Hiking in the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Well-marked trails through Finland's third largest national park, including the classic 55km Hetta-Pallas Trail, with bookable and open huts every c. 10km.
Unlike the wilderness areas around Hetta, whose trails are for navigational experts only, the National Park is dotted with well-marked trails through its most beautiful corners, with bookable and open huts every c. 10km. Fell weather can still change rapidly, and help is far away in an accident.
Pallas-Yllästunturi is Finland's third largest National Park. Its highest fell is Taivaskero, at 807m, and its forests mix northern and southern species into a varied habitat.
- Finland's third largest National Park; highest fell Taivaskero (807m)
- Well-marked trails with open & bookable huts every c. 10km
- Classic 55km Hetta-Pallas Trail (outlined 1934)
- Car transfers between trail ends: €65 per transfer
- Best hiking late June - mid October
- Short nature trails around Pallas: Taivaskero 9km, Palkaskero 7km, Vatikuru 3km
The Classic 55km Hetta-Pallas Trail
The 55-km Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail, outlined in 1934, is one of the park's most popular routes. (The fit can even race it in the 55km/1800m-ascent Hetta Pallas Ultratrail Run at the end of July.)
We arrange car transfers between the ends (€65 per transfer) and can guide the journey itself. The best hiking is late June - mid October, in either direction, between Hetta Village and Pallastunturi Visitor Centre. At the Hetta end you cross Lake Ounasjärvi by boat. Heading south, the first open huts are at Pyhäkero, followed by Sioskuru, Hannukuru and Nammalakuru, each with open and bookable huts.
Short Trails around Pallas
Around the Pallas Visitor Centre are several nature trails. The 9km circular Taivaskero route climbs to the summit (4km from and c.340m above the Visitor Centre) in about three hours. The 7km circular Palkaskeron trail reaches a high rocky viewpoint over Pallas's lakes and fells, passing seven bronze squirrels, environmental art embodying the world's great religions. The 3km Vatikuru Nature Trail winds around the slopes of Pallastunturi, presenting the life and culture of the region.
Trails near Ketomella & Vuontispirtti
Vuontispirtti - Montelli Cabin - Vuontispirtti (10km roundtrip) is a beautiful, fairly steep 5km trail to the Montelli open wilderness hut, a very old cabin in one of the park's loveliest spots, also reachable in winter by ski track.
The Ketomella-Tappuri Trail (16km) climbs from the old ferry stop at Ketomella on old boardwalks to the Sami reindeer marking village of Tappuri, high amongst the fells.
Towards the Southern End of the Park
A recently remarked, little-used trail leads from the Pallastunturi Fells via Lommoltunturi Fell south towards the Yllästunturi Fells. The Ylläs-Rauhala-Pallas Trail (72 km) crosses beautiful woodland and hills from either Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas or Pallas Visitor Centre. The Äkäskero-Rauhala stretch is long and its markings sometimes incomplete, so bring a tent, as huts exist only at Pahtavuoma and Kutujärvi.
Around Ylläs, the popular 4-km Varkaankuru Trail (Wizard's Trail) starts at Kellokas Visitor Centre and leads through Varkaankuru Ravine.
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.