Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail
The famous 55km Hetta-Pallas trail through Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, one of the best hikes in the world, with wilderness huts roughly every 10km.
These are some of the best hiking trails in the world, almost all served by state-maintained wilderness cabins with toilets, a wood supply and water nearby. Hiking runs from mid June to the end of September. Between c. 20th June and 20th August keep to higher treks to escape the mosquitos, and the first three weeks of September bring the vibrant ruska colours.
- 55km trail, route outlined in 1934, with huts roughly every 10km
- Cross Lake Ounasjärvi by boat at the Hetta end, lifting a signal flag from the Pallas side
- Season late June to mid-October, ruska colour in early September
- Taivaskero reaches 807m, Pakasaivo ravine lake is 60m deep
Hiking through the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Pallas-Yllästunturi, Finland's third largest National Park, combines the former Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park and Ylläs-Aakenus Nature Reserve. Its fell chain, one of the Finnish national landscapes, tops out at Taivaskero, 807 metres, and its position between Northern Finland, Forest Lapland and Fell Lapland mixes northern and southern species.
Hetta-Pallas Trail (55km)
The 55-km trail, its route outlined in 1934, runs over fell after fell between Hetta Village and Pallastunturi Visitor Centre and can be walked in either direction, from Mid-summer in late June until winter sets in around mid-October. On the Hetta side you cross Lake Ounasjärvi by boat, and from the Pallas direction you lift a signal flag and a boat comes for you. The route is well marked, with open and reservable huts roughly every 10km, and suits novices with basic hiking and survival skills.
NB: The Hetta Pallas Ultratrail Run (55km / 1800m of ascent) races the route in a few hours at the end of July.
Shorter connecting and nature trails
Vuontispirtti - Montelli Cabin - Vuontispirtti (10km roundtrip) is a fairly steep trail to a very old cabin in the fells, joining the main route. The Ketomella-Tappuri Trail (20km) climbs old boardwalks to the Sami reindeer marking village of Tappuri, the Pippovuoma Wetland Trail from Ketomella (10km) crosses unique aapa bogs, and the Pyhäjoki Nature Trail at Pallasjärvi (3km) follows an alpine-style stream down to the lake.
Pakasaivo and the Kirkkopahta Seida Rock
At the park's southern end, Pakasaivo, the 'Saivo' ravine lake known as the 'Hell of Lapland', and the nearby Kirkkopahta seida rock are ancient Sámi holy places. The narrow one-kilometre lake is 60 metres deep, with cliff walls up to 60 metres high, the second deepest water in Northern Finland after Lake Inarijärvi. A wheelchair-accessible 200-metre trail reaches a lookout, and a Lapp 'kota' hut by the car park serves as a summer café.
Good to know
- Huts
- Open & reservable, approx. every 10 km
- Ultra run
- Hetta Pallas Ultratrail, 55km / 1800m ascent, end of July
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.