equipment such as crampons for snow/ice climbing and ropes may be needed.
Please note that even a route with ●○○○○ or ●●○○○ may prove more difficult than similar hiking routes in Europe and elsewhere. It is the most difficult passage that determines the number of dots.
Only experienced hikers should attempt routes with ●●●○○ or more dots.
Read more about hiking in Greenland in the Danish-language guidebook Turen går til Grønlands smukkeste vandreruter, where you can find useful information about weather conditions, safety, clothing, equipment, transport options and more. As a hiker, this book will equip you to venture into the Greenlandic wilderness and experience the unique tranquillity of the magnificent, untouched landscape.
