Adventures // 8 February 2026
Saariselkä in Lapland, Finland is an amazing winter destination for outdoor lovers. From the top of the highest fell Sokosti, you can enjoy incredible views of Lake Luirojärvi and the white fells of Urho Kekkonen National Park. The varied wilderness and one of Finland's densest networks of open wilderness huts make the area very popular for year-round hiking adventures.
I did a six-day backcountry skiing tour to Sokosti fell and Lake Luirojärvi in Urho Kekkonen National Park in March. I skied about 100 km / 62 miles, with an elevation gain of 2022 m / 6634 ft. The frosts were severe, often exceeding -30°C (-22°F) degrees at night.
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Saariselkä / Lake Luirojärvi & Sokosti Ski Tour
- Destination: Saariselkä/Kiilopää, Urho Kekkonen National Park, Lapland, Finland
- Length: 80 km / 50 miles (normal route, longer routes possible) + 12 km (7.5 miles) Sokosti tour
- Difficulty level: demanding (long-distance winter hiking, unmarked wilderness routes)
- When to go: from December to April (cross-country trails from February; year-round destination)
- Duration: 5-9 days
Adventures // 10 March 2025
The ski hike to Halti from Kilpisjärvi in Käsivarsi wilderness in Lapland is a winter hiking classic. In winter, you can reach the top of Halti by skiing the Arctic Trail (Nordkalott Trail), or your own trails in Käsivarsi wilderness.
Halti is Finland's highest fell, or Finland's highest point at least. Háldičohkka peak rises to 1324 metres above sea level on the Finnish side, with a few metres higher point on the Norwegian side. The summit of Halti is a popular destination for both summer hiking and winter skiing.
I did a solo ski hike in the Käsivarsi wilderness at the end of March. I had planned a ski tour to Saariselkä and Urho Kekkonen National Park in Lapland, but changed the destination about a week before departure due to the stomach flu epidemic in the UKK Park. So the Sokosti summit was replaced by the conquest of Halti.
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Ski hike Kilpisjärvi - Halti, The Nordkalott Trail
- Destination: Kilpisjärvi and Käsivarsi Wilderness, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: 55 km (one direction)
- Difficulty: advanced, but suitable for beginners (The Nordkalott Trail)
- When to go: from February to April for spring ski tour
- Duration: 5-10 days
- Where to stay: camping in tent, wilderness huts, or rental huts
Adventures // 31 January 2024
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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Adventures // 30 December 2023
Ski touring in Lapland is a dream for many outdoor enthusiasts, especially after becoming familiar with summer hiking. Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in Finland fits perfectly for your first ski tour: the Hetta-Pallas winter trail is well-maintained and marked, the cabin network is extensive, and settlements are nearby. The national landscape in winter is also breathtakingly beautiful.
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Hetta-Pallas Winter Route
- Destination: Enontekiö and Muonio, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: Hetta-Pallas 58 km (36 miles, one direction)
- Difficulty: physically demanding but suitable for beginners
- When to go: from March to April
- Where to stay: camping in tent, in reservation or open wilderness huts, some Lappish huts
Adventures // 4 April 2023
Winter is amazing season to go on an adventure to Keimiötunturi fell area. The popular and well-maintained Keimiö ski trail runs around Keimiötunturi fell in the winter, leading to Lake Keimiöjärvi. On a Keimiö ski tour, you may see beautiful snow-covered trees, blazing northern lights and wonderful landscapes of Pallastunturi fells.
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Winter is a great time to go hiking. Sometimes, it is just hiking in cold, when the trails are free of snow and ice. Sometimes, winter hiking is enjoying snow drifts and freezing temperature. With the right gear and mindset, you are ready for amazing winter experiences.
Winter hiking requires a bit more preparing than hiking in summer, when you can just throw on your hiking shoes and head to the woods. Once you get the basics right and have confidence to try winter hiking for the first time, you may find the magic and fun of winter outdoors.
In this blog post you will find everything you need to know for wintry excursions and hiking in snow. Here are my best tips to stay warm and safe in the Northern Latitudes (and in any other winter wonderland as well)!
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Merino wool is a great natural material that is at its best in outdoor sports clothes. I have used different merino wool clothes mostly on hikes, in trail running I have preferred more technical materials. However, merino wool has superior properties compared to technical materials, so I have increasingly turned to merino wool on the running side as well.
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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
