English
Français
Deutsch
Suomi
Español
If you want one-on-one time with the dogs, we offer a variety of short (or even multi-day) hikes on the 'off-the-beaten-track' trails around Hetta. Hiking with the huskies is just as rewarding as mushing with them: you get plenty of direct time with your dog, and they love the chance to do something out of the ordinary.
Most of these hikes are best in the 'non-snow' months, but some are also possible in winter if you hire snowshoes. Either way, the dogs are attached to you by a skijoring line clipped to a waistbelt, so there is no fear of accidentally letting them go.
- Walk attached to your dog by a skijoring line clipped to a waistbelt
- Possible year-round; winter hikes may need snowshoe hire
- Central Hetta forest trails: c. 2 hrs, Adults €60 / Children €35 / Families €175
- Perilä/Ullatieva ridge: c. 2.5 hrs, Adults €70 / Children €45 / Families €200
- 18km Pahtajärvi loop: 5–6 hrs with wilderness-cabin lunch, Adults €95
- Your dog carries its own water and snacks in a 'doggy rucksack'
Central Hetta Forest Trails (c. 2 hours)
One trail which can be explored in both summer and winter leads out straight from the centre of the village on the illuminated ski track. It soon breaks off along the 'reindeer' boardwalks and then returns to the main paths via a seldom visited ridge between the large marshes. This is a really pretty trail that normally takes c. 2 hours to complete. It is slightly less physical than the ridge option, but there are not as many 'turn-around' places on it for young children if they decide that they do not want to go any further.
Duration: c. 2 hours. Price: Adults €60, Children €35, Families €175 (<5, inc. up to 2 adults).
Perilä / Ullatieva Ridge Trail (c. 2.5 hours)
A guide favourite is this beautiful ridge walk c. 4km from the far end of Hetta, seldom discovered by visitors. The trails crisscross many times, giving multiple vantage points over a river on one side and a wilderness lake on the other. It is great fun for children, who can choose which path to take at every junction without any worry of getting lost, since all paths rejoin in the end. We offer it either as a 2-hour product in summer or a half-day hike out to the far end of the ridge, returning along the lake shore.
Duration: c. 2.5 hours. Price: Adults €70, Children €45, Families €200 (<5, inc. up to 2 adults).
The Jyppyrä Trail (1.6 km)
In earlier times Jyppyrä was considered a place of worship and small sacrifices used to be made at the site of an ancient seita rock situated near the top of the hill. According to local legend, this rock was rolled into Lake Ounasjärvi in the 1800s in an attempt by local missionaries to put a stop to pagan worship.
The shortest trail through the Jyppyrä Nature Reserve is a circular route which ascends from the yard of the Skierri Fell Lapland Nature Centre to the summit of Jyppyrävaara Hill on a small forest trail and then descends via a well-maintained wooden staircase. The trail is marked with red-painted sun symbols, and there are steps, information boards and a rest spot along the way. At the summit, a campfire shelter provides the perfect vantage point for the surrounding fell landscape.
Pahtajärvi Loop (18 km, 5–6 hours)
A favourite on our days off is the 18km Pahtajärvi loop, which follows a skyline trail north of Hetta and returns beside a spectacular gorge. Marked with blue signs, it takes 5 to 6 hours including a lunch break in a wilderness cabin. If you hike with us, your dog carries its own water and snacks in a 'doggy rucksack', so you have no extra weight to carry.
Lake Pahtajärvi is a long, narrow lake running through a steep gorge, well worth the effort for the cliff walls on both sides.
Duration: 5–6 hours including a lunch break eaten around an open fire in a wilderness kota. Price: Adults €95, Children €55, Families €250 (<5, inc. up to 2 adults).
