Pyhä Ski Resort is located in Finland's southernmost great fell area in Central Lapland. Pyhätunturi fell’s highest peak is called Kultakero. In winter you can admire the sparkling white crown snow loaded trees and open fell landscapes in Pyhä.

Pyhä is a popular skiing resort in Finland, but Pyhä also offers great opportunities for other winter sports. Conquering Pyhä’s peak by foot or by scenic lift is a wonderful experience in the winter fell scenery. You should go to the top in good weather – the winter sunset at the top of Pyhä is absolutely magical!

How do you get to the top of Pyhätunturi fell?

You can get to the top of Pyhä quickly by taking the PyhäExpress chairlift. You can also hike to the top of Pyhätunturi. The route to the top of Pyhätunturi is about three kilometers. The pedestrian route is marked all the way with orange diamonds and signs.

The PyhäExpress chair lift can accommodate six people at a time. A canopy descends over the seats to protect against wind and snow drifts.

You can ride the scenic lift both with and without skis. Pedestrians can therefore also use the lift according to its normal opening hours. A round trip costs €12.50 for an adult, one-way tickets are not available. You can buy a pedestrian ticket for the PyhäExpress lift from a ticket machine or at a ticket office.

Many people go to the top of Pyhätunturi riding the PyhäExpress chair lift, and after admiring the scenery, return back down with the lift. Others go down the route by foot, so that they can also see the crown snow load on trees, Tajukangas climbing wall, fell landscapes and reindeer.

The third option includes most sports and experiences: walk up to the top of Pyhä and come back down at the end of the day with the scenic lift. When you hike to the top of Pyhä, you can enjoy the atmospheric fireplaces of the rest areas and at the same time you can also see the snow-covered trees, meet reindeer and watch amazing sunset!

With a few missteps and visiting the Huttuseikkailu's laavu shelter, my sports watch indicated a little over four kilometers as the day's distance.

Hiking to the top of Pyhä

The walking route to Pyhä's top starts from the right side of the three-person chairlift B (Pyhä's slope map). Skinnausreitti 1 also runs the same route past Tajukangas. First, you climb the steep right edge of the ski slope (Blue slope number 5). Be careful that you don't accidentally get lost on the slope, because the skiers hurtle down swift.

At that point, when your legs are sore and your back is wet with sweat, you will reach the platform where a huge signpost is waiting. A snowmobile route towards Tajukangas starts to the right. You can walk and ski on the trail.
After a while, you will see a steep wall on the left. Tajukangas is Pyhä’s activities center where you can go ice-climbing. On the right side there is a large hut with a fireplace open to everyone, where you can warm up and eat snacks. There is also a toilet in the area.

Starting from Tajukangas, you will already walk on wonderful snow-covered slopes. It is worth going a few meters to the edge of the slope, to see the stunning landscapes opening up to Pyhä.

Shortly before arriving at Pohjoisrinteet slopes, the skiers turn straight up to the left, but the pedestrians continue towards Pohjoisrinteet slopes. After a small strip of forest, first cross the red branch of Pohjoisrinne Sinipunainen / Blue-Red (slope number 6), and then the blue branch of slope six.

When crossing the blue branch, the Pohjoisrinne ankkuri lifts slide overhead and skiers curve from above through the forest. Here you may have to take a few running steps, especially on the weekend and in nice weather.

Next, you cross slope number seven, Pohjoisrinne. If you don't want to meet the reindeer and visit the laavu shelter, you can turn straight up and follow the right edge of the northern slope. There are also signposts at the intersection.

Huttuseikkailu's reindeer fence and shelter are located on the west side of the Pohjoisrinne slopes, between Huttuseikkailu (slope number 8) and Metsäseikkailu (slope number 9). The slope of Huttuseikkailu is crossed to reach the fireplace.

The laavu shelter is not very large, but it is wonderfully atmospheric to warm up by the fire under the spruce trees. Instead of a sausage, why not grill a donut with jam and have hot black-currant juice! It’s possible that reindeer are not always in the fence, there were two of them on my own trip.

The journey towards Pyhä's peak continues up the right edge of the North slope (Sininen / Blue 7).

Pyhä peak experience

At the top of Pyhätunturi, you could go to the sunset side of the slope to admire the scenery, but the snow may be so deep and soft that it is not possible to cross without skis. Near the lifts and the restaurant, the snow has been trampled hard.

At the top of Pyhä there’s a 360-degree landscape stage, from which beautiful views of the white fell nature and the Pyhä-Luosto National Park open up. At sunset, in bright weather, nature draws deep shades of orange and pink into the sky with its brush. At the top of Pyhätunturi, you can also find the Tunturivartija (Hill Guard's) landscape hut, where you can take a break and have a snack.

Right behind the scenic lift at the top of Pyhä is the Huttu-Ukko art trail. The route has been implemented by Pyhä Ski Resort together with local artist Tapio Uusitalo. The art trail contains works based on the history and myths of the region, which live according to the different seasons. Totems frosted with crown snow can be hard to spot at first. Because of the deep snow, it may also be difficult to get to them.

At the top of Pyhä is the popular landscape restaurant Tsokka. The restaurant is a cozy place to warm up and take a break during the Pyhä Peak trip. After queuing for a while, you can taste crispy waffles with jam and whipped cream. You may even find a free table.

With severe frost and wind, it can be shockingly cold at the top of Pyhätunturi fell, even if you are wearing your thickest down coat and winter pants. If you've hiked from the ski rental office to the top of Pyhä in the freezing cold and admired the sunset until dusk, the most pleasant thing to do at this point, is to jump onto the soft benches of the PyhäExpress chair lift!

Tips for the Pyhä peak tour

• If you're going to hike to the top of Pyhä or down from the top, remember to take at least something to drink in a thermos bottle. Walking to the top on a snowy slope is quite a sport.
• It's nice to eat your own snacks at the shelters. At least during the high season, there will be fires ready, so bring something to heat with a campfire. Just in case, bring matches too.
• The wind can be very cold at the top of Pyhätunturi. Dress warmly and protect your face.
• If you visit Pyhä Finland, visit also the wonderful Pyhä-Luosto National Park. In Pyhä-Luosto National Park, you will find 150-kilometers of maintained cross-country skiing tracks and great snowshoeing trails.

Read also: Pyhä Winter Trails: Karhunjuomalampi Skiing Tour

Links

Visit Pyhä: Feel the Peak – Scenic Lift for Pedestrians
Pyhä-Luosto National Park
How to get to Pyhä in Finland - Transport connections and timetables on Pyhä website