Luosto, Lapland - Ukko-Luosto in Winter
Ukko-Luosto (514 m) is the highest fell peak in the Luosto area, Lapland, Finland. Located in the Pyhä-Luosto National Park, Ukko-Luosto is accessible in winter for skiing, snowshoeing and walking.
If you are tempted by the white shimmering peak of Ukko-Luosto, this article will give you the route and tips for the hike. In the article you will also find a map of Pyhä-Luosto area, where the Ukko-Luosto route in winter is marked.
Ukko-Luosto - Pyhä-Luosto National Park
Ukko-Luosto is the highest peak of the Luosto fell, rising to 514 metres. Luosto is located in the Pyhä-Luosto National Park, to the north of the park.
Pyhä-Luosto National Park is Finland's southernmost large fell area, extending to the regions of Pelkosenniemi, Kemijärvi and Sodankylä. In winter, Luosto is particularly popular for its ski slopes and downhill skiing, but its cross-country ski tracks and winter trails on the fells, forests and open mires are also a delight for nature enthusiasts.
The longer Ukko-Luosto snowshoe trail is 8.5 km long. It runs from the Luostonportti gate via Tikkalaavu lean-to shelter and the Luosto scenic hut to the top and back to the Luostonportti gate. The shorter route from the Ukko-Luosto car park to the summit and back is about 3.5 km.
Ukko-Luosto Parking area
Ukko-Luosto parking is located at the end of Ukko-Luostontie road. The P area is relatively spacious and is ploughed in winter.
A large map of Pyhä-Luosto is displayed next to the car park, showing both summer and winter routes and the Luosto skiing tracks. The parking area of Ukko-Luosto is a good starting point for the Lampivaara amethyst mine and the top of Ukko-Luosto.
The Luostonportti gate is also the starting point for the Ukko-Luosto route in winter, but the route is much shorter from the Ukko-Luosto P-area. From the Luostonportti gate, you first walk a good couple of kilometres through Hopukankuusikko forest and another couple of kilometres on the way back, if you do not take the ring route.
The Ukko-Luosto stairs are not used in winter and the route to the top is different from the summer hiking trail. The stairs run in an avalanche zone, so it is not advisable to go adventuring on them.
Pyhä-Luosto map - check the route carefully
Maps of Pyhä-Luosto are a bit variable. Most maps of Pyhä-Luosto do not show a winter route to Ukko-Luosto summit. On the Nationalparks.fi map, the snowshoeing route is marked, but not in the list of routes. But on the maps at both the Ukko-Luosto car park and at the top, the snowshoe route is marked.
NOTE: The steep slopes of Ukko-Luosto are at high risk of avalanches in winter. The winter map shows that avalanche warning signs are dense at the southern end of Ukko-Luosto, near the stairs and on the steep western slope.
The Ukko-Luosto route in winter
The Ukko-Luosto winter route is a short 1.7 km trail from the parking area of Ukko-Luosto. The first half of the route is a winter route, while the remaining 800 metres follow the summer hiking trail.
Right next to the parking lot you will see a signpost with a snowshoe trail icon. The trail first follows flat terrain for a while in the direction of Lampivaara Amethyst Mine. The trail curves and crosses a small bridge. At this point the route is also marked in blue squares on tree trunks.
The path turns right in the direction of the Ukko-Luosto sign. Follow the gently undulating terrain through the woodland towards the large snowy slopes. I checked the GPS to see that the route went much closer to the slopes than the summer route on the map. Had it not been for the blue plow sticks, I probably would have returned to the junction and continued on to where the summer hiking trail turns toward Ukko-Luosto.
Next, it's a short walk up a steep slope to the top of a small hill. At this point, you climb above the trees and the views open up to the surroundings.
Snow may have blocked the track, and without snowshoes you have to wade through deep snow. You can only walk in the snow on top of the hardened groove - outside the groove you're stumbling quite deeply into the snow.
Gradually, the line of plough sticks turns right and straight towards the summit on the summer hiking trail. The rest of the winter trail is easy going for about 800m on a straight and gentle slope.
Higher up on the slopes of Ukko-Luosto, the snow is already hard outside the trail. On the frozen snow surface you can see lovely icy formations, like feathers and flowers.
Ukko-Luosto summit
At the top of Ukko-Luosto, a white weather station rises against a deep blue sky. The weather tower is 16 m high and the enormous football-shaped peak, or dome, is just over 9 m in diameter.
From the surface of the weather tower, you can see the fine ice art made by the wind. Right next to the weather station is a snow-covered cottage. Even in the event of a snowstorm, the hut offers no shelter as the door is locked.
The Ukko-Luosto viewing platform is located lower down on the west-facing slope. So, it's in the direction of the avalanche markers. I skipped the viewing platform myself, as I wasn't sure if it was advisable to visit it in winter.
In addition to the weather station, the hut, the viewing platform and some kind of scaffolding, there is a large map of Pyhä-Luosto at the top of Ukko-Luosto. The "Ukko-Luosto" map borders on Luosto, so you can see all the winter and summer routes of Luosto, except the northern end of the central Luosto.
The Ukko-Luosto scenic hut is located at the northern end of the fells. The blue plough sticks were going across the fells towards the ski lifts and the scenic hut as shown on the map, but I decided to visit the hut only on the Luosto - Torvinen hut route.
From the shimmering slopes of Ukko-Luosto, there is a magnificent panorama down to the south and south-east of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. The chain of Pyhä-Luosto fells can be seen directly ahead under the winter sun - the Lampivaara of Luosto, the Noitatunturi fell of Pyhätunturi, the Kultakero peak of Pyhätunturi and the last shimmering Soutaja fell.
A little lower down the slope, you can probably find shelter from the wind behind a crown-snow spruce or a pile of snow. If you've brought a packed lunch and a cell foam sheet, it's a nice place to take a break in sunny weather.
In winter, it's also a good idea to bring good sunglasses. The snow on the spring slopes and hillsides in February and March is very dazzling.
The return journey is a fast downhill ride, following your own tracks. You can also continue straight ahead and take a tour of the Lampivaara amethyst factory - the café serves delicious warm doughnuts!
The winter route to the top of Ukko-Luosto in a nutshell
- The easiest access to the scenery is from the parking area of Ukko-Luosto.
- If the trail is hardened, you won't need snowshoes for the hike. However, in some places your foot may still slip deep into the snow, especially if the wind has piled up the snow.
- Stay on the path marked by blue plough sticks. Do not go up the stairs of the Ukko-Luosto or on unmarked slopes.
- In good weather, the views are spectacular, especially towards Pyhätunturi. In bad weather, avoid climbing Ukko-Luosto.
- Even in beautiful spring-winter weather, the route may be completely empty.
- Even if it's calm and sunny at the parking area, it can be windy at the top of the fell. In cold weather, a strong wind feels very cold.
- Bring basic winter hiking gear, warm drinks and snacks, and protective sunglasses.
Luosto skiing and winter trails
- Lampivaara amethyst mine - snowshoe route
- Luosto - Torvinen hut winter route
- The around Luosto fell cross-country skiing trail
- Pyhä-Luosto cross-country skiing trail
- Rykimäkuru cross-country skiing trail
