English
Français
Deutsch
Suomi
Español
This section outlines some of the longer trail-hiking options in the North as an information resource.
Hiking with huskies on suitable trails is just as rewarding as mushing with them, giving plenty of direct time with your dog. Most of these hikes are best in the 'non-snow' months, though some are possible in the snowy months with snowshoes. If you take dogs, they are attached to you by a skijoring line clipped to a waistbelt, so there is no fear of accidentally letting them go.
- Information resource on long-distance northern trails
- Kilpisjärvi: Saana (1029 m) and Halti (1324 m), Finland's highest fell
- Three Nations' Border Stone where Finland, Sweden & Norway meet
- Käsivarsi Wilderness Area: Finland's 2nd largest (2,206 sq.km)
- Nordkalottleden Trail: 800 km total, 70 km in Finland, 40 wilderness huts
- Best hiked July to mid-September
Hiking in Kilpisjärvi
Kilpisjärvi has classic hiking and skiing routes and is a guide favourite in their free time in late spring and summer. The main village in the arm of Finland, it is the starting point for hikes around the village and into both the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area and the Malla Strict Nature Reserve.
Halti and Saana are the region's best known destinations. Saana sits right by the village, visible from all around and said to be Finland's best known fell thanks to its recognisable shape. At 1324 metres, Halti is Finland's highest fell, close to the Norwegian border, with marked hiking and skiing trails starting from Kilpisjärvi.
The Three Nations' Border Stone & Malla Strict Nature Reserve
One place of significance in this area is the Three Nations' Border Stone where the borders of Finland, Sweden and Norway meet — a cairn that stands on a man-made island in Lake Koltapahtajärvi in the Malla Strict Nature Reserve. The original rock cairn was erected in 1897; the current concrete marker was built in 1926.
The Malla Nature Reserve is Finland's oldest nature conservation area, established in 1916. Covering approximately 30 km2, you may hike the Malla Trail from Kilpisjärvi to the Three Nations' Border Point (11 km) and return the same way, or travel onboard the M/S Malla to Koltalahti and walk the final 3 km to the border point.
Käsivarsi Wilderness Area
Käsivarsi (2,206 sq.km, established 1991) is Finland's second largest wilderness area, in the NW corner of Enontekiö. There are no roads within the wilderness area, but it is not uninhabited — Raittijärvi Lapp village is inhabited by some families through most of the year. The fells in the NW corner are the only ones in Finland which are part of the Scandinavian watershed; other than Saanatunturi Fell, all of Finland's fells over 1000m in height are in this wilderness area.
One marked trail leads through the area, the Kalottireitti — Nordkalottleden Trail, 60 km of which is within the wilderness area.
Nordic Nordkalottleden Trail (800 km)
For those looking for a long-distance hiking trail, the Nordic Nordkalottleden Trail is 800 km long. A 70-km section runs through northern Finland in the Enontekiö / Käsivarsi region, with the rest through Norway (380 km) and Sweden (350 km). The most popular part of the Finnish section is between Kilpisjärvi and Halti, where you turn around and head back the way you came.
The trail is demanding and not suitable for beginners. There are 40 wilderness huts along the entire trail, with hikes between them spanning from 10 to 50 km. The best time to hike the Finnish portion is from the beginning of July to the middle of September. We recommend you bring a tent and do not venture into the fell area alone.
King's Trail & Lyngen Alps
Further afield, there are some amazing hikes to be done in the Kebnekaise area of Northern Sweden and the famous 'King's Trail' in Northern Sweden is a target for many. We are also happy to offer mountain hikes close to our base in the Lyngen Alps (Norway), although these routes are often glaciated and are not suitable for the huskies.
