Backpacking

Salla National Park in Lapland – Pahakuru Trail

Salla National Park is characterized by ancient forests surrounding ridges and gorges. From the tops of the fells, wilderness landscapes open up to lakes and vast mire areas. Marked viewpoints offer spots for admiring Lapland's midnight sun and the northern lights.

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Salla Pahakuru Trail

  • Destination: Salla, Lapland, Finland
  • Distance: 15 km (9.3 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • When to go: From June to October (year-round)
  • Duration: 4-5 hours

Kungsleden Trail - Aktse To Saltoluokta & Skierfe

Kungsleden or The King’s Trail is a famous hiking trail in Swedish Lapland. Stretching from Abisko to Hemavan and consisting of several stages, Kungsleden spans over 400 kilometers in length. The most popular section is the Abisko-Nikkaluokta hike.

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Kungsleden, Aktse - Saltoluokta

  • Destination: Norrbotten, Lapland, Sweden
  • Distance: Aktse-Saltoluokta 27 km / 17 miles of hiking + boat trip (+ Aktse-Skierfe 7 km / 4.5 miles)
  • Difficulty: easy-moderate
  • When to go: from June to end of August for a summer hike
  • Duration: 2 days 
  • Where to stay: camping in tent, or in STF cabins

In the Salla National Park, ancient wilderness forests surround majestic ridges and gorge valleys. From the fell peaks, beautiful views open up to the marshes and glistening ponds. Designated viewpoints offer opportunities to admire the Northern Lights and the stars on the night sky.

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Salla Taivaan tavoittelijan taival Trail

  • Destination: Salla, Lapland, Finland
  • Distance: 4.6 km (2.86 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderate (classified as demanding)
  • When to go: From June to October (year-round)
  • Duration: 1,5-2 hours

Repovesi National Park guides the visitor through mossy forests to majestic cliffs offering breathtaking views over the lakes, framed by pine trees. In mid-winter, the pines are covered in frost, and in early spring, the icefalls glisten in the sun.

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Hiking and Fishing in Lapland - Hammastunturi Wilderness

Hammastunturi wilderness in Lapland is a wonderful hiking and fishing destination in Finland. The area is known for the historical Lapland’s Gold of River Ivalojoki. The peaceful wilderness area is located between Urho Kekkonen National Park and Lemmenjoki National Park, near Saariselkä.

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Hammastunturi Wilderness

  • Destination: Inari / Kittilä / Sodankylä, Lapland, Finland
  • Difficulty: when avoiding bogs, moderate but includes river crossings and wilderness hikes require advanced skills 
  • When to go: from June to October (year-round destination)
  • Mobile phone network coverage: no coverage

Hikes in Ylläs, Finland - Beautiful Aakenustunturi Fell

Aakenustunturi fell rises in western Kittilä, right next to Ylläs, in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in Lapland. Aakenustunturi fell has three high peaks, Pallilaki (565 m / 1854 ft), Moloslaki (530 m / 1739 ft) and Vasalaki (470 m / 1542 ft). The Aakenustunturi trail, Moloslaki Trail, goes through Vasalaki.

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Aakenustunturi Fell, Moloslaki Trail

  • Destination: Kittilä, Lapland, Finland
  • Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
  • Difficulty level: Moderate - Moderately challenging
  • Duration: 4 h (overnight stays possible)

The long-distance fall hike is the most wonderful hike of the year. The best hiking season in the Nordics begins in the middle of September. Check your gear and you are ready to go!

When you want to hike with lightweight backpack, choose the 'big three' from the light end: sleeping system (sleeping bag and sleeping pad), tent, and your hiking rucksack. When weighing the options on a tight budget, consider which items are worth investing and which items are not that important.

For a long-distance or multi-day fall hike, you need more or less the same equipment as for a summer hike, especially if you're heading to Lapland or to the mountains. Hiking gear in fall is often supplemented with warmer layers of clothing, but if you have initially chosen equipment for three seasons, there is no need to make any new purchases.

In this article, I listed my own favorites, which I use on hikes from spring to late fall in the Nordics, some also go with me in winter. Here you can find gear list for lightweight backpacking for a week's hike (or longer):

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Tent
  • Hiking Backpack
  • Cooking essentials
  • Clothes and hiking shoes for fall
  • Essential gear (first aid, toilet paper, electronics, map, etc.)


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Kungsleden, or King's Trail, is the most famous hiking trail in northern Sweden. The hiking trail is over 400 kilometers (249 miles) long, going from Abisko to Hemavan through rugged landscapes. The most popular stretch of the Kungsleden hikes is the Abisko-Nikkaluokta route.

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Kungsleden hike Nikkaluokta-Alesjaure (Abisko)

  • Destination: Nikkaluokta, Norrbotten, Lapland, Sweden
  • Distance: Nikkaluokta-Alesjaure 71 km (Nikkaluokta-Abisko 107 km)
  • Difficulty: easy-moderate
  • When to go: from July to August for a summer hike
  • Duration: 3-5 days (Nikkaluokta-Abisko 5-7 days)
  • Where to stay: camping in tent, or in STF cabins
     

Are you dreaming of more challenging wilderness hiking trails, but wondering how to cross rivers safely? Do you know what gear is needed to cross waterways? Are you unsure whether you should go wading alone or not?

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Dalberget hike in Lyngen Alps, Norway is an easy to moderate ascent through a lush forest along a path above the tree line. From the top, incredibly beautiful panoramic views open up to the Lyngenfjord and the snow-capped mountains of the Lyngen Alps.

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Dalberget and Storhaugen hiking trail

  • Destination: Kirkegården Djupvik, Lyngen, Norway
  • Distance: Dalberget 4.5 km / 2.8 miles, Storhaugen 9 km / 5.6 miles (entire route)
  • Difficulty: Dalberget easy/moderate, Storhaugen demanding
  • When to go: June to September (Dalberget year-round destination)