Hiking & outdoor recreationLength20.1 km
Duration(6 hours)
Degree of difficultyMedium
Climb to the top of Kukastunturi Fell to enjoy the wide-open fell landscape. You know you’ve reached the top when you see a centuries-old pine tree. The view from the summit is dominated by a chain of fells and inspires a great feeling of freedom. The trail descends through a beautiful, open fell heath to the wilderness café. The rocky trail continues towards Hangaskuru campfire hut and a wide-open aapa mire surrounded by tussock cottongrass rustling in the wind. After the forest section, trail goes down the side of Kesänkitunturi Fell heading to Kesänkijoki River and Äkäslompolo village. Day trips are nice, but sometimes it’s worth taking a peaceful evening hike during the midnight sun of early summer.
The trail can only be used during the snow-free season
Circle trailThe recommended direction of travel is clockwise.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedIn the Special zone, Recreational zone and Cultural zone Camping is permitted only in the vicinity of wilderness huts, campfire huts and campfire sites. Camping is forbidden in the restricted zones.
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
Contact information
Starting pointÄkäshotelli pysäköintialue
Starting point: Äkäshotelli, Äkäsentie 10, 95970 Äkäslompolo, parking subject to a fee. (The nearest free-of-charge parking area is 300 metres away at Nililahentie road in Äkäslompolo.) There is a Pallas-Yllästunturi information board at the Äkäsentie starting point. From the starting point, follow the green signposts for Kukastunturi kierros Circle Trail
After walking 0.5 km across the narrow Kesänkijoki River, you’ll reaching the shore of the magnificent Äkäslompolo Lake. Continue for just over 0.7 km before turning right at the cloudberry-rich Nilijänkä Mire and walk another 2 km from there towards the trail signposts at the Karila-Nilioja crossing. At this point, you can also see the fast-flowing Äkäsjoki River, which has great fishing
The trail continues for 1.7 km along a wide gravel path until you see the brown Kukastunturi signpost.
Follow it for 3 km to reach the highest point of the trail, which is 477 m above sea level. Enjoy the many colours and cloud formations in the sky, listen to the sounds of silence and birds chirping, feel the wind on your skin and breathe in the scents of the shrubs. Take the time to sit down on one of the bigger rocks and admire what might be the most beautiful moment of a nightless night.
The journey continues for 1.5 km down the steep fell slope. Alpine Sweetgrass (Hieracium alpina) is one of the fell plants that is easy to spot. Blood-sucking insects are rarely seen on the fells, so reindeer in the area enjoy the fell winds. Observe the reindeer from the trail and give them plenty of space.
Once you’ve descended into Kolmentunturinkuru Ravine, it’s just 0.5 km to the yard of wilderness café, where there are some benches and toilets. Remember to check the opening hours of wilderness café before departure. After a 10-km journey, it's a good time to take a break for some snacks. It is a good idea to bring water and a camping stove on the hike.
After leaving wilderness café yard, the first part of the trail is a wide gravel and rocky trail towards the edge of Lainiotunturi Fell. The last section meanders through lush coniferous forest before you arrive at Hangaskuru Ravine. The distance travelled from wilderness café is 3 km.
Hangaskuru has a lean-to shelter, wood shed and toilets. The observation benches are a nice place to quench your thirst and admire this varied mindscape, where a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) or a Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) might suddenly appear from the beautiful aapa mire vegetation.
From the lean-to shelter, the trail continues for 3.5 km through a forest landscape towards Kesänkitunturi Fell until you come to a trail crossing. Birds such as tits (Paridae) and Siberian jays (Perisoreus infaustus) are often seen flitting from tree to tree in the sparse pine forest.
Follow the green signposts down an easy trail for 2 km to Kesänkijärventie road. From there, the journey continues to the narrow Kesänkijoki River, and from there to Hormistonjänkä Mire. You will soon arrive at a cottage area, and from there the journey continues for 2 km along an easy route to the crossing where a brown signpost points towards Äkäshotelli.
End pointÄkäshotelli pysäköintialue