Wilderness Biking - Poyrisjarvi
Classic multi-day wilderness traverses through the Poyrisjarvi region - unmarked, self-sufficient routes for expert riders up to 118km long.
There are three main variations on the classic Poyrisjarvi traverses, plus a demanding 104km day trip from Hetta to Kalgujarvi to Kivilompolo, a 10-hour ride which starts with 17km of asphalt between Hetta and Vuontisjarvi before taking the quad bike trail to Kivilompolo.
- 118km Kalma-Termis-Nakkala wilderness traverse for expert riders
- 104km Hetta-Kalgujarvi-Kivilompolo day trip - a demanding 10-hour ride
- Unmarked trails: bring map, compass and proper clothing; rivers crossed by wading
- Metsahallitus wilderness cabins at Poyrisjarvi and Naltijarvi (some bookable)
- Routes cross the Norway-Finland border - carry your passport
Wilderness Trails in Poyrisjarvi
The three classic traverses are Kalmakaltio-Termis-Nakkala (118km) and Kalmakaltio-Poyrisjarvi-Nakkala (c. 93 km), both for expert riders, and Kalmakaltio-Naltijarvi-Kalkujarvi-Poyrisjarvi (75 km). The trails are unmarked but generally clearly visible in the terrain. There are no service structures, rivers must be waded and weather can change suddenly, so be self-sufficient and carry a map, compass and proper clothing.
Services
Metsahallitus maintains wilderness cabins at Poyrisjarvi and Naltijarvi, and cabins can also be hired at Poyrisjarvi. The Lenkihaka open wilderness hut on the western side may be useful, and the villages of Nunnanen, Kalmakaltio and Nakkala offer lodging before or after the trek. The spacing between huts means one long, committing day mid-journey.
Kalma-Termis-Nakkala (118km)
The 118km route is relatively easy to follow, since parts are quad-bike trails along the northern reindeer herding routes near the Norway-Finland border. It traverses towards Poyrisjarvi, turns south through the sand dunes of Maater and passes Termisvaara Lake to the south side of Nakkala. The trail south of Poyrisjarvi Lake follows the shore for 2km and can be almost impassable in storms, and even in good weather you must wade the Poyris River.
Poyrisjarvi - Nakkala
An alternative 10.6km route breaks off the main 118km trail at Sahpanpalo for the SW shore of Lake Poyrisjarvi. From there an unmarked but clearly visible 18km trail runs to the village of Nakkala, often ridden as a 36km Nakkala-Poyrisjarvi-Nakkala day trip. A more southerly option is the 24km (+15km) Nakkala-Ainuppivaara-Poyrisjarvi expert trail, which climbs straight to the hilltop through sand dunes and fell scenery.
Crossing the Border
West of Lake Poyrisjarvi, several options open up. Follow the 6km trail north of Termisvaara parallel to the border fence, or head north into Norway towards Siccajarvi (8km), where a Fell Station offers paid overnight stays. From Siccajarvi a 14km tractor road reaches the main asphalt road, then it is another 20km to Kautokeino. Or bike due west for 15km on the Raja-Kivilompolo trail, with its many boardwalks and bridges across bogs and streams.
Good to know
- Day-trip option
- 104 km Hetta-Kalgujarvi-Kivilompolo (~10 hours)
- Difficulty
- Expert / self-sufficient wilderness
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.