Destinations // 7 December 2022
Pyhätunturi is located in Pyhä-Luosto, Lapland. The largest and most famous peak of Pyhätunturi is called "Kultakero". In winter, the summit of Kultakero and the crown-snow trees on the slopes, as well as the vast fell scenery, are a delight for skiers and hikers alike.
The Pyhä ski resort is located in the southernmost large fell area of Finland, in Central Lapland. People often go to Pyhä for skiing, but Pyhä offers great opportunities for all kinds of winter activities.
Conquering the peak of Pyhä on foot or by a scenic lift is a great experience in the winter fells. It's worth going to the top in good weather - the winter sunset on the top of Pyhä is fabulously beautiful!
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Pyhä Finland Peak Hike
- Destination: Kemijärvi, Central Lapland, Finland
- Difficulty: easy
- When to go: in winter, check the scenic lift opening times
- Duration: a half-day trip
Adventures // 2 December 2022
Koli National Park is a nature gem in North Karelia, Finland, which charms all year round. The view from the peaks of Koli to Lake Pielinen is one of our most beloved national landscapes. Koli has about 80 km of marked trails, with a few kilometres of winter trails for snowshoeing. To reach the best viewpoints and photo spots, you have to climb steep cliffs and traverse through dense forests.
In winter, the peaks and moorlands are best reached on snowshoes, there are fifty kilometres of trails for skiing adventures, and Ukko-Koli offers downhill skiing. A tour of the Koli peaks is the most spectacular day trip in the national park. Right next to the Koli National Park is Ryläys, with its slopes overlooking stunning forested hillsides.
I did a winter hike in Koli snowshoeing in the darkest time of the year in December. I also tested the Ikolanaho rental cabin.
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Destinations // 28 November 2022
Pyhätunturi, Lapland is a popular destination for downhill skiing, but Pyhä winter trails offer also amazing opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Karhunjuomalampi cross-country skiing tour is a magnificent day trip in winter!
Pyhä-Luosto National Park in Central Lapland, is the southernmost great fell area in Finland. It includes the oldest national park in Finland: Pyhä was established already in 1938. During winter, you can admire beautiful crown snow loaded trees and white fell scenery.
Pyhätunturi fell has been a sacred place of the Forest Sámi people. The various names on the area refer to religion and ancient belief. Pyhä (= Holy in English) is a beautiful place for nature pilgrimage year-round.
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Pyhä Karhunjuomalampi Cross-Country Skiing Tour
- Destination: Pelkosenniemi and Kemijärvi, Central Lapland, Finland
- Difficulty: easy, a short moderate leg
- When to go: from February to April for cross-country skiing
- Duration: a day trip
Adventures // 25 November 2022
Snowshoes, crown snow scenery, and my first winter hike solo. Everything in the sentence screams: exciting!
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Syöte National Park - winter hike
- Destination: Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski and Posio, Northern Osthrobotnia, Finland
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- When to go: from December to April for a winter hike
- Duration: suitable for day trips and multi-day adventures
- Where to stay: camping in tent, many open wilderness huts, hotels and lodges in Syöte
Adventures // 6 October 2022
Muotkatunturi wilderness in Northern Lapland is the most wilderness-like area in Finland. The wilderness area is located in Utsjoki and Inari counties. There are around a hundred fells in Muotkatunturi, but the scenery is very open with gentle slopes in the horizon.
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Muotkatunturi wilderness area
- Destination: Inari and Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
- Difficulty: advanced because of wilderness, includes river crossings
- When to go: in September for an autumn hike
- Duration: suitable for day trips and multi-day adventures
- Where to stay: camping in tent, two open wilderness huts, Lahtinen hut and a Lappish shelter for day shelters
Adventures // 29 September 2022
Kevo Strict Nature Reserve in Utsjoki is one of the most rugged hiking destinations in Lapland, Finland. In the heart of the nature reserve there's almost a 40 km Kevo canyon with River Kevojoki flowing in the middle. You can explore the beautiful nature reserve by hiking either Kuivi ring route or Kevo route.
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Kevo Trail 63 km info
- Destination: Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: 63 km (one direction)
- Difficulty: advanced, includes river crossings
- When to go: in September for backpacking in autumn (check restrictions!)
- Duration: 3-5 days
- Where to stay: camping in tent, no open wilderness huts, some Lapp huts and turf huts for shelter
Destinations // 8 September 2022
Lake Pallasjärvi is located in Western Lapland in Finland, at the border of Kittilä and Muonio. The beautiful lake with red sand beach is in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, on the South-East side of Pallastunturi fells. Visiting Lake Pallasjärvi and the Punainenhiekka day hut is convenient to include in a hiking trip such as the classic Hetta-Pallas hike in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
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Trail Run // 11 August 2022
Saana fell in Kilpisjärvi Lapland is one of the highest and most popular fells in Finland. It is located in Käsivarsi area in Enontekiö region. There are two great trails: The Saana Summit Trail and the Saana Circle Trail.
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Saana Summit Trail & Saana Circle Trail
- Destination: Kilpisjärvi, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: Saana summit Trail 4.3 km / 2.67 miles (one direction), Saana Circle Trail 14 km / 8.7 miles
- Difficulty: basic fitness
- When to go: From June to September
- Where to stay: camping (check the destrictions), accommodation services in the area, no overnight stays in the Lappish huts
Adventures // 16 January 2022
The Sevettijärvi-Pulmanki Trail is the most popular hiking trail going through Kaldoaivi wilderness. Kaldoaivi is the largest wilderness area in Finland. The 2924 sq.km wilderness area is located in Utsjoki, in Northern Lapland. The landscape varies from fell highlands to dense birch forests, with countless lakes and river valleys.
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Sevettijärvi-Pulmanki Trail Info
- Destination: Kaldoaivi wilderness area, Utsjoki, Northern Lapland, Finland
- Distance: 60-70 km
- Difficulty: advanced due to river crossing and roadless wilderness
- When to go: from June to September for a summer and autumn adventure
- Duration: running 1-2 days, hiking 3-7 days
- Where to stay: camping in tent or open wilderness huts
- Mobile network coverage: some brief coverage on top of the fells (also depends on your operator)
Adventures // 6 January 2022
Halti is the highest fell in Finland with the peak, Háldičohkka, at 1324 m above the sea level. The trail to Halti from Kilpisjärvi, the Arctic Trail or Nordkalott Trail, is the most popular route to Halti from Finland, but several unmarked routes through wilderness lead to Halti as well. I chose the Nordkalott route on my way to Halti but hiked back to Kilpisjärvi via Termisjärvi, following the Arctic Trail to the Kuonjarjoki hut before taking my own path.
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Kilpisjärvi - Halti hiking info
- Destination: Kilpisjärvi and Käsivarsi Wilderness, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: 55 km (one direction, The Nordkalott Trail)
- Difficulty: advanced, includes river crossings
- When to go: from July to September for a summer and autumn hike
- Duration: 4-7 days
- Where to stay: camping in tent, wilderness huts, or rental huts
