Fossil Plain
Explore an ancient marine bed that lifted as the glaciers retreated and try your luck at fossil hunting
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle 
Photo: Lisa Germany – Destination Arctic Circle
| Trail type | return |
| Time | 2 – 3 hrs |
| Distance | 4.8 km |
| Altitude | 54 m |
| Physical | easy |
| Technical | easy |
What you can expect on the trail
The Fossil Plain trail explores an ancient marine terrace that was lifted ~40m above present sea level when the land rebounded at the end of the last glacial maximum.
Buried in the clay, you can find 7-8,000 year old “proto-fossils”. Small, fossilized clams are the most common, but if you are lucky you may find a capelin skeleton. Keep an eye out for what look like individual pieces of hardened clay to study more closely. You may want to bring extra water to wash your samples.
The trail to the Fossil Plain is not marked but follows an obvious 4×4 track along the base of the hill.
Do not descend from the raised beds as there may be quicksand in the river valley. No fossils should be removed from the site.
Trail Description
Walk past Old Camp along the road towards Kellyville. Just before the yellow barrels and the first steep climb, you will see a 4×4 track that veers off to your left. The trail follows this track along the base of the hill all the way to the Fossil Plain.
Along the way, you walk past several large fuel tanks – both old and new. Please do not smoke or carry a naked flame.
After a couple of kms you will see the reconstructed outline of Greenland’s first airstrip – marked for but ultimately not used by two American daredevils on an attempt to fly from the US to Sweden in 1928. This indicates the start of the Fossil Plain.
Feel free to explore the plain as you wish but do not descend from the raised beds as there may be quicksand in the river valley. You may have better luck finding fossils near the edges of the raised bed where they have been exposed by erosion.
The return to Kangerlussuaq is via the same route.
Hover to zoom the image
Source: Indeholder data fra Styrelsen for Dataforsyning og Infrastruktur, skærmkortet, WMS-tjeneste
Other resources
Safety Information
- There may be no cell phone coverage on parts of the trail. Ideally, you should do this hike with another person, but at least let someone know your plans and when you expect to return.
- Weather can change very quickly. Even on a sunny day, make sure you bring a wind- and waterproof jacket with you as a minimum.
- Make sure you bring snacks and a full water bottle. There is no water along this trail. We also recommend you bring sunscreen, a sun hat, and a mosquito head-net.
- Please minimize your impact on the environment. Don’t build new cairns, leave establish trails and roads, or take shortcuts. Remember to take all your rubbish back to Kangerlussuaq with you.
Please make sure you are familiar with all our safety recommendations and the 7 Leave No Trace principles before you hike.