Clyde River is located about half way up the eastern side of Baffin Island. This is a mountainous coast with a series of fjords heading inland and a parade of icebergs to seaward. It is only accessible by air, although there is a freight barge every summer that brings in heavy or bulky supplies. Once you arrive it is very difficult to do much exploration of the area without using an outfitter. This post is based on a trip to visit a friend who was teaching in Clyde River and who kindly gave me a place to stay, and a Ski-Doo to explore with, which made the experience possible.
Location of Clyde River, NU
The town of Clyde River sits at the head of Patricia Bay, at the mouth of Clyde Inlet. This is an area of spectacular fjords and majestic icebergs, of polar bears and caribou. It is most easily explored in the spring when the countryside is still frozen and the days are long. Though hiking is generally a great way to explore the backcounty, here the distances are vast, the weather is unforgiving, and polar bears are a real threat. Unless you have extensive remote expedition experience the use of an outfitter is almost mandatory.
The town of Clyde River viewed across Patricia Bay (in April)
I spent 10 days in Clyde River and put 800 km on my friend's Ski-Doo. One weekend we went up the 100km inlet and into the hills beyond with several locals on a caribou hunt, but other than that my instructions were to stay within about 20km of Clyde River (walking distance if it came to that). And never leave the Ski-Doo without taking the rifle! On my solo outings during the week I stayed on the coastal plain or went out onto the sea ice since the fjord was too far away. Fortunately there was still lots to see within this radius and the icebergs were spectacular! The weekend hunt up the inlet then gave me the chance to see the stunning fjord.
My travels around Clyde River
Clyde River harbour in hibernation
The Coastal plain near Clyde River
The view over the town and Baffin Bay from the summit of Sawtooth Mountain.
Traveling up Clyde Inlet with supplies on the qamutiiks
Moving inland from the head of Clyde Inlet
An Inuit hunting party setting up camp
Looking down Clyde River toward the head of Clyde Inlet
Out on Baffin Bay near Agnes Monument
A massive iceberg off the coast
View overlooking Baffin Bay
Windblown snow on Sawtooth Mountain
Tracks of wolves following caribou
Fjord cliffs in Clyde Inlet
Never leave the Ski-Doo without the rifle!
Visiting this area is expensive, but if you can swing it the experience is truly spectacular!