Biking in Enontekiö

Biking in Enontekiö

Gravelled forestry roads, sandy heath trails, old German routes and challenging wilderness duckboards – from gentle road rides to expert fell crossings.

Enontekiö's fell highlands are great for mountain biking, with numerous gravelled forestry roads, sandy heaths with trails, old German routes and challenging duckboards across vast wilderness areas. Every area except the Malla Nature Reserve and the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is open access. Road biking is also pleasant – roads are generally in good condition with little traffic. National biking trail 21 runs east-west through Hetta, marked with brown and white bicycle signs.

  • National biking trail 21 runs east-west through Hetta
  • Open access everywhere except Malla Nature Reserve & Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
  • Hetta-Näkkälä trail: 26 km along an old postal route
  • Kalmakaltio-Pöyrisjärvi-Näkkälä: c. 93 km
  • Expert routes reach the Arctic Ocean and the foot of Halti

Routes also used for hiking

A number of the routes described in the hiking section of our website are also suitable for biking. For instance, Hetta-Näkkälä (26 km), Kalmakaltio-Pöyrisjärvi-Näkkälä (c. 93 km), Näkkälä to Pöyrisjärvi (c. 18km), Kalmakaltio to Naltijärvi (c. 20km) and Hetta to Sonkamuotka via Muotkajärvi (c. 30km). There are Metsähallitus-maintained wilderness cabins in Pöyrisjärvi and Naltijärvi, and cabins available for hire in Pöyrisjärvi.

For expert riders

Slightly more demanding trails include Kultima to Leppäjärvi and Hetta to Ylimuonio. For expert riders we recommend the terrain trails from Pöyrisjärvi to the Norwegian border, or from Kaaresuvanto via Syväjärvi and Puussasvaara to Neuhkana. A very exotic mountain bike route runs from Kåfjord on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, up the 'mountain road' leading to Guolasjärvi, and onwards on good terrain and quadbike trails all the way to Somasjärvi, east of Halti, Finland's highest mountain.

The Hetta-Näkkälä Trail (26 km)

This trail is part of an old postal route that carried post from Hetta to Näkkälä and on to Pöyrisjärvi and Kalkujärvi. Undemanding as a hike, it is demanding to bike, as the trail is rocky in places. There are duckboards, but not at every wet spot.

Map of biking trails in the Tarvantovaara wilderness area
Map showing gravelled forestry road biking routes near Hetta
Biking in KilpisjärviBiking KilpisWilderness mountain-bike routes in the Kilpisjärvi area in the 'arm' of Finland, ranging from easy gravel to very demanding expert terrain.A forestry gravel road used as a biking route south of HettaBiking South of HettaOld postal trails and forestry roads south of Hetta, plus the Hetta-Pallas trail that completes one of Europe's longest continuous mountain-bike routes.Cyclist on a cross-border wilderness trailCross-Border BikingBorder-hopping routes from Finland into Norway and on towards the Arctic Ocean, following old postal trails and quad-bike tracks.Cyclist on a cross-country trail near HettaHetta Bike TrailsLonger day-trip biking trails around Hetta — from the easy illuminated 10km loop to the historic 26km old postal route to Nakkala.Mountain biker on a downhill trail in the Lappish fellsLevi Bike ParkA downhill bike centre at Levi ski resort with freeride, downhill and north-shore trails, plus the Yllas Bike Park and Super Bike Pass options.Wilderness biking panorama across the Poyrisjarvi fellsPoyrisjarviClassic multi-day wilderness traverses through the Poyrisjarvi region — unmarked, self-sufficient routes for expert riders up to 118km long.Wilderness hut on the open tundra of TarvantovaaraTarvantovaaraRemote quad-bike and single-track wilderness routes through the Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area, west of Leppajarvi, reaching towards the Norwegian border and Kautokeino.