Särkitunturi (492 m) is a fell in Muonio Lapland, on the shore of Lake Särkijärvi, overlooking one of the most photographed landscapes in Finland. The Särkitunturi trail is 3 km long in one direction. The highlights of Särkitunturi are the Lappish hut next to a pond and beautiful views of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, rolling fells and lakes.
I have been to Särkitunturi fell four times in the last four years: trail running in summer, hiking in autumn and hiking and snowshoeing in winter. I have wanted to understand the secret of Särkitunturi's popularity - why is Särkitunturi the most visited fell in Muonio?
Särkitunturi parking
The Särkitunturi parking area and the starting point of the Särkitunturi trail can be found at Rovaniementie road, Muonio. The parking lot has an information board and a map of the Särkitunturi area in Muonio.
There is also a lookout point for Lake Särkijärvi on the north side of the road, right next to the car park. There is a small sheltered rest area and benches on the plateau. The views of Lake Särkijärvi are very nice.
The Särkitunturi parking area has grown over the years. Nowadays there is also plenty of parking space on the south side of the road, even for buses.
The new Särkitunturi car park is accessible. The route from the parking area to the Lappish hut is also suitable for strollers.
Särkitunturi trail
The Särkitunturi route, the "Särkitunturin saavutus Trail", is 3.2 km long in each direction and has an approximate duration of 2.5 hours. The Särkitunturi trail is a wide and graveled dirt road up to the campfire site.
At the beginning of the path there is a brown signpost with the word "Särkitunturi". First you cross a small stream on a wooden bridge. There are bird feeders attached to the trees, and you can hear birds chirping from the branches.
The path climbs gently through the forest for about a kilometre before the fell scenery begins to peek out from behind the trees. Before reaching the campfire hut, the path climbs a little steeper and then descends steeply for some distance. There are a couple of ascents and descents in a row. After a 1.5 km walk, you reach the hut.
Särkitunturi pond and campfire hut
Halfway along the Särkitunturi trail is a popular rest stop, the Särkivaara hut. The hut has a fireplace and plenty of seating both inside the hut and outside the entrance. There's also a guest book where you can put your name.
There are dry toilets and a woodshed next to the hut. Remember to bring your own toilet paper. Water is available from a nearby pond.
The Särkitunturi pond is an attraction of its own. A small pier has been built on the shore of the pond, where you can take a dip. There are more birds at the cottage than anywhere else along the route.
Camping is allowed near the Särkivaara hut. There is no garbage disposal along the route, you have to take your own garbage out of the wild.
Route from hut to the top
From the campfire site the route continues in the direction of the Särkitunturi signpost, past the pond and upwards. The wide dirt road ends at the hut and becomes a narrower gravel path lined with curly pines.
A rest area has been built along the path, with treetrunk benches inviting you to rest your feet and mind under the fir and pine trees. Although it is often windy in the fells, it is sheltered below the tree line.
It's a gentle climb to the summit sign, just under a kilometre and a half away, in an ever-widening fellscape. The pines thin out and become lower, the birches give way to dwarf birches. A brisk walk from the car park takes 35 minutes to reach the summit.
Särkitunturi peak
At the top of Särkitunturi there is a metal signpost that reads "Särkitunturi" as a sign for the summit. It is about three kilometres from the parking area. The terrain is worn on all sides, with the gently rolling landscape of Muonio opening up in all directions.
The best views are in the north-east. The beautiful Keimiötunturi rises behind Lake Jerisjärvi. Behind it rise the national landscapes familiar from the Hetta-Pallas route, the Pallastunturi fells. In the northwest stands Olostunturi fell with its windmills.
At the top is another small anonymous pond, which in the still air reflects the surrounding rocks from its surface. The terrain varies between smooth cliffs, smaller stones and low tundra vegetation.
In the early morning, there may be plenty of peace and quiet. You can sit on the rocks and watch the sun rise over the Pallastunturi fells and gold the summit of Särkitunturi.
Särkitunturi trail run & biking
The Särkitunturi trail is ideal for hiking, but it is suitable also for trail running and biking. In summer, though, the trail can be so crowded that hiking seems like the most pleasant option. The hard gravel path also takes the best part off trail running.
Särkitunturi in winter
Särkitunturi is also popular in winter, but there's less folks on the snowy fells. Instead, you'll probably see more birds, their wings fluttering orange as they look for nuts. On a beautiful frosty morning, there may be fires set up early in the Lappish hut.
There is no winter maintenance on the Särkitunturi route. Even if there has been plenty of snow, the path to the campfire site is probably trampled by winter boots. But you may not be able to get to the top without wading through the snow.
Snowshoes are especially useful if you want to walk around the summit and admire the scenery. Outside the path leading to the signpost, the snow can sink in and there can be up to a metre of snow.
A snowmobile track and a cross-country ski trail run on Särkitunturi fell in winter. The trail follows the Juuvanrova trail and hiking trail for around 26 kilometres from Olostunturi fell to Juuvanrova and Särkitunturi fell.
The Särkitunturi parking area is ploughed in winter. In winter, the toilet in the parking area along the Rovaniementie road is likely to be blocked and the area around the toilet building is likely to be in a messy condition.
Särkitunturi - the most popular of Muonio's fells
- The secret of Särkitunturi's popularity is surely the ease of the route and Muonio's beautiful scenery.
- Särkitunturi is suitable for almost everyone and a nice campfire hut with a pond is close to the road.
- My personal favourite is Särkitunturi at autumn sunrise.
- In winter, Särkitunturi is a great place to test your hiking skills in whiteout. After that, it's easier to decide whether you want to be in the same weather in a more demanding place.
