Pyhä-Luosto National Park is the southernmost big fell area in Finland. Amidst meadows and forests, the magnificent Noitatunturi and Ukko-Luosto fells rise more than 500 metres above sea level.

The magnificent Isokuru gorge and the route through it is the best part of the Karhunjuomalampi Trail. The 10-kilometre (6.2 miles) route takes you to the most beautiful viewpoints in the national park, through Isokuru to Pyhänkasteenputous waterfall, Uhriharju and the atmospheric Karhunjuomalampi pond.

Pyhä-Luosto National Park

Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a great nature destination all year round. Summer and autumn showcase the famous sights, lush blueberry bushes and sparkling ponds in the fells. Pyhä-Luosto's winter is not only skiing, but also candle fir trees covered in snow, white fellscapes and crisp cross-country skiing and snowshoeing tours.

Pyhätunturi in central Lapland has been a sacred place for the Forest Sami, and several of the place names in the Pyhä region refer to the meeting of Christianity and ancient beliefs. In Pyhä you can also find tranquillity in the midst of the most beautiful nature.

The Pyhä-Luosto National Park is divided into three zones: a hiking and nature tourism zone, a remote zone and a restriction zone. The zones have different guidelines and rules, which you should read carefully before you go.

• Isokuru gorge is a year-round restricted zone. In order to protect sensitive vegetation and relics, access to Isokuru is only allowed on marked paths, cycling is prohibited.
• In the hiking and nature tourism zone, fires may only be set in marked fireplaces and only from firewood located by the fireplaces. During a forestfire warning, open fires are not allowed except in the huts and Lappish huts, byt not in the Karhunjuomalampi lean-to shelter laavu.
• Camping is allowed outside the restricted zone. In order to protect nature, it is recommended to camp in the immediate vicinity of the rest areas.
• Dogs must be kept on a lead within the National Park.

Pyhä-Luosto trails

Pyhä-Luosto has several summer hiking trails ranging from easy to more demanding, from a few kilometres to the long Pyhä-Luosto hiking trail. There are four trailheads: the Naava Visitor Centre in Pyhä, the Luoston Portti at Luosto, the Rykimäkuru car park along the Pyhä-Luosto road and the Luostonloma car park to the north of the park.

The routes are marked with different coloured square signs on trees or poles. In addition, there is a high density of brown signposts. You are unlikely to get lost in the park, but it is a good idea to keep a map with you when you go hiking.

Popular trails in the Pyhä area include the Karhunjuomalampi Trail, the Noitatunturin valloitus Trail and the Tunturiaava Nature Trail.

Camping and staying overnight in Pyhä-Luosto

In the Pyhä-Luosto National Park area, you can stay near the designated campfire sites. There are two open wilderness huts in the park. There are plenty of day shelters, lean-to shelters and Lappish huts.

Overnight stays are permitted in the open wilderness huts and Lappish huts. The day huts, as the name suggests, are for day use only.

Karhunjuomalampi Trail

The Karhunjuomalampi Trail is a 10 km / 6.2 miles loop trail that leads to some of the finest viewpoints in Pyhä. The route takes you through the deepest gorge in Finland, the rugged and rocky Isokuru. Just north of the gorge are Pyhänkasteenputous waterfall and Uhriharju.

Most of the route is on easy, wide gravel paths and flat boarded paths. However, there are two long and steep stairs and a descent (or ascent) to a ski slope.

The trail stops at the Isokuru Lappish hut, and the day hut at Karhunjuomalampi. The rest stops have dry toilets (no composting) and woodsheds. Bring your own matches and toilet paper for the trip.

Karhunjuomalampi Trail description from Naava Visitor Centre

From the Naava Visitor Centre (address: Luontotie 1, 98530 Pyhätunturi), take the road past the shopping centre car park on the Pyhäntie towards Kemijärvi. A wide dirt road with signposts runs parallel to the road.

After about 600 metres, you reach a junction with Kerontie road, where the signs point to the right towards Isokuru and Isokuru hut. The route to Karhunjuomalampi is marked with red squares, the route to the Isokuru rest area is marked with squares of all colours. The entire two kilometres to Isokuru is on an easy gravel road.

A shorter 1.6-kilometre route is also available to the Isokuru hut. It follows the road and path at the bottom of the southernmost ski slopes of Kultakero.

Isokuru Lappish hut

Isokuru's atmospheric Lappish hut is located on the upper slope of the gorge. There is also a lean-to shelter, a wood shed and a non-compostable dry toilet. The benches are a little narrow for sleeping, but you can lay a sleeping mat on the floor.

There is a long wooden bench at the front of the hut to rest your feet on. At the same time, it's worth digging out a bag of nuts, as the first birds may already be chirping on a branch of the neighbouring pine.

Right next to the hut, you descend the steep stairs to Isokuru gorge. Halfway down, there is a plateau and the first information board about the birth of Isokuru. Immediately at the bottom of the gorge, a long bench awaits you.

Isokuru - Finland's deepest gorge

Isokuru is a massive gorge 220 metres deep, located between the Kultakero and Ukonhattu fells. In places, its steep, vertical slopes are covered in grey rock. The gorge was formed by glacial and meltwater erosion of the rock, but the present rocks have only been in place since the last ice age.

The path that winds along the bottom of the gorge eventually climbs up to a rocky ridge formed by rock that has rolled down the slope of the Kultakero fell. The age of the landslide is estimated to be a few hundred years, and there is no lichen cover on the surface. At the foot of the escarpment, the rock formations have grown together.

In order to protect sensitive vegetation and ancient relics, the Isokuru restricted area is only accessible by walking on a marked path, i.e. wooden paths. Due to the avalanche risk, there is no winter route to Isokuru and winter access is not recommended.

The trail gently winds along the bottom of the gorge and curves around natural forms. The entire length of the trail is covered with cross planks, with a handrail along the edge. Sometimes a pond reflecting a deep green flickers beside the path.

The rocks in Isokuru gorge seem to spread across the landscape, sideways and upwards towards the sky. It's a captivating sight and definitely worth experiencing - no photograph has been able to convey the majesty of the magical gorge!

The Pyhänkasteenputous Waterfall and Pond

The tops of the fells of Pyhä are 2 billion years old quartzite. It makes you feel small when you're thinking about it.

The quartzite of Pyhä is often a wave-patterned rock. Along the trail to the Pyhänkasteenputous pond, you can see wave patterns on the rock surfaces. They are the remnants of ancient sand dunes that have formed under water.

At the end of the short path, a place of tranquillity awaits, like a stone vase. Pyhänkasteenlampi is a 12-metre-deep circular pond, into which the 17-metre-high Pyhänkasteenputous waterfall flows along the rock wall. The silence is broken only by the eternal sound of the water.

According to some interpretations, Pyhätunturi refers to the life of the Forest Sami people, rather than to religious beliefs. In ancient times, "pyhä" or "the sacred" has meant a point in the landscape that lies on the border between the known and the unknown. Such a boundary has often been the site of a sacrifice. Above the Pyhänkasteenputous pond rises Uhriharju, a sacrificial ridge.

According to tradition, the name of the place derives from the encounter between the Forest Sami and Christianity. The pond was the site of the baptism of Sámi into Christianity in 1648.

The pond and waterfall are off-limits to visitors because of the fragile vegetation and the protection of ancient monuments. However, a long and steep staircase leads up high above the waterfall.

Uhriharju ridge

At the end of Isokuru, before the Karhunjuomalampi, lies the mysterious Uhriharju ridge. The ridge was once used to ask for good fortune by sacrificing animals and their horns. A steep cliff ends down in a colourful marsh.

On Uhriharju there is a platform with a railing and a bench. From the ridge, it's just a short hike up a forest path to a junction, where you turn left up to Karhunjuomalampi.

Karhunjuomalampi

Karhunjuomalampi day hut is one of the most popular huts in Pyhä-Luosto National Park. The hut has a stove for heating, two tables and several benches. The kitchenette has pots and pans.

Water is available from the Karhunjuomalampi pond, which you descend to from the hut. The water is not tested and is recommended to be boiled before use. It is not allowed to wash dishes or swim in the pond.
The Karhunjuomalampi site has both a half-Lappish hut and a lean-to shelter. There are also several non-compostable dry toilets in the yard. You should bring your own toilet paper and matches.

From Karhunjuomalampi, the trail continues gently uphill towards Noitatunturi fell. Noitatunturi (540 m) is the highest fell in the Pyhä-Luosto fell chain and an old Sámi place of worship or "seita". From the top, you can enjoy fine views on both sides of the national park.

The Noitatunturi trail is an additional hike alongside the Karhunjuomalampi trail. However, in bad weather and especially when the fells are covered by a white cloud, it is best to skip the Noitatunturi visit.

Return to Visitor Centre Naava

From the Karhunjuomalampi, you walk past the laavu back along the wide trail that the Karhunjuomalampi skiing track follows in winter. The trail continues past Isokuru, following signposts in the middle of the forest.

A kilometre further on, there are beautiful rocks on the right. After a while, you reach a crossroads where you can take the path up to the top of Kultakero. On a foggy and rainy day, the scenery is barely visible.

Two kilometres further on, the ski slopes are already waiting for you, but in summer they are not at their best. Passing the lean-to, you turn right and head uphill if you intend to walk to the top of Pyhä in winter.

800 metres further along the dirt road you reach a fine viewpoint, the Aittakuru. There is a bench on the slope where you can take a break from walking. After about a kilometre from Aittakuru, you come to Tajukangas and a large open Lappish hut.

The rest of the way is a descent along the edge of the ski slope. The orange markings on the trees end at the top of the slope. After passing the ski lift, you can already see the parking area of the Naava Visitor Centre.